ahtna > Mentasta Language Lessons

 

Mentasta Ahtna
Language Lessons

2nd Edition

Web Version June 2018

Featured Speaker
Katie John

Linguistic Transcription
John T. Ritter
James Kari

Series Editor
Cynthea L. Ainsworth, Ph. D.

A production of
Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium
Native Language Program

Funded by
Creation and Printing of Series funded by Grant #90NL0299 from the Administration for Native Americans, Grant #S356A030043 from the Alaska Native Education Program of the Department of Education (DOE-ANE). Web conversion funded by Grant #S356A170083 from DOE-ANE.

Mentasta Ahtna Language Lessons

ISBN 0-9760483-3-7

This title is part of the MSTC Ahtna Language Series

© 2009 Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium. All Rights Reserved

Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium
HC01 Box 357
Gakona, AK 99586
www.mstc.org

This book is based on a design developed by
Yukon Native Language Centre, John T. Ritter, Director 1977-2017
YNLC illustrations and photos used by permission.

Cover design and sound by Paula Elmes, ImageCraft Publications & Design

Web design and sound conversion by AE Data, Inc

Sound and web function correction by Frostline Productions, LLC

Continuity from print to web version by Alaska History Projects, LLC

 

Foreword

You are using a web representation of a title in the Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium’s MSTC Ahtna Language Series (2009), which is further discussed in the Introduction. In 2018, the interactive computer CDs that accompanied six in the ten book series were used in conversion to web design. It is hoped that reformatting these important Alaska Native language educational materials will extend the lessons for self-study to learners who make exclusive use of web-access devices other than computers. This book is organized to reflect the traditional seasonal patterns of Athabascan people and designed to provide structured lessons throughout a school year. For the convenience of the independent learner, the menu highlights topics of interest within the monthly structure. A stable Internet connection is required to play selections of the voice recordings without delays.

 

Preface — Katie John (1915-2013)

four woman standing shoulder to shoulder in an office waiting room

Left to right: Evelyn Beeter, Katie John, Lena Charley, and Cynthea Ainsworth. (Photo by John Ritter 2003)

The featured Ahtna language speaker in this volume is Elder, Katie John. Born in 1915, Katie was raised by her parents Sarah and Chief Sanford Charley in the historic villages of Batzulnetas and Suslota, located near the Nabesna Road in Alaska’s eastern, south-central region. By 1932, Katie married Chief Fred John of Mentasta.

As a child, Katie heard several Athabascan Indian languages and dialects, particularly Ahtna and Upper Tanana, comprising a geographic range from the confluence of the Sanford River in Alaska to the Beaver Creek area in the Yukon, Canada. Katie’s father spoke the Lower Ahtna dialect and traveled with his uncle as far as Knik, near Anchorage, before 1900. Katie’s mother came from the Old Nabesna Village and King City in the Nabesna River Valley where she learned Upper Tanana. Katie’s relatives and in-laws traveled to Dawson and the White River areas of Canada where they traded with people speaking Hän and Southern Tutchone. Katie herself traveled the area around the Yukon border with her husband as late as the 1950s. In the 1940s, Katie and Fred moved from the Tanada Lakes area to raise their large family in Mentasta, where the Upper Ahtna dialect was spoken. Katie primarily spoke the Upper Ahtna dialect of Batzulnetas and Mentasta. However, like all multilingual Elders of her generation, she occasionally uses words from the other languages and dialects she learned growing up.

 

Introduction

Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium’s MSTC Ahtna Language Series is the first new, classroom-based language material published for study of the Ahtna language since 1975. MSTC’s first editions (2000) of the Language Lessons in all five dialects were a milestone in materials development for in-school programs and adult independent study of the Ahtna language. The Series (2009) represents the first linguistically supported effort to establish literacy materials for the entire Ahtna region, stimulating the first practical efforts at standardizing spelling in order to make the leap from linguistic description to local Native literacy in Ahtna. These materials demonstrate MSTC’s continuing commitment to language and culture preservation in strong Native communities.

Native language has been taught in the Mentasta school since the mid 1970s. Elders, Katie John and Ruth John Hicks taught animal names, important phrases, and short sentences along with beading and culturally appropriate behavior. Classes have been supported with funds from JOM, school district bilingual education allotments, as well as MSTC grants from Learn and Serve, Administration for Native Americans, and the Alaska Native Education (Department of Education) programs. Both of the Elder teachers mentioned above brought full fluency in the Native language and her own unique style of teaching children. Students remember them fondly. In 2004 Jessica Denny, who worked as Lena Charley’s teaching apprentice in Chistochina, began teaching in Mentasta. Jessica, who was not fully fluent when she started, is the first young person to choose teaching Native language as a career. Her star pupil, Honalee Sanford, started teaching Upper Ahtna in Mentasta school in 2006.  Both young women earned YNLC’s Teaching Native Languages Certificate  (2007 & 2009) and Jessica completed a BA in Anthropology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2008.

The first edition of the Mentasta Ahtna Language Lessons (2000) was based on the Tanacross Basic Lessons publication from the Yukon Native Language Centre (YNLC). The 2000 edition featured the collaboration of Katie John working with linguist, Professor Emeritus James Kari, who wrote the first dictionaries for the Ahtna language in 1975 and 1990. This second edition of the Mentasta Ahtna Language Lessons (2009) was re-recorded by Cynthea Ainsworth and transcribed by linguist, John Ritter, the YNLC founding director, who has over 25 years experience helping communities in the Yukon and Alaska develop classroom materials for indigenous languages. Special thanks to linguists, John Ritter, André Bourcier, and Professor Siri Tuttle for their generous advice, as well as YNLC computer specialists, Doug Hunt and Sheila Maisson. Recording and production of MSTC Ahtna Language Series (2003–09) was partially funded by grants, from the Administration for Native Americans and the Department of Education, and by contributions from MSTC, the editor, the Yukon Native Language Centre, and Paula Elmes, graphic artist with the Alaska Native Knowledge Network, and ImageCraft Publications and Design. The YNLC book design for this text is used by permission, including illustrations by Chris Caldwell, Ted Harrison, Evelyn Kirkaldy, and Susan McCallum.

Cynthea L. Ainsworth, Ph.D.
Editor, MSTC Ahtna Language Series
April 2018

September Lessons


 

Greetings

alt manPhone
How are you? Nts’e dit’ae?
I am fine. Ugheli ‘ełaen.
How about you? Nen du’?
Me too, I’m fine. Sii cu, ugheli ‘ełaen.
How is he/she? Nts’e nt’ae?
He/she is fine. Ugheli nlaen.

 

Weather

windyLeaves
How is it outside? Na’aaxe nts’e tkut’ae?
It is sunny. Kesadi’aan.
It is cloudy. K’os kulaen.
It is foggy. ‘Aak kulaen.
It is raining. Łcaan.
It is windy. Łts’ii.

 

People

baby
Who is this? Bedi’i c’a nt’aenn?
This is a boy/young man. Ciił sunt’ae.
This is a woman. Ts’akae sunt’ae.
This is a man. Denae sunt’ae.
This is a girl. Ts’akae ggaay sunt’ae.
This is a baby. Sc’enggaay sunt’ae.
This is a child. Sc’aen sunt’ae.

 

Fish

grayling
What is this? Yidi’i c’a nt’aey?
This is a salmon. Łuk’ae sunt’ae.
This is a pike. ‘Ulgaadzi sunt’ae.
This is a grayling. Segele sunt’ae.

 

Berries

raspberries
What is this? Gaann yidi’i c’a nt’aey?
This is a blueberry. Gigi sunt’ae.
This is a currant (red). Danihnuuy sunt’ae.
This is a low-bush cranberry. Ntl’et sunt’ae.
This is a salmonberry. Nkaał sunt’ae.

 

Activities

fishing
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am fishing. Nacnełgets.
I am picking blueberries. Gigi ‘unesbe’.
What is the boy doing? Ciił nts’e t’aen?
He is fishing. Nacnełgets.
What is the woman doing? Ts’akae nts’e t’aen?
She is picking blueberries. Gigi ‘unebe’.

October Lessons

 

Names

twoWomen
What is your name? Nts’e nuze’?
My name is Katie. Katie suze’.
What is his/her name? Nts’e buze’?
His/her name is Sandy. Sandy buze’.

 

Weather

sunny
It is fall time. Nahlude sutkut’ae.
It is cold. Hwdik’aats. ‘Edlih kulaen.
It is snowing. Łyaas.
Is it windy? Niłts’ii da?
Yes, it is windy. ‘Aen’, łts’ii.
It is not windy. K’ali’i łts’ehe.
Is it sunny? Kesadi’aan da?
Yes, it is sunny. ‘Aen’, kesadi’aan.
It is not sunny. K’ali’i kesadi’ahe.

 

Animals

bullMoose
What did you see? Yidi’i nghił’aen’?
I saw a rabbit. Ggax nghał’aen’.
I saw a moose. Deniigi nghał’aen’.
I saw a bull moose. Nicuunn nghał’aen’.
I saw a cow moose. Deyaazi nghał’aen’.
I saw a calf moose. Detsiige’ nghał’aen’.
Did you see any wolves? Tikaann da nghił’aen’?
I saw lots of wolves. Tikaann nelt’e’e nghał’aen’.
Did you see any sheep? Debae da nghił’aen’?
I saw lots of sheep. Debae nelt’e’e nghał’aen’.
I saw lots of black bears. Sos nelt’e’e nghał’aen’.
I saw lots of caribou. Udzih nelt’e’e nghał’aen’.

 

Giving and Taking

axe
Give me the axe. Cen’aay nde’.
Here, take it. Na’, ‘u’iniis.
Give me the knife. Tsactsii nde’.
Here, take it. Na’, ‘u’iniis.

 

Bush Objects

rifle
Give me the gun. Nde’, k’a’.
Give me the bullets. Nde’, k’a’tse’.
Give me the big knife. Nde’, tsactsii ce’e.
Give me the small knife. Nde’, tsactsii ggaay.
Give me the pocket knife. Nde’, k’analkeade.

 

Activities

hunting
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am going hunting. Naxacdestiis.
What is he doing? Nts’e t’aen?
He went hunting. Staxacdetaan.
What is the man doing? Denae nts’e t’aen?
The man is hunting. Denae naxacdetiis.
What is the boy doing? Ciił nts’e t’aen?
The boy is hunting. Ciił naxacdetiis.

 

Hunting For Specific Game

huntingSpecificGame
What are you hunting for? Yidi’i ‘uka naxacditiis?
I am hunting for moose. Deniigi ‘uka naxacdestiis.
What is the man hunting for? Denae yidi’i ‘uka naxacdetiis?
The man is hunting for caribou. Denae udzih ‘uka naxacdetiis.

November Lessons

 

Weather

snowyCabinRoof
Is it snowing? Łyaas da?
Yes, it is snowing. ‘Aen’, łyaas.
It’s not snowing. K’ali’i łyaaze.
Is it cold outside? Na’aaxe hwnezk’ats?
Yes, it’s cold. ‘Aen’, hwnezk’ats.
It is not cold. K’ali’i hwnik’adze.
It is winter. Xay kulaen.

 

Food

hungry
Are you hungry? Ditsiin da?
Yes, I am hungry. ‘Aen’, destsiin.
I am not hungry. K’ali’i destsiin.
Is he/she hungry? Ditsiin da?
Yes, he/she is hungry. ‘Aen’, ditsiin.
He/she is not hungry. K’ali’i ditsiin.
What do you want? Yidi’i ‘eyni’izen?
I want dry meat. C’etsen’ ggan ‘eyne’esen.
I want salmon. Łuk’ae ‘eyne’esen.
I want some soup. Taas ‘eyne’esen.
Do you want salmon? Łuk’ae da ‘eyni’izen?
Yes, I want salmon. ‘Aen’, łuk’ae ‘eyne’esen.
What does he/she want? Yidi’i ‘eynizen?
He/she wants dry fish. Ba’ ‘eynizen.
He/she wants dry whitefish. Tsabaey ba’ ‘eynizen.
He/she wants blueberries. Gigi ‘eynizen.

 

Activities

boy sandwich
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am eating. C’esyaan.
What is he/she doing? Nts’e t’aen?
He/she is eating. C’eyaan.
He/she is drinking tea. Tsaey tnaan.
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am eating fry bread. C’aan nanezt’aey esyaan.
I am eating dry meat. C’etsen’ ggan esyaan.
What is he/she eating? Yidi’i yaan?
He/she is eating dry fish. Ba’ yaan.

 

Are You Thirsty?

girl mug
Are you thirsty? Tuu da ndestlaan?
Yes, I want water. ‘Aen’, tuu sdestlaan.
I do not want water. K’ali’i tuu sdilaha.
Do you want tea? Tsaey da ndestlaan?
Yes, I want tea. ‘Aen’, tsaey sdestlaan.
I do not want tea. K’ali’i tsaey sdilaha.
What are you drinking? Yidi’i ‘itnaan?
I am drinking water. Tuu estnaan.

 

Other Forms

What are you (plural) drinking? Yidi’i ‘ohtnaan?
We are drinking tea. Tsaey ts’etnaan.
What are they drinking? Yidi’i ketnaan?
They are drinking tea. Tsaey su ketnaan.
The woman is drinking tea. Ts’akae tsaey tnaan.

 

Verb Chart

  am / are / is drinking tea.

I tsaey estnaan we tsaey ts’etnaan
you (sing.) tsaey itnaan you (pl.) tsaey ohtnaan
he/she tsaey tnaan they tsaey ketnaan

 

Bush Objects

snowShoes
Where is the trap? ‘Aeł nt’ii?
Here is the trap. Gaadu’ ‘aeł.
Where is the tent? Tazes nt’ii?
Here is the tent. Gaadu’ tazes.
Where are the snowshoes? Nt’ii ‘aas?
Here are the snowshoes. Gaadu’ ‘aas.
Where is the packsack? Xaeł zes nt’ii?
Here is the packsack. Gaadu’ xaeł zes.

December Lessons

 

Christmas

Christmas Eve Ts’its’aange tedze
New Year’s Eve C’edzak tedze

 

Conversations

cold boy
Are you cold? Zidlii da?
Yes, I am cold. ‘Aen’, zesdlii.
I am not cold. K’ali’i zesdlehe.

 

Relatives

youngest brother
Who is this? Bedi’i c’a nt’aenn?
This is my mother. Gaann snaan sunt’ae.
This is my father. Gaann sta’ sunt’ae.
This is my grandmother. Gaann stsucde sunt’ae.
This is my grandfather. Gaann stsiye sunt’ae.
Who did you see? Bedi’i nghił’aen’?
I saw my older brother. Sunghae nghał’aen’.
I saw my younger brother. Scele nghał’aen’.
I saw my older sister. Sadae nghał’aen’.
I saw my younger sister. Sdaedze’ nghał’aen’.

 

Activities

woman running
What is he/she doing? Nts’e t’aen?
He/she is sitting. Zdaa.
He/she is standing. Nadzen.
He/she is sleeping. Ztaen.
He/she is running. Ghaltseł.
He/she is dancing. C’eldzes.
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am sewing. Nancneskaan’.
I am running. Ghaltseł.
I am dancing. C’eldzes.
I am standing. Nghasdzen.
I am sitting up. Ts’etge’ zesdaa.
I am sleeping. Zestaen.
I am walking. Ghasyaał.
What is the man doing? Naghat denae nts’e t’aen?
The man is dancing. Denae c’eldzes.
What is the woman doing? Naghat ts’akae nts’e t’aen?
The woman is sewing. Ts’akae nancnekaan’.
What is the boy doing? Naa ciił nts’e t’aen?
The boy is walking. Ciił ghayaał.
What is the woman doing? Naghat ts’akae nts’e t’aen?
The woman is sitting up. Ts’akae ts’etge’ zdaa.

 

Where Do You Live?

fish drying on rack near cabin
Where are you staying? Ndaa zidaa?
I stay in Mentasta. Mendaesde zesdaa.
I stay in Batzulnetas. Nataełde zesdaa.
I stay in the country. Ni’ ta zesdaa.

 

Possessives

Chart of Possessive Prefixes

husky dog
my s- our ne-
your (sing.) n- your (pl.) nuh-
his/her u-, b- their hu-

Example: House – Konax

my house skonaa’ our house nekonaa’
your (sing.) house nkonaa’ your (pl.) house nuhkonaa’
his/her house ukonaa’ their house hukonaa’

January Lessons

 

Body Parts

left foot
This is his/her head. Gaann du’ utse’.
This is his/her neck. Gaann du’ uk’os.
This is his/her arm. Gaann du’ uggaann’.
This is his/her chest. Gaann du’ ut’aay.
This is his/her stomach. Gaann du’ utsaal’.
This is his/her hair. Gaann du’ utsigha’.
This is my tooth. Gaann du’ sghu’.
This is my face. Gaann du’ snaen’.
This is my eye. Gaann du’ snaegge’.
This is my nose. Gaann du’ sentsiis.
This is my ear. Gaann du’ sdzaghe’.
This is my foot. Gaann du’ ske’.
This is my knee. Gaann du’ sggot’.

 

Activities

children playing ball
What is he/she doing? Nts’e t’aen?
He/she is crying. Tsagh.
He/she is sewing. Nancnekaan’.
He/she is playing. Delghos.
He/she is going for water. Tuu katezyaa.
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am crying. ‘Estsagh.
I am sewing. Nancneskaan’.
I am playing. Delghos.
I am going for water. Tuu katiisyaa.
What is the woman doing? Ts’akae nts’e t’aen?
The woman is sewing. Ts’akae nancnekaan’.

 

Objects

cup
This is a cup. Gaann du’ tutiił.
This is a spoon. Gaann du’ tseskaa.
This is a plate. Gaann du’ ts’aac.
This is a blanket. Gaann du’ ts’ede’.
This is a cane. Gaann du’ tets’.
Is this your cup? Gaann du’ ntutiil’ da nt’aey?
Yes, it is my cup. ‘Aen’, stutiil’.
It is not my cup. K’ali’i stutiil’ ‘ilehe.

February Lessons

 

Understanding Native Language

old man young boy
Do you understand our (Native) Language? Nekenaey’ da di’its’ak?
Yes, I understand our (Native)Language. ‘Aen’, nekenaey’ de’ests’ak.
I do not understand our (Native) Language. Nekenaege’ li’i diists’age.
I understand our (Native) Language just a bit. Xa’xu yaen’ nekenaege’ de’ests’ak.

 

Walking To  

girl walking to school
Where are you walking to? Nduu ghiyaał?
I am walking to the lake. Men ts’e’ tesyaas.
I am walking to the school. C’edohdeldiixe ts’e’ tesyaas.
I am walking to the store. C’utkaet ts’e’ tesyaas.
I’ll walk to my friend’s (house). Stlaen ts’e’ tusya’a.
Where is he/she walking to? Nduu tayaał?
He/she is walking to the school. C’edohdeldiixe ts’e’ tezyaa.
The man is walking to the store. Naa denae c’utkaet ts’e’ tezyaa.

 

Clothing

mittens
What do you have? Yidi’i zilaa?
I have clothes. Yu’ zełaa.
I have mitts. Gets’ zełaa.
I have moccasins. Kentsiis zełaa.
I have socks. Tel zełaa.
I have pants. Seł zełaa.
I have a shirt. Deghaec zełniic.
I have a hat. Tsic’uus zeł’aan.

 

Fire

stacked wood
Do you have matches? Kon’ da dizilaa?
Yes, I have matches. ‘Aen’, kon’ diiłaa.
I do not have matches. Kon’ k’ali’i diiłaha.
Do you have firewood? Kon’ tsedze’ da dizilaa?
Yes, I have firewood. ‘Aen’, kon’ tsedze’ diiłaa.
What do you have? Nen du’, yidi’i dizilaa?
I have dry spruce branches. Dacts’iisi diiłaa.
I have shavings. C’ezaes diiłaa.
What is he/she doing? Nts’e t’aen?
He/she is making a fire. Kon’ diłk’aas.
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am making a fire. Nakon’dełk’aas.
Make fire! Kon’ nadiłk’aas!

 

Commands

Woman facing front, hand on hips
Come here! ‘Aann!
Go away (plural)! Stanohdaeł!
Sit down (1)! Zidaa!
You guys sit down! Dezolts’ii!
Stand up (1)! Nidzen!
You guys stand up! Nidozolyaa!

March Lessons

 

Speaking Native Language

girl points left
Do you know your (Native) Language? Nkenaege’ da ‘ełdaditnes?
Yes, I speak my (Native) Language. ‘Aen’, skenaege’ ‘eł hnesyaes.
I do not speak (my Native Language). K’ali’i kiisnaeze.

 

How are you?

fevered boy
How are you? Nts’e dit’ae?
I am sick. ‘Ests’aat.
My head hurts. Stse’ ghits’aat.
I am fine. Ugheli ‘ełaen.
I am better. Ughel dazesdlaen.
I am really tired. T’ae’ taghastnak.
I am sleepy. Naał sdestlaan.

 

Numbers

small spruce tree
one ts’ełk’ey
two nadaeggi
three taaggi
four denc’ii
five ‘ałts’eni
I saw two spruce trees. Nadaeggi ts’ebael nghał’aen’.
I saw one spruce tree. Ts’ełk’ey ts’ebael nghał’aen’.
I saw lots of spruce. Ts’ebael nelt’e’e nghał’aen’.
I didn’t see any spruce. K’ali’i ts’ebael neł’iil.

 

The Sky

moon and stars
What did you see in the sky? ‘Utggu yat’aa yidi’i nghił’aen’?
I saw the stars. Son’ nghał’aen’.
I saw the moon. Ghaldzaey nghał’aen’.
I saw the sun. Saa nghał’aen’.
I saw the clouds. K’os nghał’aen’.

 

Classificatory Verbs-1
Give Me  

tap waterbox of tea and tea cup
Give me the rock. Ts’es sle’i’aas.
Give me the hat. Tsic’uus sle’i’aas.
Give me the tea in a cup. Tutiił yiit tsaey sle’ikaas.
Give me the water in a cup. Tutiił yiit tuu sle’ikaas.
Give me the puppy. Łiggaay sle’iłtaes.
Give me the child. Sc’aen sle’iłtaes.

 

Going To  

river Valley
Where are you going? Nduu tiziyaa?
I am going to the mountain. Dzeł ts’e’ tiisyaa.
I am going to the creek. C’ena’ ts’e’ tiisyaa.
I am going to the lake. Men ts’e’ tiisyaa.

April Lessons

 

Daytime

snowy peaks
It is daytime. Dzaenn kulaen.
It is morning. Secagha kulaen.
It is night. Tets kulaen.

 

Spring

icicles
It is springtime. Daan’ kuzdlaet.
Is there snow on the mountains? Dzeł ta da nadaexi kulaen?
Yes, there’s snow on the mountains. ‘Aen’, dzeł ta nadaexi kulaen.
Is it getting warm? Nohtnilkuun’ da?
Yes, it is getting warm. ‘Aen’, nohtnilkuun’.
Is it cold? Hwdezk’ats da?
Is it still cold? Dats’ii da hwdezk’ats?

 

Traps and Tracks

mouse tracks
What kind of traps are these? Gaann du’ yidi’i ‘aeł c’a nt’aey?
These are wolf traps. Gaann c’a tikaann ‘ael’ sunt’ae.
These are mouse traps. Gaann c’a dluunn ‘ael’ sunt’ae.
These are beaver traps. Gaann c’a tsa’ ‘ael’ sunt’ae.
These are moose tracks. Deniigi k’eh su tkut’ae.

 

Colors

cap
What is this? Gaann yidi’i c’a nt’aey?
This is a black hat. Gaann c’a tsic’uus lt’uuts’ sunt’ae.
This is a white hat. Gaann c’a tsic’uus lggey sunt’ae.
This is a red hat. Gaann c’a tsic’uus lt’eli sunt’ae.
This is a blue hat. Gaann c’a tsic’uus datl’ets’i sunt’ae.
This is a brown hat. Gaann c’a tsic’uus ltsogh sunt’ae.

 

Birds

white raven
What bird is this? Gaann yidi’i tsuggaaggi c’a nt’aey?
This is an owl. Gaann besiinn sunt’ae.
What are the ducks doing? Dats’eni nts’e t’aen?
The ducks are flying around. Dats’eni natnedeł.
The grouse is making his nest. Deyh det’ox łtsii.
The raven is eating. Tsaghani c’eyaan.
The goose is walking around. Xax natedaas.

 

Postpositions

dog sitting on doghouse
The dog is sitting on its house. Łic’ae dekonaa’ k’et dazdaa.
The dog is sitting in its house. Łic’ae dekonaa’ yii zdaa.
The dog is sitting behind its house. Łic’ae dekonaa’ ghanii dezdaa.
The dog is sitting beside its house. Łic’ae dekonaa’ k’eze zdaa.
The dog is sitting under its house. Łic’ae dekonaa’ t’aax zdaa.

May Lessons

 

Weather

river ice
Is it raining outside? Na’aaxe łcaan da?
Is it really raining? T’ae’ da niłcaan?
Is it still raining? Dats’ii ghałcaan?
Is it muddy? Łic’ak da kulaen?
Yes, it is muddy. ‘Aen’, łic’ak kuzdlaet.
Is it cloudy? K’os da kulaen?
Yes, it is cloudy. ‘Aen’, k’os kuzdlaet.
Is it still cloudy? Dats’ii da k’os kulaen?
Has the ice broken up? Ten da ketnatghotl?
Yes, the ice is breaking up. ‘Aen’, ten ketnatghotl.
It has not broken up. K’ali’ ten katnitghołe.
It is nice outside. Na’aaxe ugheli kuzdlaet.

 

Tanning Hides

cleaning animal hide
This is a moose hide. Deniigi zes sunt’ae.
This is a caribou hide. Gaann udzih zes sunt’ae.
What is he/she doing? Nts’e t’aen?
She is tanning (working on) a hide. C’ezes zogh.
What are you doing? Dit’aen?
I am tanning a hide. C’ezes ‘esogh.

 

Insects

butterfly
This is a mosquito. Gaann c’a kuggaedi sunt’ae.
This is a fly. Gaann c’a don’ sunt’ae.
This is a spider. Gaann c’a tsukulahdzaey sunt’ae.
This is an ant. Gaann c’a nadosi sunt’ae.
This is a butterfly. Gaann c’a lahleli sunt’ae.
What is the ant doing? Nadosi nts’e t’aen?
The ants are crawling around. Nadosi natel’aas.
The spider is crawling around. Tsukulahdzaey natedaas.
The butterfly is flying around. Lahleli natnet’ax.
The fly is flying around. Don’ natnet’ax.
The mosquito stung me. Kuggaedi sezggot.
The spider is making a web. Tsukulahdzaey danc’etl’u’.

 

Young Animals

baby moose
What kind of animal is this? Gaann du’ yidi’i nkohnesi c’a nt’aey?
This is a moose calf. Gaann c’a detsiige’ sunt’ae.
This is a baby rabbit. Ggax uggaay sunt’ae.
This is a bear cub. Sos ggaay sunt’ae.
What did you see? Yidi’i c’a nghił’aen’?
I saw a wolf pup. Tikaann ggaay nghał’aen’.
I saw a baby fox. Yunyeggaay ggaay nghał’aen’.
I saw the puppies. Łiggaay nghał’aen’.

 

Classificatory Verbs-2
Give Me  

moccassins
Give me the paper. Denehtl’aa sle’iłniis.
Give me the blanket. Ts’ede’ sle’iłniis.
Give me the gun. K’a’ sle’ditiis.
Give me the stick. Decen sle’ditiis.
Give me the moccasins. Kentsiis sle’ilae.
Give me the bullets. K’a’tse’ sle’nilae.

June Lessons

 

Weather

hot and sunny
Is it warm for you? N’eł da hwnelkon’?
Yes, it is warm for me. ‘Aen’, s’eł nohnilkuun’.
It is not warm for me. K’ali’ s’eł hwnilkon’o.
It is summertime. Saen su tkut’ae.

 

Walking Around / By / On

girl hiking
What is he/she doing? Ghan nts’e t’aen?
He/she is walking around. Natedaas.
Where is he/she walking? Nduu łoghayaał?
He/she is walking around by the lake. Men baaghe c’a łooyaał.
He/she is walking by the creek. C’ena’ k’aze łooyaał.
He/she is walking by the river. Ts’itu’ k’aze łooyaał.
He/she is walking on the mountain. Dzeł k’et natedaas.
He/she is walking on the hill. Tes k’et natedaas.
What are you doing? Nts’e dit’aen?
I am walking around outside. Na’aaxe łoghesyaał.
I am walking by the lake shore. Men baaghe natesdaas.
I am walking by the creek. C’ena’ baaghe natesdaas.

 

Plants

alder leaves
What is this? Gaann yidi’i c’a nt’aey?
This is grass. Gaann tl’ogh sunt’ae.
This is a spruce bough. Gaann ts’ebael ‘ełe’ sunt’ae.
What is growing? Yidi’i na’aaxe neyaex?
A mushroom is growing. C’eney’ nanetyaex.
Wild celery is growing. Gguus nanetyaex.
Foxtails are growing. Łice’ neyaex.
Leaves are growing. C’et’aan’ neyaex.

 

Useful Classroom Expressions

sssshhhhhhh
Be quiet (1)! Dadzineh!
You guys be quiet! Dadołghaets!
Yes. ‘Aen’.
No. ‘Ene’.
You listen (1 person)! C’edi’its’ak!
You guys listen! C’edo’ohts’ak!
Do you hear me? Sdi’its’ak da?
I hear you. Nde’ests’ak.
I don’t hear you. K’ali’i ndiists’agga.
I don’t know. Su’u.
Good! Ugheli!
It is really good! Łaan’ ‘eł ugheli!
Thank you! Tsin’aen!
Get away! ‘Enn’!
That’s not right! K’ali’i ugheli dohdilehe!
Enough! Xonah!
Don’t! ‘Ene’!
It’s hot! ‘Ebeh!
It’s cold! ‘Edlii!
Poor thing! Tegeh!

 

Noun Index

Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium’s MSTC Ahtna Language Series is the first published attempt to standardize spelling in Ahtna words to assist students in recognizing vocabulary. In 1975 the Alaska Native Language Center (ANLC) published the Ahtna Noun Dictionary by James Kari and Millie Buck. It offers the best documentation of different dialectal forms and organizes words by categories, like animals, seasons, and household objects, which makes it a very good tool for beginners. Kari’s Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary was published by ANLC in 1990. Its index may offer different words or spellings for nouns in this book. If the forms in both texts are similar, both references are included below.

This Noun Index is an English-initial, alphabetized list to familiar nouns. References for the nouns in both of Kari’s dictionaries are listed with dialectal information when it is available. “M” or “U” refer to Mentasta or Upper Ahtna dialectal forms. “C” or “L” refer to Central or Lower Ahtna dialectal forms. If only one dictionary is referenced, the Upper Ahtna form was not available in the 1990 English-Ahtna index. Use Find in your browser to locate words in this list as they appear in sentences in the text.

ant nadosi 75:27/90:478 p. 47
axe cen’aay (M)75:123 p. 9
baby (little child) sc’enggaay 75:55/75:74/90:481 p. 3
bear(s) sos (M)75:1/90:483 p. 8, 48
beaver tsa’ 75:2/90:484 p. 41
berry (blueberry) gigi 75:39/(M)75:40/90:485 p. 4, 5, 14
blanket ts’ede’ (C, U)75:106/90:486 p. 27, 49
boy or young man ciił 75:54/90:488 p. 3, 5, 10, 22
bread (fry) c’aan 75:146/90:489 p. 15
bullets k’a’tse’ 75:116/90:491 p. 9, 49
butterfly lahleli (M)75:27/90:492 p. 47
cane tets’ 75:139/90:493 p. 27
caribou udzih (C, M)75:2/90:493 p. 8, 11, 46
child sc’aen 75:55/90:496 p. 3, 38
clothes yu’ 75:105/90:498 p. 30
clouds (cloudy) k’os (C, U)75:89/90:498 p. 2, 37, 45
cranberry (low-bush) ntl’et (M)75:40/90:485 p. 4
creek c’ena’ 75:77 p. 39, 51, 52
cup tutiił 75:150/90:504 p. 27, 38
dog łic’ae 75:8/90:510 p. 44
dry fish ba’ 75:144/90:512 p. 14, 15
duck dats’eni (C, M)75:16/90:512 p. 43
fire (matches) kon’ 75:97/90:520/90:551 p. 31, 32
firewood (shavings) c’ezaes 75:98/90:585 p. 31
fish tsabaey 75:10/90:520 p. 14
five (things) ‘ałts’eni 75:99/90:521 p. 36
fly don’ 75:28 p. 47
fog (foggy) ‘aak (U)75:89/90:523 p. 2
four (things) denc’ii (M)75:99/90:524 p. 36
fox yunyeggaay (M)75:3 p. 48
foxtails łice’ 75:36/90:524 p. 53
girl ts’akae ggaay 75:54/90:547/90:623 p. 3
goose xax 75:15/90:528 p. 43
grass tl’ogh 75:37/90:529 p. 53
grayling segele (M)75:10/90:529 p. 4
grouse (spruce hen) deyh (M)75:18/90:530 p. 43
gun k’a’ 75:116/90:531 p. 9, 49
hat tsic’uus 75:108/90:533 p. 30, 38, 42
hide (skin) c’ezes 75:9/75:111/90:589 p. 46
hill (knoll) tes 75:82/90:535 p. 52
knife tsactsii (M)75:121/90:543 p. 9
lake men (M)75:77/90:543 p. 29, 39, 51, 52
leaves c’et’aan’ (M)75:30/90:545 p. 53
man denae 75:55/90:550 p. 3, 10, 11, 22
meat c’etsen’ 75:141/90:551 p. 13, 15
mitts gets’ 75:108/90:553 p. 30
moccasins kentsiis 75:107/90:553 p. 30, 49
moon ghaldzaey 75:87/90:554 p. 37
moose deniigi 75:4/90:554 p. 8, 11, 41, 46
moose (bull) nicuunn (M)75:4/90:554 p. 8
moose (calf) detsiige’ 75:4/90:554 p. 8, 48
moose (cow) deyaazi 75:4/90:554 p. 8
mosquito kuggaedi 75:29/90:554 p. 47
mountain(s) dzeł (M)75:81/90:555 p. 39, 40, 51
mouse dluunn 75:5/90:555 p. 41
mushroom c’eney’ (M)75:43/90:557 p. 53
one (thing) ts’ełk’ey (C, M)75:99/90:562 p. 36
owl besiinn (M)75:20/90:564 p. 43
pants seł (C, L, M)75:107/90:564 p. 30
pike ‘ulgaadzi (U)75:10/90:567 p. 4
plate (dish) ts’aac (M)75:150/90:568 p. 27
puppy łiggaay 75:8/90:573 p. 38, 48
rabbit ggax 75:6/90:574 p. 8, 48
raven tsaghani (M)75:22/90:575 p. 43
salmon łuk’ae 75:11/90:581 p. 4, 13, 14
salmonberry (cloudberry) nkaał 75:40/90:485 p. 4
sheep debae 75:6/90:586 p. 8
shirt deghaec (M)75:105/90:586 p. 30
snowshoes ‘aas 75:155/90:592 p. 18
socks tel 75:108/90:593 p. 30
soup taas 75:145/90:594 p. 14
spider tsukulahdzaey (M)75:29/90:595 p. 47
spruce ts’ebael (M)75:34/90:597 p. 36, 53
spruce branches (dry twigs) dacts’iisi (M)75:98/90:597 p. 31
stars son’ 75:88/90:598 p. 37
stick decen (M)75:32/90:599 p. 49
summer saen 75:92/90:603 p. 50
sun saa (M)75:87/90:603 p. 37
tea tsaey 75:148/90:606 p. 15, 16, 17, 38
tent (canvas) tazes (M)75:128/75:112/90:493 p. 18
three (things) taaggi (C, U)75:99 p. 36
trap ‘aeł 75:117/90:612 p. 18, 41
two (things) nadaeggi 75:99/90:614 p. 36
water tuu 75:77/90:619 p. 16, 26, 38
wild celery gguus (C, L)75:36/90:495 p. 53
winter xay (C, L)75:92/90:623 p. 12
wolf (wolves) tikaann 75:7/90:623 p. 8, 41, 48
woman ts’akae 75:54/90:623 p. 3, 5, 17, 22, 26