Lesson Two: Dakota Alphabet
You will hear each letter of the Dakota alphabet followed by a Dakota word that begins with that letter. Listen carefully to hear the correct pronunciation.
a a, ateb b, bdo
c c, canku
ĉ ĉ, ciĉu
d d, do
e e, ŝak´pe
g g, ŝuŋgmanitu
ġ ġ, hoġan
h h, haŋpi
ĥ ĥ, wo´wiĥa
i i, ina
k k, ka´ta
ķ ķ, ķa
m m, mni
n n, nina
ŋ ŋ, taŋ´ka
o o, to
p p, pa
Þ Þ, Þo
q q, qa
s s, ska
ŝ ŝ, ŝi´ca
t t, tonana
ŧ ŧ, ŧe
u u, du´ta
w w, wo´wapi
y y, yam´ni
z z, ma´zaska
ż ż, pe´tiżaŋżaŋ
Sentence Shape
The shape of Dakota sentences, while very melodic, is usually downward sloping. While English sentences traditionally sound very bouncy, with the sounds of the words going up and down, Dakota sentences usually have a downward step shape. Listen to the difference between the English and Dakota sentences:
Hello my relatives. Today I greet you with an open heart. Hello my relatives. Today I greet you with an open heart.,Hau mitakuyepi. Anpetu de cantewaŝteya nape ciyuzapi do. Hau mitakuyepi. Anpetu de cantewaŝteya nape ciyuzapi do.,