Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken?
5 thoughts on “Language quiz”
Back to Algonkian! And this time, I’m quite certain that’s what it is. As to the specific language, I’d have to listen more closely to have a good idea. It may be a variety of the Ojibwe-Odawa-Algonquin continuum or some other Central Algonkian language from the Great Lakes region.
Knowing nothing, it sounds like a Native American language, kinda Pacific NW, but Chris sounds pretty confident above, so I’m sure I’m wrong about PNW. 🙂
It sounds Native North American, and I’d agree with Chris that this is probably Algonquian. It’s definitely not from a Pacific NW language family like Salishan, Na-Dene, Haida etc. because the phonology doesn’t sound anywhere as complex as what you’d normally expect from those language families.
So I’m going with Algonquian, but would lean towards the eastern branch and guess this to be Delaware-Munsee-Mohican. (Again, I’m might be way off)
Actually, no! I change my mind. I think this is Inuktitut or a closely related dialect like Inuinnaqtun.
The answer is Míkmaq (L’nui’sin), an Algonquian language spoken mainly in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada.
Here’s a transcription and translation of the conversation:
Mnja’si! – Get up! (from bed)
Ta’s ajiet nike? – What time is it now?
7 îklak – It is 7 o’clock.
Kîtu’ eksitpukataln? – Would you like breakfast?
E’e, kewisn. – Yes, I’m hungry.
Koqoey ketutmn – What would you like?
Wa’wl aq to’stl – Eggs and toast
Net tepiatew? – Will that be enough?
E’e, tepiatew. – Yes, that will be enough.
Back to Algonkian! And this time, I’m quite certain that’s what it is. As to the specific language, I’d have to listen more closely to have a good idea. It may be a variety of the Ojibwe-Odawa-Algonquin continuum or some other Central Algonkian language from the Great Lakes region.
Knowing nothing, it sounds like a Native American language, kinda Pacific NW, but Chris sounds pretty confident above, so I’m sure I’m wrong about PNW. 🙂
It sounds Native North American, and I’d agree with Chris that this is probably Algonquian. It’s definitely not from a Pacific NW language family like Salishan, Na-Dene, Haida etc. because the phonology doesn’t sound anywhere as complex as what you’d normally expect from those language families.
So I’m going with Algonquian, but would lean towards the eastern branch and guess this to be Delaware-Munsee-Mohican. (Again, I’m might be way off)
Actually, no! I change my mind. I think this is Inuktitut or a closely related dialect like Inuinnaqtun.
The answer is Míkmaq (L’nui’sin), an Algonquian language spoken mainly in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada.
The recording comes from the First Nation Help Desk.
Here’s a transcription and translation of the conversation:
Mnja’si! – Get up! (from bed)
Ta’s ajiet nike? – What time is it now?
7 îklak – It is 7 o’clock.
Kîtu’ eksitpukataln? – Would you like breakfast?
E’e, kewisn. – Yes, I’m hungry.
Koqoey ketutmn – What would you like?
Wa’wl aq to’stl – Eggs and toast
Net tepiatew? – Will that be enough?
E’e, tepiatew. – Yes, that will be enough.