Lakota Speakster Syntax

The Lakota language was never a written one until the early 1930's, thanks to Reverend E.S. Buechel who gathered over thirty thousand words to form the very first Lakota Dictionary. After his death in 1954, Rev. Paul Manhardt of the Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge, finished the job of editing the dictionary. Today there are many orthographies on the language, so the language still remains a little of a mystery as not one set standard of vocabulary is the be all and end all of this beautiful language.

The biggest stumbling block in learning to speak the Lakota language is making the correct sounds. There are double consonants, vowels, gutterals, nasals, aspirates and glottal stops. Although these sounds are difficult to make it is imperative that they be pronounced correctly. Sometimes a sound can change the meaning of a word.

Double consonants/vowels are simply two consonants or two vowels together. There are many words that contain these characters. The general rule is that each character is sounded out individually with the slightest hint of a vowel (a "schwa") between the characters.

Gutterals, this sound is made in the back of the mouth where the throat begins. The Germans have a word (Achtung!) which is similar in sound to the Lakota gutteral. The sound is made in conjunction only with the "g", "t", "p" and "h".

Nasals, there are three characters that use this sound and it is the most unique of all the Lakota sounds. You will know if you are making the right sound when you feel a slight vibration or tickling in your nasal passages, the "n" is not pronounced as you would in English, rather, it is nasalized, as in "ank" or "pink".

Aspirates, in this sound, air explodes from the consonants "k", "p" and "t", as in the English words kick, pick, tick, except stronger.

Glottal Stops, this sound is a bit more complicated. It is actually two separate sounds that are combined to make one sound. It is usually pronounced by stopping the air in the throat, momentarily stopping the air flow.

The language also involves the use of male and female words to put a gender basis on a sentence, a few of these are:

• Ksto, used by the female to stress a factual statement, implying that she has been doubted.
• Ye. Used by the female to stress a command or a plea. It is also used by the male in prayer.
• He. Used by the female to ask a question, e.g. Wicayala he? - Do you believe?
• Yelo. Used by the male to stress a factual statement.
• Yo. Used by the male to infer a command to another person. It has the power to control, restrain or direct.
• Wo. Used by the male to express a command.
• Hwo. Used by the male to ask a question, e.g. Toniktuka hwo? - How are you?

When using time expressions, place it first in the sentence:
"The woman goes to town everyday."
"Anpetu iyohilawinyan kin le otonwahe ta ye."
"day each woman the this one town goes."

When using an adjective with a noun, place it after the noun. (day each)

When using prepositions with nouns, place them after the noun (town to)

Place the direct object before the verb. e.g.
The bear ate the soup.
Mato he wahanpitebye.
bear that soup ate.

Do not use linking verbs.

These are just a few of the many different rules for the correct syntax of the Lakhota language.

Thanks, and credit, also goes out to "The Greasy Grass" for most all of the graphics.

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Disclaimer: I am NOT a fluent Lakota speaker or translator so please do not email me for translations!