Abenaki 101
My grandfather was a native speaker. My mom spoke some, which she passed on to me. My children call lobsters, "zoga" and grandmother, "agaskwa". But their French is miles better than their Abenaki, something of which I'm not proud.
I've been frequenting a site from a native speaker from Odanak. As I drive out to get propane, I work on my diction: today it was
Wig8damana N'chajabnigaji N'l8dwaw8ganna nspiwi kiow8.
Tonight, I came across the phrase which should be the mantra of Progressives, Indian or not:
K'lida8zw8gan ol8dawa niak. K'waj8nem tabi akwbi kadosmimek chakweniwi? (link)
"Your idea sounds good to me. Do you have enough whiskey to drink all night?"
Comments
haha! that's great.
Posted by: nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez | January 27, 2007 03:08 PM
I love it too - the unspoken idea that your idea has a lot of merit, but is not yet perfect - so let's talk. A lot. It may take all night and lots of whiskey to get it right, but it's a conversation worth having ;-). So typical Abenaki to me.
Posted by: MBW | January 27, 2007 07:32 PM
Or it could be that the speaker is being polite and he means, "Your idea really isn't that good, but if I drink all night I might like it better!" LOL
Posted by: Donna | January 28, 2007 12:42 PM
You know, I was going with the "glass half-full" interpretation. You Maliseet, with your negative half-glassed attitude ;-D
Posted by: MBW | January 28, 2007 08:52 PM
Yeah, Have seen this conversation snippet online.
Funny!
Except that to me... almost ANYTHING could sound like a good idea if Im drinking all night!
Im probably better off if I talk but dont drink! :>)-
Mike
Posted by: Mike Franklin | January 29, 2007 12:18 PM