Learn Nuxalk with Sign Language!

Check this out! This is a page of of short videos of sign language to use for learning Nuxalk.  For a list of what they mean in English, check out our earlier posts!

Wa Mnaaxtas Nusqwaxw n ta nan tx

Yaw! Last Nuxalk language class we went over a story, and I promised that I would post the audio of that story for all of you to listen to.  So here's the audio, and below is the script.  enjoy!

Wa Mnaaxtas Nusqwaxw n ti Tsitumalh ti Nan tc

Retold by Amos and Mechum

1. nulhnusaw wa mnaaxtats ats, tl’apaw ilhtsaynaw ca qaqatiiqw.

                Two of my cousins, they went out picking mushrooms.

2. Axw ayk’aw alhaynaw alh ta amat txw, tl’apaw ska liptsutaw ulaats, ula apsulh ts.

                They weren’t in the patch long when they went to come back here in to town.

3. Lht’aaxms ta mnaaxtats tx, putl’aycaw ula amats ta nan.

                My cousin is driving, and they come up on a grizzly.

4. K’cit s ixq’ms ta nan tx ala mnta.

                They see the grizzly walking on the road.

5. Qw’lasiiliwa its’ik alhays.

                He seems to be a little different…

6. Ulxusiinicitmits’ik ta nan tx, alh7ayalhliwas s ixq’mtimuts tx.

                In fact they think the grizzly is drunk, the way he’s walking along

7. Tl’apaw ska iklhaalhiitut ti qw'xwmtimut uulh, ula kulhaaxs

                Well they bring the car up behind him to his side

8. Ka k’cit ka tl’ikms, ka paaxwalcs.

                They’ll see if he runs, if he get’s scared

9. Axw its’ik alhays.

                Well that’s not how it is.

10. tm alhayskw' s ixq'ms, alh7ayliwas c s axw alhnapis ala umatalhs.

                He just goes right on walking, as if he doesn’t know where he’s going.

11. Ala wayciis tl’apamkit ala slq’aw stamlits’ si alhays.

                Pretty soon they figure out why he’s like that.

12. Axw alhkalulhaqw’sliwas. Tsitumlctimuts, tsitumaalhs ta nan t’ax.

                His eye’s aren’t right. Somehow he’s asleep, the bear is sleepwalking.

13. Ayuts ti numaw tc, “yulisiktx ti nan tc!”

                So the one says, “rub the bear’s back!”

14. axwmaku yas ka alhayts, tsuts ti alht’aaxm tc.

                No way I should do that, says the driver.

15. kanix! kanix aytucw, musicw!

                Go on! Do it! Touch him!

16. amaytsk ka sik'amtss

                Maybe he’ll hurt me,

17. kanix!

                Go on!

18. Way tl’aps ti lht’aaxm tc ska musis, alht’aaxms, alhyulisikistuu ta nan t’ax.

          Well the driver goes and touches him, he’s driving, and rubbing that grizzly on the back too.

19. Axw its’ik palcs, axw palcliwatimuts ala ts’ktas.

                He doesn’t wake up, not even stir at what’s going on.

20. Tm tsitumalhslhuu s walit wa mnaaxtats ats s lip’tsutaw ula apsulh ts.

Just keeps on sleepwalking as my cousins leave him and return to town.

21. Way. Cwplxs wa smayustats ts.

Alright, that’s the end of my story.

Nuxalk Vocabulary, Part 1

Vocabulary

The following lists of words reflect the vocabulary we intend to teach to our students, teachers, and TAs and Acwsalcta this year. The headings are links that will open audio files that read the words and give a range of examples.  they are poor quality at the moment and will be improved in the days to come.  Happy listening!

Items –none of the following items use classifiers

Ti xwismak – a toy

Ti qw’laxuulh – a paper/plastic bag

Ti nusxwismaakta tc – the toy box/container

Ti paaqi7yala – a general storage box

Ti nusuliictsta – lunchbox or container

Ti ulhqn – a bucket or pail

Ti qup’ta – a drum

Ti qup’aaksta – a drumstick

Ti alhqulh – a book

Ti nustipta tc – the television

Food Items

Wa snknic – food

Ti saplin tc – the bread

Ti sulicts – food taken for lunch

Wa kusi – potatoes

Wa att – att

Wa qla - water

Tools/implements– none of the following items use classifiers

Wa sq’lhkw – things that one has / belongings/ clothes

Wa sq’lhkwak – one’s tools

Ti Lhuk’is – toolbox / pencil box?

Ti qulhquulhta – a pencil/marker/crayon

Ti milta – an eraser

Ti lhilhliixwta – scis

Numbers(followed by classifiers,

(and second recordings of more info)

Smaw – one

Lhnus – two

Asmus – three

Mus – four

Ts’icw – five

T’xulh – six

Nus7alhklhm – seven

K’ilhhnus – eight

K’issmaw – nine

Tsk’lakt – ten -

Slax – many

Mask – 7iks – how many?sors (for hair)

Colours

Ts’xw – white

Mukw – red, reddish brown

Mukwaqw’s – brown coloured

Sk’c – black

Qwli – green, yellow

Mnts – yellow (of hair)

Qwit - blue

These Itemsuse classifiers

Ti lhalas – a boat (uses –alh/uulh– alh with numbers)

Ti qw’xwmtimut – a vehicle (uses –alh/uulh – alh with numbers)

ti buutii – a little boat (uses alh/uulh – alh with numbers)

Ti satl’a – a river canoe (uses alh/uulh – alh with numbers)

Ti t’xt – a rock (uses uulh)

Ti yalquulh – a ball (uses –uulh classifier)

Ti titq’uulhta – a piece of paper (this item, being flat, uses –ulh/uulh classifier)

Ti stn – a tree (uses –aax)

Ti stntnii – a stick (uses –aax)

Ti mnlhata – a ruler ( uses –aax)

Ti am7amatuuts – plate/bowl/dish (alh/aalh – alh for numbers, -aalh for adjectives)

Ti qwanilh – a spoon (alh/aalh – alh for numbers, -aalh for adjectives)

Ti inip’uutsta – a fork (alh/aalh – alh for numbers, -aalh for adjectives)

furniture/partsof building

Ti numutsta tc – the door (uses nu-___-uuts in adjectives, not numbers)

Ti kulhulmc tc – the floor

Ti kulhals tc – the wall

Ti tipl – a table

Ti amataax – a chair

Ti st’cwm – a matt (if used for sleeping, uses –alh for numbers)

Ti st’cwmcwmi – a little mattress/matt (if used for sleeping, uses –alh for numbers)

Ti st’cwmaalhta – a floormat (for your feet)

Ti st’cwmulmcta – a floor covering/linoleum

Wa amatstus wa lht’ilh wa kuutilh ats – the place where we hang our coats

Wa umatstuts wa qinxts ats – the place where I put my shoes (the shoe rack)

Wa umatstuts wa sq’lhkwts  – the place where I put my tools/clothing (a locker)

Wa umatstulh wa alhqulh  – the place where we put books (the bookshelf)

Wa umatstulh wa paaqi7yala  – the place where we put boxes (the shelves)

PlaceQuestions

Wikaks wa amats ____? – where is the place of ____? Where is ____?

Alhi ala/alh ti ____ - he is at ______.

Alhiya ____ ala/alh ti _____? – is he at/on ______?

Aw, alhitu ala ____. – yes, s/he is at _____.

Axw, axw alhis ala _____. – no, s/he isn’t at ____.

General Place Words

Alh – at/on/by

Ala asqa ts – outside

Ala astcw ats – inside

ala kulhanks ____ - to the side of _____

 ala asanks ___ - to the front of _____

ala kulhulhiks ___ - to the behind of _____

ala tcitskwanks ____ - on the other side of ____

alaats – here

ulh – towards / to

ulaats – to here

alhtxw – there

uulhtxw – to there

Otherplaces

Wa amat – a place

Wa umat – a destination

Wa sulh – a house (uses –uulh)

Wa Acwsalcta ts – the school (uses uulh)

Ti nusapsta – a toilet

Ti nuxwismta tc – the playground

wa nuxwismalsta ts – the gym (uses –uulh)

ti sinuxi – a lamp/window

ti q’lax tc – the fence

wa amatstus  wa qw’xwmtimut – the parking lot

wa mnmnta – a road (uses –nu-___-alh for adjectives, not numbers)

wa mnmnnta ats – the steps

People/Other

Ti imlk – a man

Tsi cnas – a woman

Ti imimlkii – a boy

Tsi cncnasii – a girl

Ti tl’msta tc – the (male) person

Tsi tl’msta tsc – the female person

Ti acwsalctnm – a (male) teacher

Tsi acwsalctnm – a (female) teacher

Ti smatmc – a friend

Tsi smatmc – a female friend

Ti staltmc / tsi staltmc – a chief

ClothingWords for Level 1

Ti nup – a shirt or dress (uses –anlh/lits’)

Ti its’amnii – a blanket (uses –anlh/lits’)

Ti kuut – a coat (uses anlh/lits’ or nothing)

Ti qayt – a hat (uses ulh)

wa qinx – shoes (uses alh)

ti sum – pants (uses uulh)

wa ts’up’akt – gloves (uses ak)

EmotionWords for Level 1

Ti slq’ – mind

Smaw ti slq’ilh! – our mind is one!  We are of one mind!

Ya ti slq’ts tc – I’m happy

Kma ti slq’ts tc – I’m sad

Alhwawslc ti slq’ts tc – I’m excited

Yayatwii – to be happy

Sclikt – to be angry

Paaxu – to be scared

Ulxliwa – to be silly/crazy/stupid

Ulxliwatimut – to be acting silly/crazy/stupid

Yumyuum – to be shy

Sqw’m – to be startled (or to startle, if transitive)

FamilyMembers for level 1

Waks ti _____nu? – who is your____?

Waks tsi ____nu? – who is your (female) ___?

Waltstumks _______? – what is the name of _____?

______tum _____. - _____ is the name of _____

Ti man  - a father

Tsi stan – a mother

Ti qwalm – an older brother

Tsi qwalm – an older sister

Ti suuxi – a younger brother

Tsi suuxi – a younger sister

Wa sisqwimtmacw – siblings

Tsi kikya – a grandmother

Ti kukwpi – a grandfather