NORTHWEST INDIAN DIALECTS

The following examples of some of the local dialects was taken from the the book "Ten Years In Oregon" by Daniel Lee and Joseph Frost.

 

CLATSOP DIALECT


The Clatsops reside on the south side of the Columbia River

I...................................Nika
You................................Mika
He.................................Yohka
She................................Ahka
We.................................Elhika or nesika
Ye or you..........................Mesika
They...............................Klaska
Ours...............................Nesika
Yours..............................Mesika
Theirs.............................Hlaska

Man.................................Coatlalikum
Woman..............................Cloachaman
Brother............................Ow
Sister.............................Ats
Slave..............................Eliaty or mischemus
Pipe...............................Olomboh
Tobacco............................Kinutle
The chief diety....................Acarna
The bad spirit.....................Exclahou
Dead...............................Mamaluste
To eat.............................Nohelholaboh
I die..............................Nobuckata nika
Breath, spirit or soul.............Yahanetty
Heart..............................Esquamanahle
I will take a smoke................Kinutle nohel holabah nika
Salmon.............................Qunache
Dog................................Kamuks
Deer...............................Mouits
Elk................................Molock
Horse..............................Cuetan
Cow................................Moosmoos
Bear...............................Atchhoat
Wolf...............................Lalo
Bird...............................Culacula
Wild goose.........................Culluckalahbah
Duck...............................Quahquah
Wood...............................Tubits
Finger ring........................Quiaquia
Sash...............................Oquivaquah
Powder horn........................Omuckwell
Musket.............................Shuckwalellah
Black..............................Kleloh
White..............................Tekope
Blue...............................Spuck
Red................................Pilpil
Green..............................Petish
Strawberries.......................Ommoty
Whortleberries.....................Conespuck
Cranberries........................Sulumisha
Gooseberries.......................Commosock

 


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