Kagwi waji ____?
Kagwi waji wlidahôzian?
Why is it that you are happy?
Kd’ai, ni waji wlidahôzia.
You’re present, that’s why I am happy.
Kolidahôzi nadmiholan kagwi.
You are happy when/that I lend you something.
Kolidahôzi tôni adoji azbanidahôzian.
You(singular) are happy when you are racoony-feeling in your heart/mind.
Tôni ali milôan ni moziadbakwa?
How is it that you(singular) are giving them(singular) that moosey-bean?
ôhô
awh-HAWH. "yes"
Adoji
AH-dohd-DZEE. "so much, very (partial event)"
It is rude to ask folks to repeat themselves.
Ôda! When you are really listening, people don't mind repeating something to make it more clear. Repeating is part of being in community and helping each other.
K'milô kagwi? Ôda, k'milegw kagwi.
Are you(singular) giving them(singular) something? No, they(singular)are giving you(singular) something.
Kagwi waji wlidahôzia?
Why is it that I am happy?
Kolidahôzi, ni waji namithlian kagwi.
You are happy, that’s why you show me something
Kd’asam(e)gon lintowôgan walidahôzian.
They feed you a song, when/that you are happy.
K'milin ni, ni adoji milian kagwi azbaniwi.
You(singular) are giving me that thing, that's when you give me something in a racoony-way.
Tôni ali milelan Moz?
How is it that i give you(singular) Moose?
ôda.
awh-DAH. "no."
Ali
ah-LEE. "the way, as, how"
Don't attempt to say a sound or word that you're not sure you can pronounce.
Ôda. Try it! and ask for help if you are struggling with a word or a sound. Practice is how you improve.
K'milôn ni tassakwabon? Ôda, k'mil(e)gon ni tassakwabon.
Are you(singular) giving them(singular) that chair? No, they(singular) are giving you(singular) that chair.
Kagwi waji hlian ni?
Why is it that you are telling me about that?
K’milegw kagwi, ni waji wlidahôzian.
Someone gave/ is giving you something, that’s why you’re happy.
K'wawaldamen ahlegoan ni?
Do you know that they tell you about that thing?
Psôn, ni adoji klol(e)lan azbanikalakôn.
Snow is falling, that's when I speak to you(singular) about racoony cookies (chips, or biscuits.)
Liwlaldamana hli tôni ali Moz milgoan ni kapay.
Please tell me how Moose is giving you(singular) that coffee.
odana
OH-dah-NAH. "town, village"
Tôni
taw-NEE. "How, which, what?"
Please use "Liwlaldamana."
Ôda ala Ôhô. There are many ways to be polite, but please use them. Politeness helps us to remember to be grateful for the work others do to help us, and that gratitude helps us to be more successful.
K'namithlô kagwi? Ôda, k'namithlegw kagwi.
Are you(singular) showing them(singular) something? No, They(singular) are showing you(singular) something.
Kagwi waji asamelan kagwi?
Why is it that I’m feeding you something?
Kd'asami kagwi ni waji asam(e)lan ni.
You(singular) are feeding me something, that's why I feed you(singular) that thing.
Nolidahôzi waligawia.
I am happy when/that I sleep well.
Kd'ôzidamawi, ni adoji klolelan azbaniwi.
You(singular) are interpreting something for me, that's when I talk with you about something racoony.
Liwlaldamana mila Moz ni askitamek ali milelan ni.
Please give Moose that cucumber how/in the way that I give you that cucumber.
sata
sah-TAH. "blueberry."
Pitta
peet-TAH. "so much, very (whole event)"
It's ok to not understand or to have nothing to say.
Ôhô! Listening is an active and valuable contribution.
K'namithlôn ni tawipodi? Ôda, k'namithlegon ni tawipodi.
Are you(singular) showing them(singular) that table? No, They(singular) are showing you(singular) that table.
Kagwi waji nadmihl(e)goan kagwi?
"Why is it that they(singular) lend you(singular) something?"
K’milgon ni mijowôgan, ni waji wlidahôzia.
They(singular) give you (it) that food, that’s why I’m happy.
Nolamalsi waijiwi alnôbaôdwaa.
I’m healthy always when I am speaking Abénaki.
Kolidahôzi tôni adoji Azban milgoan nebiiabôn.
You are happy when it is that Azban gives you wet bread.
K'milô pkwami laklam ni ali milôan Moz sata.
You(singular) give them(singular) a/some ice cream in how/the way that you give Moose (some) blueberry.
mili
mee-LEE. "give me (something.)"
Nolidahôzi.
noo-LEE-dahawn-ZEE. "I am well in my heart/mind; I am happy."
Over-stressing stressed syllables and using your body to help convey meaning will always become more comfortable.
Trick question. Often, it will. Among speakers who are all trying to learn and improve, we are using these coping skills together. They become more familiar as we see each other doing them and we get used to doing them ourselves.
(Liwlaldamana, ôzidawi Alnôbaiwi...) Kd'asamôn ni skamon ta kd'asamegon ni skamon?
"Are you feeding them that corn and are they feeding you that corn?"
Ôda k’wawaldamowwen kagwi waji wawaldaman kagwi?
You don’t know why it is that you know something?
Iris ao, ni waji wlidahôzit Alice.
Iris is present, that’s why Alice is happy.
Walidahôzia, ni nd’agakimzin, ni ali Alnôbaôdwaa.
When/that I am happy I might study, that's how I speak Native/Abenaki.
K'milegw kagwi azbaniwi tôni adoji milôan azbanipilaskw.
They(singular) give you something in a racoony-way (something tricky) when you give them(singular) a racoony-paper.
K'milin ni moziwanibagw ni ali milelan mozipata.
You(singular) give me that moosey-leaf how/ in the way that I give you moosey-pie.
n'dep
un-DUHP. "my head"
Tabalmezoikizok.
tah-BAHL-muh-ZOEY-kee-ZOAK. "A day of measuring and taking independent responsibility for yourself and your own thinking; Independence Day."
If you sound like you're stuttering, you're speaking Abénaki wrong.
Ôda! Abénaki can have many similar syllables in a phrase. Also, as people think through what they are trying to convey, they can repeat sounds or words to make them more clear. And... Abenaki speakers have been teased for "stuttering" for centuries!
(Liwlaldamana, ôzidawi Alnôbaiwi...) K'milô negonipapizowôganal, ala K'milgonal wskipapizowôganal?
"Do you give them(singular) (some) old games/toys, or do they(singular) give you the new games/toys."