IVAN STARR'S LAKHOTA ESSAYS

Table of contents (only samples)

Editor's note
1. Voice Your Opinion Without Fear
2. to 21. (under construction)

These texts have been moved to the Lakota Language FORUM

Editor's note:

These essays originaly appeared in Lakhota and English as articles in the Lakota Times (Indian Country Today). They were later published as a small booklet by Lakota Books, Kendal Park.

These essays are dealing with contemporary issues, they are very interesting. Comparing to Daloria's 70 years old texts, this is the most contemporary Lakhota, Lakhota of the 90s.

The Lakhota text was published in non-phonemic orthography (no marking for stress, nasalization and aspiration). I phonemized it and provided notes in few places I wasn't sure about. To avoid any misinterpretation during my re-transcription of the text I include here both Ivan Starr's original transcription (traditional orthography) and my phonemic analyze of it. Only the phonemicized version is provided with literal translation (English glosses appearing in the bottom frame after a word is mouse-overed).

There are twenty one of the essays

Jan F. Ullrich

VOICE YOUR OPINION WITHOUT FEAR

Ivan Starr's original transcription	Phonemicized transcription	Ivan Starr's free English translation
Ikope šni hotanin po!	Ikĥópĥe šni hótĥaŋ’iŋ po!	Voice your opinion without fear
Oyate kin liglila iyapi na untunkiciye wacinpi eyaš wana toktukta cana hotankapi k'un hena tukteni taninpi šni.	Oyáte kiŋ líglila iyápi na úŋtĥuŋkičhiye wačhíŋpi éyaš waná tókhetu kta čhána hótĥaŋkapi k’uŋ hená tukténi tĥaŋ’íŋpi šni.	People have a tendency to grumble very loudly and try to hurt others but when things get heavy they are nowhere to be seen.
Ešeš holazatahan wakta unpi na tuwa wana woakinice wanji ohiyin kte s'elececa cana he kicicaic'iyapi na akešna lila ohitikapi.	Éšeš holázataŋhaŋ waktá úŋpi na tuwá waná wó’akhiniče waŋží ohíyiŋ kte s’eléčheča čhána hé kičhíča’ič’iyapi na akhé šna líla ohítikapi.	They seem more comfortable in peering in from the background waiting to see who is going to come out on top in any dispute before choosing sides to continue their loud complaints.
Makasan oyanke kin lehanl wokicunze oitancan wan woakinice heca na waniyetu ota hecel inyanke yunkan oyate kin el heceĥci škanpi ca wanwicablake.	Makĥásaŋ oyáŋke kiŋ leháŋl wókičuŋze o’ítĥaŋčhaŋ waŋ wó’akhiniče héčha na waníyetu óta héčhel íŋyaŋke yuŋkĥáŋ oyáte kiŋ él héčheĥči škáŋpi čha waŋwíčhablake.	There is a fight going on now within the White Clay District government and has been going on for many years and I see our people doing this.
Oyate okšan wanunyankapi canke hecel unkablezapi na wana inagna unkiĥaĥapi.	Oyáte ókšaŋ waŋ’úŋyaŋkapi čhaŋkhé héčhel uŋkáblezapi na waná ínagna uŋkíĥaĥapi.	Other people around us see us for that and are now beginning to laugh at us.
Iyeš tuwa tokel woicakela heci hecel t'insya kinajin na aiyacinya wawokiye kinhan oyate kin epi ca ewaštepi kte.	Iyéš tuwá tókhel wówičakĥela héči héčhel t’íŋsya khinážiŋ na a’íyačhiŋyaŋ wawókiye kiŋháŋ oyáte kiŋ épi čha iwáštepi kte.	The people are the ones to benefit if a person were to stand up firmly for what he/she believes to be the truth.
Tuweni išnala el ayepica šni ešeš hecunhanpi ca ataš takuni unkokihipi šni.	Tuwéni išnála él a’íye-phíča šni éšeš héčhuŋ-haŋpi čha átaš tákuni uŋkókihipi šni.	We can't blame any one person for this yet, this is what we have done and now we can't do anything as a people.
Oyate kin niyepi ca wowaš'ake kin yuha nankapi eyaš tuwe ca tokaheic'iyin kta wakta yaunpi s'elececa.	Oyáte kiŋ niyépi čha wówaš’ake kiŋ yuhá naŋkápi éyaš tuwé čha tĥokáhe’ič’iyiŋ kta waktá ya’úŋpi s’eléčheča.	You, the people, have the power but you are sitting on it and seem to be waiting for each other to make the 'first move.
Wicoĥ'an kin lena tokel wowicakeyalapi heci takuni kokipešni hohan ilalapi na honitaninpi kta heca.	Wičhóĥ’aŋ kiŋ lená tókhel wówičakĥeyalapi héči tákuni kĥokípĥe šni hó háŋ ilálapi na hónitĥaŋ’iŋpi kta héčha.	If you believe there is a truthful and honest way to do things in our government then you should be able to voice your opinion without fear.
Wayašice šni ée wawokiye wacin po.	Wayášiče šni é’e wawókiye wačhíŋ po!	Don't criticize to hurt, instead, try to help.

Web design, editing, literal and free translation by Jan F. Ullrich; mail to jfuNOSPAM@centrum.cz (remove NOSPAM)