Circa 1890
How the Rabbit killed the male Winter
An Omaha myth, told in Kwapa by Alphonsus Valliere
recorded by James Owen Dorsey 

 

Story in English
(further explanation)
Story in Quapaw using phonetic spelling
Story in Quapaw using Siouan IPA
Literal translation of Quapaw words

And so it happened that Rabbit went there (somewhere), it is said.

hoⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi ma-shtiⁿ-ke e-ti de naⁿ, i-ya.

hǫ́tʰąhi maštį́ke ettí dé ną, iyá.

then, at length/rabbit/there/go/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

After some time he arrived at the abode of the Winter, it is said.

hoⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi sni-wa-te niⁿ-kʰe-ti hi, i-ya.

hǫ́tʰąhi sniwátte nįkʰétti hí, iyá.

then, at length/winter, north, power of winter/the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate/at, by, in/arrive, reach there, have been/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“Well! Well! You have never come here before now!

“ho-hoo! da-tʰi-zhi hi naⁿ ni-tʰe!

“hohoó! datʰíži hi ną́ nitʰé!

interjection of wonder, surprise/you arrive, you have come here/not, negative, negation/very/habitual postclitic/conditional, perfect; although; heretofore

 

Sit over there!

(Sit by those things near you.)

she-ke-ti kniⁿ!

šekétti knį́!

those non-singular, standing, animate or inanimate objects/at, by, in/sit, be sitting, be in a place, camp

 

On what very important business are you traveling?” it is said Winter said.

(Shows that there must have been some great trouble or important business which forced the Rabbit to wander from his home at such a time)

haⁿ-e hi da-maⁿ-tiⁿ ni-she?” i-yi i-ya sni-wa-te.

hą́e hi damą́ttį nišé?” iyí iyá sniwátte.

what is the matter, what happened/very/you walk/2sg continuative aux moving/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/winter, north, power of winter

 

“Yes, my mother’s brother and also my father’s sister.

(Addressing Winter and his wife.)

“hoⁿ, wi-te-ke wi-ti-mi e-naⁿ-pa.

“hǫ́, wítteke wittími énąpá.

yes/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/my aunt, man’s father’s sister/both, also, too

 

My grandmother almost beat the life out of me,

i-kaⁿ aⁿ-xdi hi tʰe,

ikką́ ą́xdi hi tʰe,

my grandmother/strike me down, knock me senseless/very/past, completive aspect

 

so, I have been coming in a very bad mood,” it is said Rabbit said.

e-koⁿ, wa-zhaⁿ-aⁿ-ni-ke-xti pʰi a-ni-he,” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

ekǫ́, wažą́ąníkextí pʰí anihé,” iyí iyá maštį́ke.

like, thus, like that, so/I’m ill humored/very, real, fully/I come, I be coming here/1sg continuative aux moving/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

He (Rabbit) sat crying, it is said.

xa-ke kniⁿ niⁿ-kʰe naⁿ, i-ya.

γaké knį nįkʰé ną, iyá.

cry, weep/sit, be sitting, be in a place, camp/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

Rabbit jumped about continually, it is said.

ma-shtiⁿ-ke zha-ka i-naⁿ-naⁿ shoⁿ kniⁿ naⁿ, i-ya.

maštį́ke žakká iną́ną šǫ knį́ ną, i-ya.

rabbit/jump, make sudden leaps/and, still, yet/sit, be sitting, be in a place, camp/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

Rabbit could not sit still, it is said.

kaⁿ-zhe-hi-ti kniⁿ-zhi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

kkąžéhittí knį́ži iyá maštį́ke.

very motionless/sit, be sitting, be in a place, camp/not, negative, negation/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/rabbit

 

Winter said to him, “Will you sit still!” it is said.

“kaⁿ-zhi da-kniⁿ te,” i-ke i-ya sni-wa-te.

“kkąží daknį́ tte,” iké iyá sniwátte.

still, motionless/you sit/future, potential or optative marker, shall/say (the preceding) to someone/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/winter, north, power of winter

 

“No, mother’s brother, it is always like this.”

“hoⁿ-zhi, wi-te-ke, de shoⁿ-zho-ki-de.”

“hǫží, wítteké, de šǫžókidé.”

no/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/this/always, ever, never

 

After some time, Winter Spoke of going hunting, it is said that he said.

hoⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi, sni-wa-te ta-bde de ta-we, i-yi i-ya.

hǫ́tʰąhi, sniwatté tábde dé tta awé iyí, iyá.

then, at length/winter, north, power of winter/hunt large animals/go/future tense, potential mode clitic/evidential particle/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths

 

“My Mother’s brother, I will go with you,” it is said Rabbit said.

“wi-te-ke, de shoⁿ-bde ta miⁿ-kʰe,” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

“wítteké, dé šǫbdé ttá mįkʰé,” iyí iyá maštį́ke.

my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/this/I go toward you, I go to the place where you are or near you, I come toward you, I go to a person or someone/future tense/1sg continuative aux sitting/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

“Why! you would surely die!” it is said Winter said.

“ho-hoo, di-t’e te de,” i-yi i-ya sni-wa-te.

“hohoó, ditʔé tte dé,” iyí iyá sniwátte.

interjection of wonder, surprise/you die/future, potential or optative marker, shall/really, indeed/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/winter, north, power of winter

 

“No, mother’s brother, how could I possibly die?

“hoⁿ-zhi, wi-te-ke, haⁿ-niⁿ-taⁿ aⁿ-t’e ni-hoⁿ?

“hǫží, wítteke, hąnį́ttą ątʔé nihǫ́?

no/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/why or how/I die/improbability post clitic

 

No matter what, I will go with you,” it is said Rabbit said.

koi-shoⁿ-e, shoⁿ-bde ta miⁿ-kʰe,” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

kóišǫ́e, šǫbdé tta mįkʰé,” iyí iyá maštį́ke.

no matter what/I go toward you, I go to the place where you are or near you, I come toward you, I go to a person or someone/future tense/1sg continuative aux sitting/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

“We shall see. Do so!” it is said that Winter said.

“aⁿ-naⁿ-de ta-i. e-koⁿ te e-ki-oⁿ!” sni-wa-te i-yi i-ya.

“ąną́de ttaí. ékǫ tte ékiǫ́!” sniwátte iyí iyá.

we see/we shall, let’s/so shall it be, it will be like that/do as someone has said or done/winter, north, power of winter/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths

 

The Winter went out of the lodge, and he said, “whoo! whoo!” they say, when,

sni-wa-te e niⁿ a-shi-ti naⁿ “hw! hw!” i-yi i-ya-wi taⁿ,

sniwátte e nį ášitti ną “hw! hw!” iyí iyáwi tą,

winter, north, power of winter/that, aforementioned/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/outside, outdoors/past sign, when/onomonopia, sound of wind/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/plural sign/when

 

he made a blizzard, it is said, it was very cold, it is said.

i-ka-sho-te ka-xe, i-ya, sni-wa-te hi, i-ya.

íkašótte káγe, iyá, sníwatte hi, iyá.

blizzard/make, do, cause/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/cold, north, winter/very/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

He departed, accompanied by the Rabbit, it is said.

de naⁿ ma-shtiⁿ-ke niⁿ zho-kde de, i-ya.

de ną maštį́ke nį žokdé de, iyá.

go/when, time when/rabbit/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/with, be with someone/go/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

The Rabbit was very active, it is said.

ma-shtiⁿ-ke niⁿ si-si a-ta-ha, i-ya.

maštį́ke nį sisí áttaha, iyá.

rabbit/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/active/too, exceedingly, much/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

He ran far ahead and then back, again and again, it is said.

e-to-ha hi shi naⁿ-ke de naⁿ, i-ya,

ettóha hí shi nąké de ną, iyá,

ahead, in front, in advance/very/again, and, also/run as an animal/go/habitual postclitic/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

xa-da shi kdi naⁿ, i-ya.

xáda shi kdi ną, iyá

back to starting point, back/again, and, also/to have come back here/habitual postclitic/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

He ran around and around the Winter, it is said.

sni-wa-te niⁿ naⁿ-ke shi o-di-shaⁿ naⁿ, i-ya.

sniwátte nį nąké shi odíšą ną, iyá.

winter, north, power of winter/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/run as an animal/again, and, also/go around in a circle/habitual postclitic/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“That person is extremely active!” thought Winter, it is said.

“ni-ka-shi-ka niⁿ si-si a-ta-ha e-naⁿ,” i-niⁿ-aⁿ i-ya sni-wa-te.

“níkkašíka nį sisí áttaha éną,” ínįą́ iyá sniwátte.

person, people, a man/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/active/too, exceedingly, much/only that (!, in soliloquy)/think (what precedes)/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/winter, north, power of winter

 

After a while, he (Rabbit) flushed out a deer, it is said.

hoⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi, ta miⁿ naⁿ-zhi-we, i-ya.

hǫ́tʰąhi, tta mį nąžíwe, iyá.

then, at length/deer/one, a/drive, flush out with the feet/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“Oho! My mother’s brother, there is a deer approaching over there! Shoot it!” it is said Rabbit said.

“ho-hoo! wi-te-ke, ta miⁿ she-do i-hi! ki-ta!” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke

“hohoó! wítteke, tta mį šédo ihí! kkitta!” iyí iyá maštį́ke

interjection of wonder, surprise/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/deer/one, a/yonder, there/arrive, reach the place/shoot (command)/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

“No, I am not looking for that kind,” it is said Winter said.

“hoⁿ-zhi, e-koⁿ o-a-ta-zhi a-ni-he,” i-yi i-ya sni-wa-te

“hǫží, ekǫ́ oáttaži anihé,” iyí iyá sniwátte

no/like, like that/I look for, hunt, search/not, negative, negation/1sg continuative aux moving/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/winter, north, power of winter

 

“Just what can he be looking for?” thought the rabbit, it is said.

“ta-taⁿ naⁿ o-te niⁿ e tʰoⁿ?” i-niⁿ-aⁿ i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

“táttą ną otté nį e tʰǫ́?” ínįą́ iyá maštį́ke.

what, something/only/look for, hunt, search/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/question sign/in soliloquy/think (what precedes)/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/rabbit

 

After a while the Rabbit saw some Indians, it is said.

hoⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi ma-shtiⁿ-ke ni-ka-shi-ka we-de naⁿ, i-ya.

hǫ́tʰąhi maštį́ke níkkašíka wéde ną, iyá.

then, at length/rabbit/person, people, a man/he see, find them/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“Oho! my mother’s brother, over there are some Indians who are approaching,” it is said Rabbit said.

“ho-hoo! wi-te-ke, ni-ka-shi-ka de-pa she-do i-hi-we,” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

“hohoó! wítteke, níkkašíka dépa šédo ihíwe,” iyí iyá maštį́ke.

interjection of wonder, surprise/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/person, people, a man/these moving, animate/yonder, there/they arrive, reach the place (they go to you)/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

“Yes, I have been looking for just that kind,” it is said Winter said.

“hoⁿ, e-koⁿ naⁿ o-a-te a-ni-he,” i-yi i-ya sni-wa-te.

“hǫ, ekǫ́ ną́ oátte anihé,” iyí iyá sniwátte.

yes/like, like that/only that/I look for, hunt, search/1sg continuative aux moving/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/winter, north, power of winter

 

Then he (Winter) killed them, it is said.

koi-shoⁿ-taⁿ t’e-wa-de, i-ya.

kóišǫ́ttą tʔéwadé, iyá.

thus, accordingly, in that way/he killed them/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

He (Winter) put the Indians across his back and packed them to his home, it is said.

ni-ka-shi-ka ni-kʰa kda-kʰa wa-k’iⁿ kde, i-ya.

níkkašíka nikʰá kdákʰą wakʔį́ kdé, iyá.

person, people, a man/3pl continuative aux sitting or reclining/crosswise, across/pack things/go home, to start homeward/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

When he (Winter) returned to his home carrying the Indians, she (Winter’s wife) cooked them, it is said.

ni-ka-shi-ka ni-kʰa wa-k’iⁿ kʰi-naⁿ, o-wa-hoⁿ, i-ya.

níkkašíka nikʰá wakʔį́ kʰí-ną, ówahǫ, iyá.

person, people, a man/3pl continuative aux sitting or reclining/pack things/arrive back at one’s own/when/boil or cook plural, animate, objects/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“Hurry up and cook for your brother’s son!

“di-taⁿ-shka o-ti-ti o-ki-hoⁿ!

“dittą́ška óttitti ókihǫ́!

your nephew, son of woman’s brother or man’s sister/hurry in doing something, quickly/boil or cook food for someone

 

I think that he (Rabbit) is very hungry,” it is said Winter said.

naⁿ-pe-hi-xti niⁿ a-zha-miⁿ,” i-yi i-ya sni-wa-te.

nąppéhi-xti nį́ ážąmį́,” iyí iyá sniwátte.

to be hungry/very, real, fully/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/I think/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/winter, north, power of winter

 

When it (the Indians) was done, she filled the bowl for him (Rabbit), with the human flesh, it is said.

ti-te-de naⁿ, o-zhi o-ki-zhi tʰaⁿ, i-ya, ni-ka-shi-ka zho tʰe.

títtede-ną́, óži ókiži tʰą, iyá, níkkašíka žó tʰe.

cook something/when, time when/bowl, dish/fill something for someone/the standing animate; 3sg continuative auxiliary, singular, standing, animate/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/person, people, a man/flesh, meat/the singular, standing, inanimate, collective, inanimate

 

The Rabbit said, “I am not accustomed to eating that kind (of food),” it is said.

“wi-e e-koⁿ wa-bda-ta-zhi moⁿ,” i-ye niⁿ-kʰe i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

“wíe ekǫ́ wá-bdatáži mǫ́,” iyé nįkʰé iyá maštį́ke.

I, me/like, thus, like that, so/things, stuff, people, folks, they, them/I eat, not/I do, I engage in/to say/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/rabbit

 

He gave it (the bowl of food) back to them, it is said.

wa-ki-k’i naⁿ, i-ya.

wakíkʔi ną, iyá.

give back, return to them/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

When all the food had been consumed, it is said that Winter spoke of going hunting again.

o-naⁿ-bde kda-sniⁿ naⁿ, shi-naⁿ ta-bde de ta-wé, i-yi i-ya sni-wa-te.

ónąbde kdasnį́ ną, šíną tábde dé tta áwe, iyí iyá sniwátte.

food/swallow one’s own/past sign, when/again/hunt large animals/go/future/evidential particle/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/winter, north, power of winter

 

The Winter said, “Rabbit, let’s go,” it is said.

“aⁿ-ka-de te, ma-shtiⁿ-ke,” i-ye niⁿ i-ya sni-wa-te.

“ąkáde tte, maštį́ke,” iyé nį iyá sniwátte.

we, I and one other go/future, potential or optative marker, shall/to say/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/winter, north, power of winter

 

“No, mother’s brother, you go alone!” it is said Rabbit said.

“hoⁿ-zhi, wi-te-ke, di-e naⁿ iⁿ-te da!” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke

“hǫží, wítteké, díe ną́ įtte dá!” iyí iyá maštį́ke

no/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/you/only/?/go!/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

Winter made it very cold again and again departed, it is said.

sni-wa-te shi-naⁿ sni-wa-te hi ka-xe naⁿ, shi-naⁿ de, i-ya.

sniwátte šíną sniwátte hí káγe ną, šíną dé, iyá.

winter, north, power of winter/again/cold, cold weather/very/make, do, cause/when/again/go/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

When he had gone, Rabbit questioned the wife of Winter, it is said:

hi-de tʰe-ti, ma-shtiⁿ-ke sni-wa-te ka-xnoⁿ niⁿ-kʰe i-ki-aⁿ-xe, i-ya:

hidé tʰettí, maštį́ke sniwátte káxnǫ nįkʰé íkiąγé, iyá:

to have gone somewhere/when/rabbit/winter, north, power of winter/wife/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate/question one’s own relation/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“My father’s sister, what does my mother’s brother fear?”

“wi-ti-mi, wi-te-ke ta-taⁿ naⁿ-pe niⁿ e?”

“wíttimí, wittéke táttą ną́ppe nį́ e?”

my aunt, my father’s sister/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/what, something/fear the sight of something/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/question sign

 

“Your mother’s brother fears nothing whatsoever,” it is said the old woman said.

“di-te-ke ta-taⁿ naⁿ-pe ni-ke hi,” i-yi i-ya wa-x’o-zhi-ka niⁿ-kʰe.

“dítteke táttą ną́ppe niké hi,” iyí iyá waxʔóžiká nįkʰé.

your uncle, man’s mother’s brother/what, something/fear the sight of something/to have none, be lacking/very/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/old woman, little old lady/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate

 

“No! father’s sister, even I have something to fear.

“hoⁿ-zhi, wi-ti-mi, wi-e-hi-taⁿ naⁿ-pe aⁿ-taⁿ.

“hǫží, wíttimí, wiéhittą́ ną́ppe ąttą́.

no/my aunt, my father’s sister/I myself, even I/fear the sight of something/I possess, have

 

How could it be possible that my mother’s brother fears nothing?”

“haⁿ-niⁿ-taⁿ wi-te-ke naⁿ-pe ni-ke ni-hoⁿ?”

“hąnį́ttą wittéke ną́ppe niké nihǫ́?”

why or how/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/fear the sight of something/to have none, be lacking/improbability post clitic

 

“Your mother’s brother fears nothing at all,” it is said the old woman said.

“di-te-ke naⁿ-pe ni-ke hi,” i-yi i-ya wa-x’o-zhi-ka niⁿ-kʰe.

“dítteke táttą ną́ppe niké hi,” iyí iyá waxʔóžiká nįkʰé.

your uncle, man’s mother’s brother/fear the sight of something/to have none, be lacking/very/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/old woman, little old lady/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate

 

“No, my father’s sister, even I am often scared.”

“hoⁿ-zhi, wi-ti-mi, wi-e-taⁿ aⁿ-na-xi-da-shtaⁿ i-naⁿ.”

“hǫží, wíttimí, wiéhittą́ ąnáγida-štą́ iną́.”

no/my aunt, my father’s sister/I myself, even I/I am scared/habitual aspect suffix/sign of sudden effect, sentence final

 

How could it be possible that my mother’s brother fears nothing?”

“haⁿ-niⁿ-taⁿ wi-te-ke naⁿ-pe ni-ke ni-hoⁿ?”

“hąnį́ttą wittéke ną́ppe niké nihǫ́?”

why or how/my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/fear the sight of something/to have none, be lacking/improbability post clitic

 

“Yes! Your mother’s brother fears the head of a Bighorn sheep,” it is said the old woman said.

“hoⁿ! di-te-ke ta-ska pa-hi naⁿ-pe niⁿ,” i-yi i-ya wa-xo-zhi-ka niⁿ-kʰe.

“hǫ! díttéke ttaská ppahí ną́ppe nį́,” iyí iyá waxʔóžiká nįkʰé.

yes/your uncle, man’s mother’s brother/bighorn sheep/head/fear the sight of something/the singular, moving, animate; 3sg continuative moving/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/old woman, little old lady/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate

 

“Yes! I thought so,” it is said Rabbit said.

“hoⁿ! e-koⁿ zhamiⁿ,” i-yi i-ya ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

“hǫ! ekǫ́ žąmį́,” iyí iyá maštį́ke.

yes/like that, so/I think/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths/rabbit

 

He sought a Rocky Mountain sheep and killed one, it is said.

ta-ska miⁿ i-de naⁿ t’e-de, i-ya.

ttaská mį́ íde ną́ tʔé-de, iyá.

bighorn sheep/one, a/see, find/when, past sign/kill/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

He cut off the head, packed it on his back and went home, it is said.

pa-hi niⁿ-kʰe pa-xoⁿ taⁿ k’i kde naⁿ, i-ya.

ppahí nįkʰé páxǫ tą kʔį kdé ną, iyá.

head/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate/cut apart, disjoint/when/carry, pack on the back/go home, to start homeward/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

Winter had returned there, to his home, it is said.

sni-wa-te e-ti kʰi, i-ya.

sniwátte étti kʰí, iyá.

winter, north, power of winter/there/arrive back at one’s own/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“In what direction did Rabbit go?”

“ma-shtiⁿ-ke ha-ki-de-de de e?”

“maštį́ke hákidéde dé e?”

rabbit/where, which direction/go/question sign

 

“He just now went outside,” the old woman said.

“iⁿ-chʰoⁿ a-shi-ti de,” i-ye tʰaⁿ wa-xo-zhi-ka tʰaⁿ.

“į́čʰǫ hí ášitti dé,” iyé tʰą waxʔóžiká tʰą.

now, right now/outside, outdoors/go/say/the standing animate; 3sg continuative auxiliary, singular, standing, animate/old woman, little old lady/the standing, animate

 

After a while, when it was dusk, Rabbit returned there, it is said.

hoⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi, pa-ze he-be taⁿ, ma-shtiⁿ-ke e-ti ki, i-ya.

hǫ́tʰąhí, ppáze hebé tą, maštį́ke ettí ki, iyá.

then, at length/evening/piece, part/when/rabbit/there/be returning to here/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

“My mother’s brother, that object by you is the head of a Bighorn sheep,” it is said that he said.

“wi-te-ke, she-niⁿ-kʰe ta-ska pa-hi miⁿ,” i-yi- i-ya.

“wítteké, šénįkʰé ttaská ppahí mį,” iyí iyá.

my uncle, man’s mother’s brother/that sitting, visible, animate or inanimate/bighorn sheep/head/one, a/quotative embedded, it is said he said in myths

 

When he threw it (the head) at him (Winter), Winter laid there stone cold dead, it is said.

ki-oⁿ-de de-de naⁿ, t’e-xti hi zhaⁿ i-ya sni-wa-te.

kíǫde déde ną́, tʔéxti hi žą́ iyá sniwátte.

throw something at someone suddenly/when/stone cold dead/very/lie, recline/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential/winter, north, power of winter

 

Only the woman remained, it is said.

wa-x’o niⁿ-kʰe e-naⁿ-hi o-shte naⁿ, i-ya.

waxʔó nįkʰé énąhí ošté ną, iyá.

woman/3sg continuative sitting; the singular, sitting, animate or inanimate/only that, him, her, it/very/past sign, when/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

Therefore, from that time on, it has not been very cold, it is said.

(Before that it was much colder that it is now. Now we have the female Winter)

e-toⁿ-ti-tʰaⁿ, sni-wa-te hi-zhi naⁿ, i-ya.

éttǫttítʰą, sniwátte hí-ži ną, iyá.

therefore, from then on/cold, north, winter/very/not, negative, negation/habitual postclitic/it is said, they say, quotative, hearsay evidential

 

The end.

shoⁿ.

šǫ́.

the end, enough

 

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