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NetSiouan spelling | Basic spelling | Traditional spelling |
Father! até, atéwaye kì, my father, my father's brother (niyáte, your ~; atkúku kì, his ~; atéyA, to have as father, atéwaye, he is my ~).
See also phapá, Lakhota parents
A child (miähîäa kì, my ~; niähîäa kì, your ~; ùkíähìäa kì, our (mine and my spouse's) child(ren); ähìäáyA, to have for a child, adopt as a child, ähìäáwiähawaye, they are my children).
See also wakhâheëa
Son!, a son, a man's brother's son, a woman's sister's son (ähìkçí, miähîkçi, my ~; niähîkçi, your ~; ähìkçítku kì, ähìhîtku kì (B&D), his/her son; ähìkçíyA, to have as son, ähìkçíwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota sons & daughters
A man's elder brother, my elder brother; male cousin from the father's side older than oneself (ähiyé, ähiyéwaye kì, my ~; niähíye, your ~; ähiyéku kì (Santee ähîäu), his ~; ähiyéyA, to have for a ~, ähiyéwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Daughter!; a daughter; a man's brother's daughter, a woman's sister's daughter (ähùkçí, miähûkçi, my ~; niähûkçi, your ~; ähùwîtku kì, his/her ~; ähùkçíyA, to have as daughter, ähùkçíwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sons & daughters
A woman's elder sister, female cousin from the mother's side older than oneself (ähuwé, ähuwéwaye kì (Santee ähùwé, miähû), my ~; nichúwe, your ~; ähuwéku kì (Santee ähùwéku, ähûku), her ~; ähuwéyA, to have for a ~, ähuwéyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
"A man's/woman's elder/younger sister" (Buechel); "his sisters and female cross-cousins, her brothers and male cross-cousins" (Boas&Deloria) ( mahákata, my ~; nihákata, your ~; hakátaku kì, his/her ~; hakátayA, to have for a sister, hakátawaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers, thawinoötì
Man's sister-in-law = 1) a sister of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; (hàkâ, hàká, hàkâwaye kì, my ~; nihâkà, nihâka, your ~; hàkáku kì, his ~; hàkáyA, to have for a ~, hàkáyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
A man's female cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter; (hàkâçi, hàkâçiwaye kì, my ~; nihâkàçi, your ~; hàkáçitku kì, his ~; hàkáçiyA, to have for a ~, hàkáçiyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Husband (no address form except wiäháöäa!, old man!) (mihîgna, my ~ (very formal, B&D) also wiäháça mitháwa; mitháwiähaça is used jokingly for "my fellow"); nihîgna, your ~; hìgnáku kì, her ~; hìgnáyÀ, to have as husband, hìgnáwaye, he is my~; hìgnáthù, to have a husband, be married, hìgnáwathù, I am married).
See also thawíäu
An ancestor; hùkáke, an ancestor, an immediate relative (mihûkake, my ~; hùkákeyA, to have for an ancestor, hùkákewaye, he is my ~); Hùkálowàpi, a ceremony of Making of Relatives; hùkáyA, to consider & honor as a hunka, hùkáwaye, he is my hunka
Brother (mihûkawàëi, my ~; hùkáwàëitku, his ~; hùkáwàëikiähiyapi, brotherhood).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
His/her mother. See iná
Mother!, mother's sister (Also iná äikØala little mother, iná iöa`hà make believe mother, terms for mother's sister.) (iná, ináwaye kì, my ~; nihû, your ~; hûku kì, his/her ~; ináyÀ, to call her "mother", have as mother, ináwaye, she is my ~).
See also mamá!
Granddad! See also thùkáçila
Friend!, man's friend (mithákhola, my ~; nithákhola, your ~; thakhólaku kì, his ~; kholáyA, to have as ~, kholáwaye, he is my ~; kholákiähiyapi, friendship, they are friends). Syn. kiähúwa (out-fashioned). Woman's female friend is máçke, waçé.
The word khola is included in the list because it has the form thakhólaku "his friend" with a kinship -ku suffix.
His/her mother-in-law. See ùäíçi.
Paternal grandmother (khùçíwaye kì, my ~; nikhûçi, your ~; khùçítku, khûçitku kì, his/her ~; khùçíyA, to have as ~, khùçíwaye, she is my ~).
See also ùäí
Mother's brother -- blood uncle, my ~. One's father's brother is called ate (lekçí, lekçíwaye kì, (Yankton, Santee. also midékçi B&D), my~; nilékçi, your ~; lekçítku kì, his/her ~; lekçíyA, to have for an uncle, lekçíwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Uncle by marriage -- mother's/father's sister's husband (R&T) (lekçílayA, to have as ~; lekçílawaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Male's brother-in-law. Designates particular companionship. ( maçéyA, to have as ~, maçéwaye, he is my ~).
See also thàhà, waçé, kholá
Female friend of a woman. ( mithámaçke, maçkéwaye kì, my ~; nithámaçke, your ~; thamáçkeku kì, her ~ (Buechel); maçkéyA, to have as ~, maçkéwaye, she is my ~).
See also waçé, maçé, kholá
Mom! See also iná
My little brother! See sùká
My relatives!. See takúyA
My wife. See thawíäu
The two fathers of husband and wife call each other by this title; and the mothers as well. (omáwahithù (mitháwa), my ~; nithómawahithù, omáwahithù nitháwa, your ~; thómawahithùku kì, his/her ~). This is a term of direct address, used regardless of sex between the parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents of a person, when speaking of/to his/her spouse's parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents (omáwahithùkiähiyapi, they have each other for omáwahithù: omáwahithùØùkiähiyapi, we have..., omáwahithùyeähiyapi, you have...; omáwahithùyÀ, to have for ~, omáwahithùwaye, he/she is my ~)
Dad! See also até
Stepmother. (çàkhéyA, to have as ~, çàkhéwaye, she is my ~).
See also thawáïà.
Woman's sister-in-law -- 1) a sister of: husband / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; (äéphà, säéphà, çäéphà, ýéphà (s)äéphàwaye kì, my ~; niäéphà, nisäéphà, niçäéphà, your ~; äéphàku / säéphàku / çäéphàku kì, her ~; (s)äéphàyÀ, ýéphàyÀ, to have as ~, (s)äéphàwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
Woman's female cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter ((s)äéphàçi, (s)äéphàçiwaye kì, my ~; ni(s)äéphàçi, your ~; (s)äéphàçitku kì, her ~; (s)äéphàçiyA, to have as ~, (s)äéphàçiwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: husband / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; (çiäØé, çiäØéwaye kì, my ~; niçíäØe, your ~; çiäØéku kì, çiäØéäu kì, her ~; çiäØéyA, to have as ~, çiäØéwaye, he is my~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
Woman's male cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son (çiäØéçi, çiäØéçiwaye kì, my ~; niçíäØeçi, your ~; çiäØéçitku kì, her ~; çiäØéçiyA, to have as ~, çiäØéçiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Misû! my younger brother! (man/woman speaking), man's younger cousin from the father's side, woman's younger cousin from the mother's side ( misû(kala), my ~; nisûka(la), your ~; sùkáku kì, his/her ~; sùkáyA, to have as ~, sùkáwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
To have somebody for a relation, takúwaye, he/she is my relative; takúkiähiyapi, they are relatives, takúØùkiähiyapi, I and you are relatives, takúyeähiyapi, you are relatives; takúye, a relative, his relative (mitákuye, my ~, mitákuye oyásØì, all are my relatives; nitákuye, your ~; ùkítakuyepi, our ~), otákuye, brotherhood, relations, kinship (otákuye tháwa, his consanguinal/affinal relatives (group term)); thítakuye, the immediate relatives (mithítakuye, my ~; nithítakuye, your ~).
Son-/daughter-in-law (mithákoç, my ~; nithákoç(ku), your ~; thakóçku kì, his/her ~; thakóçyA, to have as ~, thakóçwaye, he/she is my ~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
Grandchild (thakóëa, mithákoëa, grandchild!, my ~; nithákoëa, your ~; thakóëakpaku kì, his/her ~; thakóëayA, to have as ~, thakóëawaye, he/she is my ~)
Stepchild (thawáïàwaye kì, my ~; nitháwaïàku, thawáïàyaye kì, your ~; thawáïàku kì, his/her ~; thawáïàyÀ, to have for ~). (WEDD:) (Santee) atkúku / hûku / ähìhîtku / ähìyéku / tháwinoötì thawáïà kì step- father / mother / son / brother / sister; thawáïàyà ähìäá step-child.
See also çàkhé
His wife (mitháwì, mitháwiäu, my wife; nitháwì, nitháwiäu, your wife; thawíäu kì, his ~; thawíäuyA, to have as ~, thawíäuwaye, she is my ~).
See also hìgná, théya
Sister. See also Lakhota sisters & brothers, hakáta
Man's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; (thàhâ, thàhâwaye kì, my ~; nithâhà, your ~; thàhâku kì, his ~; thàhâyÀ, to have as ~, thàhâwaye, he is my ~). The term maçé is used if bros-in-law are on very good terms.
See also Lakhota in-laws
Man's male cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son (thàhâçi, thàhâçiwaye kì, my ~; nithâhàçi, your ~; thàhâçitku kì, his ~, thàhâçiyA, to have as ~, thàhâçiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's younger sister (mithâ(kala), my ~; nithâkala, your ~; thàkáku kì, Santee also thâku, her ~; thâkayA, to have as ~, thàkáwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Man's older sister (thàké, thàkéwaye kì, mithâke, my ~; nithâke, your ~; thàkéku kì (Santee thâku), his ~; thàkéyA, to have as ~, thàkéwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Man's younger sister (thàkçí, mithâkçila, my ~; nithâkçila, your ~; thàkçítku kì, his ~; thàkçíyA, to have as ~, thàkçíwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Cowife, another wife of her husband (théyakiähiyapi, they are both wives of one man, they are "teya"s to each other; théyaku kì, her teya; théyayA, to have somebody for a teya, , she is my teya). Cowives call each other sister, cross-cousin, or mother of such and such a child.; théyawaye kì, théyaku mayukhÀ, I have her as a cowife is also used.
Woman's elder brother, woman's cousin from the mother's side older than herself (thibló, thiblówaye kì, mithíblo, my ~; nithíblo, your ~; thiblóku kì, her ~; thiblóyA, to have as ~, thiblówaye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
A band/clan of blood relatives. The oldest living ancestor is the head of the thiyoshpaye. His wife, his children, grandchildren etc. with their spouses are the rest members of the clan.
Woman's nephew -- brother's son / husband's sibling's son (thoçká, thoçkáwaye kì, mithóçka, my ~; nithóçka(la), your ~; thoçkáku kì, his ~; thoçkáyA, to have as ~, thoçkáwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's niece -- her brother's daughter / husband's sibling's daughter (thoëâ, thoëâwaye kì, mithóëà, my ~; nithóëà(la), your ~; thoëâkhu kì, his ~; thoëáyA, thoëâyÀ, to have as ~, thoëâwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Grandfather!, (mithûkaçila, thùkáçila kì, my ~; nithûkaçila, your ~; thùkáçitku kì, his/her ~; thùkáçilayA, to have as ~, thùkáçilawaye, he is my ~). See also kaká
Father-in-law and other men in his generation, who are relatives of the spouse; my ~ (mithûkà(çi), thùkâçi, thùkáçi, my ~; nithûkà, nithûka, your ~; thùkâku kì, thùkáku kì, his/her ~; thùkâyÀ, thùkâçiyA, to have as ~, thùkâwaye, thùkâçiwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota in-laws
Man's nephew -- sister's son / wife's sibling's son (thùçká, thùçkáwaye kì, (mithûçka), my ~; nithûçka(la), your ~; thùçkáku kì, his ~; thùçkáyA, to have as ~, thùçkáwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Father's sister -- blood aunt, my ~ (mithûwì, my ~; nithûwì, your ~; thùwîäu thùwíäu kì, his/her ~; thùwîyÀ, thùwíäuyA, to have as ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Aunt by marriage -- father's/mother's brother's wife (thùwîlayA, to have as ~, thùwìlawaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Man's niece -- sister's daughter / wife's sibling's daughter (thùëâ, thùëâwaye kì, (mithûëà), my ~; nithûëà(la), your ~; thùëâkhu kì, his ~; thùëáyA, thùëâyÀ, to have as ~, thùëàwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Maternal grandmother (ùäíyA, to have as maternal grandmother, ùäíwaye, she is my ~). See also khùçí
Mother-in-law and other women of her generation who are relatives of the spouse; my ~ (ùäíçi, ùäíçiwaye kì, my ~; nikhûku, ùäíçi nitháwa, your ~; khûku kì, his/her ~; ùäíçiyA, to have as ~; ùäíçiwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota in-laws
Child, children. See also ähìäá
Female friend of a woman; used only for those who are very intimate; often used by cross-cousins (mitháwaçe, my ~; nitháwaçe, your ~; thawáçetku, her ~; waçéyA, to have for a friend; waçékiähiyA, to have each other for special friends). Cf. maçé.
Old man!, sometimes wives address so their husbands; wiäháöäala mitháwa kì, my old man. See also winúöäa
My husband; my lover. Mitháwiähaça is used jokingly for "my fellow". See also wîyà mitháwa
A son-in-law, my son-in-law (lit."the man who is staying owing to attraction") (wiäháwoöa nitháwa kì, your ~; wiäháwoöayA, to have for ~, wiäháwoöawaye, I have him for ~).
See also wiwóöa kì, mithakoç
Old woman!, sometimes husbands address so their wives; winúöäala mitháwa kì, my old lady. See also wiäháöäa
Our daughter-in-law (lit."the woman who is staying owing to attraction"). A woman who lives with her husband's relatives.
See also wiäháwoöa kì, mithakoç
("very formal", B&D) My wife; my lover. "It is customary to say wîyà mitháwa my wife, not mitháwì because the latter points to sexual relations" (B&D). See also wiäháça mitháwa
Terms of relationship take the possessive pronouns expressing inseparable possession, mi-,ni-, ùki-. In addition take the suffix -ku; after terminal i,and ì, -tku or -äu for the third person. The first personpossessive is omitted in many terms. On account of the numerous irregularities we give thelist of terms according to their forms.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
(his) elder brother | ähiyé | niähíye | ähiyéku (1) | |
(his) elder sister | thàké | nithâke | thàkéku | |
(her) elder sister | ähuwé | nichúwe | ähuwéku | |
(her) brother's son | thoçká | thoçká, mithóçka | nithóçka(la) | thoçkáku |
(his) sister's son | thùçká | thùçká, (mithûçka) | nithûçka(la) | thùçkáku |
(his) sister-in-law | hàká | nihâka | hàkáku | |
(her) husband | (wiäháöäa) | mihîgna(2) | nihîgna | hìgnáku |
(his) brother-in-law | thàhâ, maçé (3) | thàhâ | nithâhà | thàhâku |
(her) sister-in-law | çäephâ | çäéphà | niçäéphà | çäephâku |
(her) elder brother | thibló | nithíblo | thiblóku | |
child-in-law | thakóç | mithákoç | mithákoçku (kì) | thakóçku |
his sisters & female cross-cousins her brothers & male cross-cousins |
| mihákata | mihákata | hakátaku(4) |
(1) Santee ähîäù.
(2) mihîgna is very formal. It is customary to say wîyà mitháwa, mywife, not mitháwì because the latter points to sexual relations; also wiäháçamitháwa my husband. Mitháwiähaça is used jokingly for "myfellow".
(3) maçé designates particular companionship. Compare waçéfemale friend of a woman.
(4) hakátaya he (she) has for his (her) sister (brother) or female (male)cross-cousin.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
Ending -tku | ||||
grandfather | thùkaçilá(4a) | thùkáçila | nithûkaçila(4b) | thùkáçitku |
(his) young sister | thàkçí | thàkçí (mithâkçila) | nithâkçila | thàkçítku |
(her) female cross-cousin | äephàçí | äéphàçi | niäéphàçi | äéphàçitku |
(his) male cross-cousin | thàhàçí | thàhâçi | nithâhàçi | thàhâçitku |
(his) female cross-cousin | hàkaçí | hàkáçi | nihâkaçi | hàkáçitku |
(her) male cross-cousin | çiäØeçí | çiäØéçi | niçíäØeçi | çiäØéçitku |
mother's brother | lekçí | lekçí (5) | nilékçi | lekçítku |
Ending -äu | ||||
father's sister | thùwî | nithûwì | thùwîäu | |
wife | (wìnúöäa) | (mitháwì) (5a) | nitháwì | thawíäu |
(his) elder brother | ähiyé | ähîäu (6) | ||
(his) brother-in-law | çiäØé | niçíäØe | çiäØéäu |
(4a) Western Oglala children thùkála.
(4b) rarely a nasalized.
(5) Yankton and Santee use both dekçí and midékçi.
(5a) wîyà mitháwa kì very formal,
(6) (Santee). Teton ähiyéku.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
father | Øaté | niyáte | atkúku | |
(his/her) younger brother | misû | misû(kala) | nisûkala | sùkáku |
father-in-law | thùkàçí(7) | thùkâçi | nithûkà | thùkâku |
son | ähìkç (8) | miähîkçi | niähîkçi | ähìhîtku |
daughter | ähùkç (8) | miähûkçi | niähûkçi | ähùwîtku |
mother | Øiná (9) | nihû | hûku | |
grandmother | Øùäí, khûçi | nikhûçi | khûçitku | |
mother-in-law | Øùäiçí | Øùäíçi | nikhû | khûku |
her younger sister | mithâ | mithâ(kala) | nithâkala | thàkáku |
grandchild | thakoëá | thakóëa | nithákoëa | thakóëakpaku |
(his) sister's daughter | thùëâ | thùëâ, (mithûëà) | nithûëà(la) | thùëâkhu |
her brother's daughter | thoëâ | thoëâ, mithóëà | nithóëà(la) | thoëâkhu |
(7) Also thùkáçi, nithûka, thùkáku.
(8) Western Oglala ähìkçí and ähùkçí.
(9) Also iná äikØala little mother, iná iöa`hà make believemother, terms for mother's sister.
When the form in address occurs in course of conversation the terms are withoutaccent; when the address is used as a call, the last syllable bears astrong accent.
For the use of the article with terms of relationship, see page 134.
The first person dual and plural is not expressed by means of thepossessive pronoun, but by the verbal expression Øùyà` pi kì the one we havefor:
ähiyéØùyà` pi kì our (plural) elder brother.
For the first person dual of mithákoç my child-in-law, the phrase
Plurals formed with pi express the plural as related to several individuals.
thoëâkhupi kì the daughter of the brother of several women
thùkáçitkupi kì their (of a group of brothers, cousins) grandfather.
When the relatives (here brothers, grandfathers) are also plural an adjective like"all, many, several" must be added. If the possessor is singular the forms with -yato have, are used:
thoëâ-wiäha`waye äì those I have for nieces (woman speking)
The same may also be expressed by the possessive form, if a definite or indefinitenumeral is added:
mithóëà Øiyúha all my nieces (woman speaking)
or by adding pi to the verb:
mithóëà kì glípiØ my nieces have come back; when known to the personaddressed kì is omitted.
The third person plural possessive:
thakhólakupi kì hâskeØ their friend is tall
thakhólakupi kì hâskaskapiØ their friends are tall.
The terms with wiäha (given by Riggs, p.16) are not possessive but refer tothe terms as belonging to human beings: wiäháäìäa children of man (not ofanimals), wiäháatkuku (not wiähíatkuku, Riggs) father of humans, wiäháhùkumother of humans.
Here belong also wiähówe children of one family, wiähóiähaïegeneration.
More distant affinal relationship terms, and a few others expressing a close relationbased neither on consanguinity nor affinity take the ending ku and also theprefix tha expressing separable possession.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
parent of my child's spouse | omáwahithù | nithómawahithù | thómawahithùku | |
stepchild | --- | thawáïàwaye äì | nitháwaïàku, thawáïàwaye äì | thawáïàku (1) |
her cowife | (2) | théyaku | ||
consanguinal relative | --- | mithítakuye | nithítakuye | thítakuye |
consanguinal/affinal relative | mitákuyepi (4) | mitákuye | nitákuye | otákuye-thawa (group term) |
male friend of a man | kholá | mithákhola | nithákhola | thakhókaku |
female friend of a woman | waçé (5) | mitháwaçe | nitháwaçe | thawáçetku |
master (of a pet animal or guardian spirit) | --- | thíöìyetku (5) |
(1) Santee nùkás, nùkásku, obsolete in Riggs' time. thawáïà-wayeäì, the one whom I have as a stepchild.
(2) Cowives call each other sister, cross-cousin, or mother of such and such a child; théyawayeäì the one whom I have as a cowife; théyaku mayúkhà (her) cowifeexists for me, i.e., I have her as a cowife is also used.
(3) from thí household and takúye, relative.
(4) This term is included here although it lack the prefux tha because thetheme is identical with the preceeding. The address is always plural.
(5) Used only for those who are very intimate; often used by cross-cousins. Compare
The term kiähúwa, comrade, from khuwá, to pursue, s going out ofuse. Riggs (p.15) gives the possessive form thakíähuwa.
...Terms of relationship in first and second person possessive have generally noarticle.
All the Dakota terms embrace more than one individual. Those distantly related,particularly when personally unknown, are given the article in the first personpossessive.
Øaté glí my father came home
Øaté kì glí one whom I call father because he married one whom I callmother (except my own father) came home
For consanguineal relative the article is not used. Therefore the last example couldnot be used for father's brothers. When my father is not known to the persons addressed Imight say wiäháça wà Øatéwaye äì a certain man the one whom I have formy father.
The only exception is miähîäa kì my children.
For affinal relatives the article is used particularly when they are not known ornot well known to the persons addressed. For mihîgna and mitháwiäu myhusband, my wife, both forms are used
nitháwiäu kiähí Øú or nitháwiäu kì kiähí Øú comewith your wife!
The expression niçäéphà kiähí Øú come with your sister-in-law, wouldmean that the sister-in-law is a well-known, long-established member of the family; niçäéphàkì kiähí Øú would mean that she is the youngest sister-in-law, or quiterecently married and not yet well known.
The example mihîgna kì léähiya mni-Øáglagla yàkáheØ my husband issitting there by the water implies that the people addressed have never seen him.
In the third person possessive the article is generally used:
Øatkúku kì heyá his father said
thítakuye nà hùkáke kì Øépi her near relatives and her parents theywere
When the third person possessive is not followed by an article it is to be conceived asa verbal expression.
hûku hípi it is a parents-coming
Øatkúku glí-ùspe`çni he does not know (how to act on) father-returning
ähiyéku glípi tkháç wâäak ØowíähakiyakeØ but on his brother'sreturn at once he told them.
For this reason the article is often omitted when the term of relationship is object ofan active verb.
hûku Øokíle or contracted hùk-Øókile he looks for hismother
hûku kì okíle his mother looks for him, or: he looks for his mother and notfor anybody else
ähuwéku Øûçikila she loves her elder sister
However we find also:
ähiyéku kì Øél ØéthowiähakçuØ his brothers he piled up ther
lekçítku kì thiwókçà wiäháùpa he had laid his uncled around in thetipi
thùkáçitkula kì mathó thawíäu kì Øektá yeçí he ordered hisgrandfather to go to the bear's wife.
The use of the indefinite specific article wà 'a (certain)' with possessedkin terms versus a Stripped Noun [noun without any article, C.H^.] allows for animportant semantic contrast. In (127a), the implication is that he killed one of hiswives; this is to be compared to (127b), in which there is no such implication. Likewise,(128), with wà, implies that the speaker had other wifes.
(127a) thawíäu wà kikté he killed [one of ] his wife
(127b) thawíäu kikté he killed his wife
(128) wîyà wà makítØe a woman of mine died.
The word without prefix/suffix usu. means "my": até kì (my father). The whole construction may usually consist of the following elements (note that in brackets are optional elements):
[Whose?] | Who? | [his/her] | [of many] | [Article] | [Demonstrative] |
Mary mi- "my" ni- "your" | thibló "younger sis" | -ku | pi | kì "the" wà "a, some" wàëí "a, any" (kØ)eyá "several" etâ "any" | lé "this" lená "these" hé "that" hená "those" |
Note that the word pi (called "plural enclitic") in e.g atkúkupi kì "their father" is used to denote the one father of manypeople, not fathers of one man. The plurality of fathers is shownusually on the verb: Niyáte the-ní-öila pi. "Your fathers love you(your-father love-you plur.)". You can also use the forms of -yA verbs, seethe full set of terms using either possessive affixes or -yA verbs (iyúhameans 'all'):
These are formed by the addition of the suffix -yA to the kinship term: ate+ yA = ateyA, etc. The meaning of these verbs is: "to have somebodyas one's relative", "to have one for...", for example atéwaye = ate+wa+ye= "father-I him-have.for", "he is my father". Followed with an article(kì, wà, wàëí) the whole construction is regarded a noun: atéwayekì "my father"; atéwaya wà "one of my fathers"; (youremember that Lakhotas may have numerous fathers and mothers?!).
Note 1. -ya changes to -yà after nasal vowels /à/, /ì/,/ù/, and after pronominal affixes -ma- "me", -ni-"you", and -ù- (we/us). E.g. Ináyà pi. She is theirmother. Ináyaya pi. She is your(pl.) mother. Inámayà pi. I amtheir mother / They have me for a mother.
Note 2. Uppercase A in -yA, -yÀ means that the sound /a/or /à/ changes to:
1. /ì/ before ktA, na, and naØìç: Hìgnáwayìkte. "He will be my husband.";
2. /e/ in many positions, the most important of them are: before kìarticle (ináwaye kì "my mother"), at the end of a sentence (ähìkçíähiye."You're my son."), and before 'yelo': Atéyaye yelo."He's your father (man speaking)."
Note 3. In informal style of speech (ikäéya wóglakapi), some /w/,/y/, /Ø/, and /h/ are dropped. So Ináyaye yeló(She's your mother.) would turn into ináaeeló.
Just for case, I've put below the full paradigm of the verbs -yA (to havesomebody as (one's father, for example)):
\ | MY | OUR | YOUR | YOUR(pl.) | HIS/HER | THEIR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I AM | --- | -ähiyA | -ähiyapi | -wayA | -wiähawayA | |
I&YOU ARE | --- | -ùyÀ | -wiähùyÀ | |||
WE ARE | -ùniyÀ | -ùniyàpi | -ùyàpi | -wiähùyàpi | ||
YOU ARE | -mayayA | -ùyayapi | --- | -yayA | -wiähayayA | |
YOU(pl.)ARE | -mayayapi | -yayapi | -wiähayayapi | |||
HE/SHE IS | -mayÀ | -ùyàpi | -niyà | -niyàpi | -yA | -wiähayA |
THEY ARE | -mayàpi | -niyàpi | -yapi | -wiähayapi |
In Lakhota society more people than in English one call each other "brother", "sister", "father", "mother", "son", and "daughter". This results from the fact that the brothers call each other's children sons and daughters, and the sisters also share their kids.
Let's fancy...Ten brothers love ten sisters from another clan. They get married and form ten families. Eventually each pair have got five sons and five daughters, giving 5x10=50 boys and 50 girls in total. Now look: Each man of the 10 brothers has 50 sons and 50 daughters. Each woman of the 10 sisters also has 100 kids in all. Each boy has 49 brothers, 50 sisters, 10 fathers, and 10 mothers. Each girl likewise has 50 brothers, 49 sisters, and 20 parents. This is Lakhota extended family!
Another example. My mother has a sister and a brother. My father also has one sister and one brother. How should I call mom's/pop's sisters, brothers with their spouses and children? How do my relatives and my spouse address each other? Let's look at the table.
I. How do I call my parents, uncles and aunts? | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mother's brother's wife | Mother's brother | Mother's sister's husband | Mother's sister | Mom | Dad | Father's brother | Father's brother's wife | Father's sister | Father's sister's husband |
thùwîla | lekçí | lekçíla | iná | até | thùwíla | thùwî | lekçíla | ||
II. How do I call my brothers, sisters, and cousins? (1. I'm a man; 2. I'm a woman) | |||||||||
Mother's brother's | Mother's sister's | Mom+Dad's | Father's brother's | Father's sister's | |||||
son | daughter | sons & daughters | son | daughter | |||||
1.thàhâçi 2.çiäØéçi | 1.hàkâçi 2.säéphàçi | These are my sisters and brothers | 1.thàhâçi 2.çiäØéçi | 1.hàkâçi 2.säéphàçi | |||||
III. How do my parents, uncles, and aunts call me? (1. I'm a man; 2. I'm a woman) | |||||||||
Mother's brother's wife | Mother's brother | Mother's sister's husband | Mother's sister | Mom | Dad | Father's brother | Father's brother's wife | Father's sister | Father's sister's husband |
1.thoçká 2.thoëâ | 1. thùçká 2. thùëâ | 1. ähìkçí, "son" 2. ähùkçí, "daughter" | 1. thoçká 2. thoëâ | 1.thùçká 2.thùëâ |
In Lakhota extended family you may have more than one father (até) and more than one mother (iná). My father is not only my biological father, but also all his "brothers"). Likewise, my mother is my biological mom plus any of her "Lakhota sisters").
In Lakhota extended family not only all the sons of my father are my brothers, but also the sons of persons whom my father calls "brother" and which are my "fathers"). Therefore many English-style cousins become my brothers in Lakhota extended family. Likewise, my sisters are those who are daughters of my mothers and also the daughters of all her "sisters" which are my "mothers". As a result, it's very hard to become an orphan among Lakhotas, as everybody typically has more than one father and more than one mother.
Other peculiarities: special terms for older and younger sister/brother, and different terms used by men and women. See the table below:
/ | Male's | Female's |
---|---|---|
Older brother | ähiyé | thibló |
Younger brother | misû | |
Older sister | thàké | ähuwé |
Younger sister | thàkçí | thàká |
In Lakhota extended family a man calls ähìkçí, "son" not only hia biological sons but all the sons of his"brothers", and for a woman any daughter of her "sisters" is also regarded as her ähùkçí, "daughter".
In Lakhota extended family terms thùwî "aunt", lekçí "uncle", and thàhâçi / çiäØéçi / hàkâçi / säéphàçi "cousin" have narrower meaning as some English-style aunts and uncles are labeled mothers & fathers, and some English-style cousins are called sisters & brothers. Uncles and aunts by marriage are regarded as more distant relatives and possess a diminutive suffix -la (See Table of parents, uncles, and aunts).
The 4 terms of address for cousins are determined by the sex of a cousin and a sex of a person calling him/her:
/ | Male's | Female's |
---|---|---|
Son of a mother's brother / father's sister | thàhâçi | çiäØéçi |
Daughter of a mother's brother / father's sister | hàkâçi | säéphàçi |
Analogously there are 4 terms of address for nephews and nieces. See also
Traditionally, communication between parents-in-law and childrens-in-law is restricted. Rather, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are expected to maintain a light-hearted, "joking" relationship (D.Rood & A.Taylor, 16:23).
/ | Husband's | Wife's |
---|---|---|
Father-in-law | thùkâ(çi) | |
Mother-in-law | ùäíçi | |
Son-/daughter-in-law | thakóç | |
Brother-in-law | thàhâ | çiäØé |
Sister-in-law | hàkâ | säéphà |
Memorizing the kinship terms may help the rule that
bro/sis-in-law + -çi = cousin, and
parent-in-law = grandparent (+ -çi).
The similarity of some Lakhota terms In-law In-law Lakhota term Similar Lakhota term Father-in-law thùkâ(çi) thùkáçila, grandfather Mother-in-law ùäíçi ùäí, granmother Son-/daughter-in-law thakóç thakóëa, grandchild Husband's bro-in-law thàhâ thàhâçi, male's male cousin Wife's bro-in-law çiäØé çiäØéçi, female's male cousin Husband's sis-in-law hàkâ hàkâçi, male's female cousin Wife's sis-in-law säéphà säéphàçi, female's female cousin
1. Franz Boas, Ella Deloria (1941). "Grammar of Dakota".
2. Rev. Eugene Buechel (1939). "Grammar of Lakota"
3."A Dictionary - Oie Wowapi Wan of Teton Sioux. Lakota-English : English-Lakota.Lakota-Ieska : Ieska-Lakota. (With Consideration given to Yankton and SanteeDialects)". (1970, 1983). Compiled by Rev. Eugene Buechel, S.J. Edited by Rev.Paul Manhart, S.J.
4. John Poage Williamson (1902). "An English-DakotaDictionary".