Cree 100-S90 FINAL EXAMINATION

Spring 2016
Department of Indigenous Languages, Arts & Culture
Due no later than June 29, 2016 11:55 pm

Student Name: Tanya Weller Student Number: 185 301 861

1.0 Answer the following in Cree: (20 marks)
tnisi

namya nnitaw.

tnkohk akimw psim

nikotwsi-psim

tnisi -isiwpahk anohc

-anohc-ati-ksapwyk

tnisi -isiyihksoyan

Tanya -nitisiyihksoyan.

tnit ohci kiya

kayaht Toronto ohci niya.

kko psim anohc

pskwihowi-psim

tnisi isiyihksowak kinkihikwak

Norman Weller k-k-itiht k-isiyihksow nohtwiy kwa Merle Weller

isiyihksow nikwiy.

tnisi -isiyihksocik ktisnak

\
Lincoln, Pandora, Kia k-k-itiht, kwa Nadine isiyihksowak nissak.
mwaci nismisak.

tnisi niya -isiyihksoyn

Darren kiya kitisiyihkson.

tnisi -isiyihksocik nswyi (both) kimosmak kwa khkomak

 Frederick Oliver k-k-itiht k -isiyihksow nimosn nikwiy kwa Geraldine
Oliver k-k-itiht k -isiyihksow nhkom nikwiy.

2.0 Define the following: (21marks)

Standard Roman Orthography (SRO) (2 marks)

Fourteen letters of the Roman alphabet are used to represent the sounds of the Cree
language. These letters represent 17 sounds plus sounds of several combinations of
consonant clusters. The Cree Standard Roman Orthography is consistent: one letter
represents one sound. This is in contrast to English which may have one sound
represented by different letters or combinations of letters as is evident in the following
words: Caesar (ae), each (ea), amoeba (oe), people (eo), meet (ee), me (e), machine
(i), seize (ei), piece (ie), psychology (y). In Cree this same sound [ij] is always
represented in Cree SRO as .
The Cree SRO has 10 consonants: c h k m n p s t w y. With the exception of c, k, p and
t the consonants are pronounced like their English counterparts.
Consonants: The c in Cree is pronounced like the c in charge or sometimes, according
to dialect the ts in cats. Some words with the c sound in Cree cskwa, mciso, and c.
The k in Cree is pronounced like the k in skipper, without the puff of air. Following h and
k it has a softer sound. Some words with the words with the k sound in Cree kiya,
ksta, and kiyaww. The p in Cree has no puff of air and is pronounced like the p in
spot, following an h it has a softer sound. Some words with the p sound in Cree
pyak, pyakww, psim, psimwasinahikan. The t sound in Cree is pronounced with
no puff of air, much like the t in Stan. Some words with the t sound in Cree tnisi,
takwkin, tniw, tniw. Vowels: Cree uses 7 vowels to write in the SRO three short
vowels: a, i, o; and 4 long vowels marked with a macron over each of the vowels , , ,
and . Short vowels the short vowels include a, i, and o. These are spoken quickly.
The short a in Cree is pronounced like the a in appeal. Some words with the short a
sound in Cree apiss, api, awas, awna. The short i in Cree is pronounced like the i
in it. Some words with the short i sound in Cree itta. itw, itwaha, isiyihksow. The
short o in Cree is pronounced like the oo in shook. Some words with the short o sound
in Cree otin, omisi, otina, pipon. Long vowels the long vowels include , , , and
. These are annunciated slowly. They are written like the regular vowels but with a
macron over the vowel. . Without the macron one cannot distinguish sound
differentiations. Also, leaving the macron out would give you a different meaning for the
word. The long in Cree is pronounced like the a in apple. Some words with the long
sound in Cree tam, skaw, stamit, ha. The long in Cree is pronounced like the
ay in day. Some words with the long sound in Cree kota, kot, nhiyaw,
nhiyaw. The long in Cree is pronounced like the e in me. Some words with the long
sound in Cree mna, skwan, npin, wpac. The long in Cree is pronounced like the
oe in toe. Some words with the long sound in Cree ta, hp tikw, t, namya.
 Dialects (5 marks)
There are five main dialects: Plains Cree Y dialect southern Saskatchewan and
Alberta. Woodlands Cree Th dialect Northern Saskatchewan and in some areas of
Manitoba. Swampy Cree N dialect Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan and the
interior of Manitoba. Moose Cree L dialect Moose Factory and Hudson Bay area.
Atihkamk Cree R dialect Quebec. With very similar grammar patterns between
most dialects there is a mutual understanding between speakers of most of these
dialects, with the exception of the Atihkamk Cree (R dialect) which is radically different
from the rest. In Saskatchewan the N, Y and Th dialect are spoken. Although, the Y
dialect is the most prolific. There is fear among the elder Cree that the youth are not
learning the Cree language. Efforts are underway to encourage the revival of the
language with some communities offering Cree immersion programming. According to
Statistics Canada figures of 1996 there are approximately 87, 555 speakers of the Cree
language.

Gender (2 marks)
Noun Gender for nouns in Cree which are categorized into gender (living and
nonliving): animate (NA) and inanimate (NI) nouns. Animate nouns include people,
animals, most plants/trees, reproduction body parts, some clothing, etc. Inanimate
includes household items, body parts, celestial bodies, moving machines, all liquids,
some clothing, etc.

Number (2 marks)
Number refers to whether a noun is singular or plural. All animate nouns in their
plural forms end in a k and all inanimate nouns in their plural end in an a.
Number agreement applies to all units except for transitive inanimate
(niwpahtn above) verbs, if one unit is singular then all units are singular; if
one unit is plural then all other units are plural. Making the inflection from
singular noun depends on the ending of the singular noun as follows: For
inanimate plurals - nouns ending in k add wa - nouns ending in i drop the i
then add a - nouns ending in a none with these endings - nouns ending in im
none with these endings - all other nouns not ending as those above add a
For animate plurals - nouns ending in k add wak - nouns ending in i none of
these endings - nouns ending in a add k - nouns ending in im add wak - all
other nouns not ending as those above add ak

Minimal Pairs (2 marks)

Minimal pairs are two words with only one sound difference. Examples from
English would be:
 pat bat, fit-sit, fat - fit, pot pit
The difference in sounds can be in consonants or in vowels. Cree also has
minimal pairs. Here are a few more common ones:
nahapi nahpi, api ati, atim akim, ma ta, awa ana, maskisin
mskisin, asam asm, pisiw psiw, niya nya, ta t.

Cree has many minimal pairs that appear in pronouns and in verb pairs as
shown:
niya kiya, niya wiya, kiya wiya, nsta ksta, nsta ksta, ksta wsta,
nitisiyihkson kitisiyihkson, nitohcn kitohcn, nititahtopiponn
kititahtopiponn.

In addition to minimal pairs, there are also minimal sets and near minimal pairs.
The near minimal pairs can create some problems in spelling and understanding
as shown here:
achk ahcahk, niynan niyann, akik hkik, ahciw cw.

Other problematic minimal pairs:

kisik ksik, itapi itpi, tahkon takon, phw pihw, kwiya okwiya,
pskisam paskisam, skihw skihw, itta itohta, skinw sakinw,
iskwwaskay iskwwasaky, atotw totw, kinosw kinosiw, miskon
mskon, pimisin pmisin, pimotw pimohtw, pimiciwan pmiciwan,
paskinam pskinam, otah ta.

Immediate Imperative Mode (2 marks)

Command forms. Imperatives are orders to do something. Orders can be given to one
person (2), to two or more persons (2P), and to one or more persons invited by the
speaker to do something (21).
Immediate Imperatives:
2s kw you (sg) go home.
21P kwtn lets go home
2P kwk you (pl) go home

Delayed Imperative Mode (2 marks)

Command where action is to be completed later.
2s kwhkan you (sg) go home later.
21P kwhthk lets go home later.
2P kwhkk you (pl) go home later.
 Independent/Indicative Mode (2 marks)
Indicates statement. The indicative mood is used in independent sentences. They are
often statements and/or declarative statements. These forms can be in various tenses
and can use pre-verbs.
1s nikwn I go home.
2s kikwn you go home.
3s kww he/she/it goes home.
3s kwyiw(a) his/her ___goes home.
1P nikwnn we (excl) go home.
21P kikwnaw we (incl) go home.
2P kikwnww you (pl) go home.
3P kwwak they go home.
3P kwyiwa their___goes home.

Subjunctive/Conjunct Mode (2 marks)

Translate to ing form when conjugated in the present tense only without any tense
indicators or pre-verbs.
1s -kwyn I am going home.
2s -kwyan you are going home.
3s -kwt he/sher/it is going home.
3P -kwyit his/her___is going home.
1P -kwyhk we (excl) are going home.
21 -kwyahk we (incl) are going home.
2P -kwyk you (pl) are going home.
3P -kwcik they are going home.
3P -kwyit their___are going home.

3.0 Translate the following into English: (12 marks)

James isiyihksow nohtwiy kwa Eileen k-k-itiht k-isiyihksow nikwiy. Arlo

kwa Oliver isiyihksowak nikosisak.
My fathers name is James and my mother, who passed away, was named
Eileen. My sons names are Arlo and Oliver.

nika-whwak nimosm kwa nhkom, nohtwiy ohci. Art k-k-itiht k-

isiyihksow nimosm kwa Mary Ann k-k-itiht k-isiyihksow nhkom, nohtwiy
ohci.
 So they come from my grandfather and grandmother on my fathers side. Art,
who passed away, is my grandfather and Mary Ann, who passed away, is my
grandmother, both from my fathers side.

nika-whwak nimosm kwa nhkom, nikwiy ohci. Pat k-k-itiht k-isiyihksow

nimosm kwa Marie k-k-itiht k-isiyihksow nhkom, nikwiy ohci.
So they come from my grandfather and grandmother on my mothers side. Pat,
who passed away, is my grandfather and Marie, who passed away, is my
grandmother, both from my mothers side.

miyo-kkispyw anohc. oskana k-asastki mkwc nitayn mka Beardy &

Okemasis iskonikanihk nip-ohcn kayht.
It is good in the early morning now. I am formerly from Beardys and Okemasis
First Nation, but now in Regina.

4.0 Animate Intransitive Verb Conjugations (44 marks)

Conjugate the VAI nikamo [ni.ku.mo] - sing in the immediate imperative mode for the
following with translations: (6 marks)

2s. nikamo

TR: you sing

2P. nikamok

TR: you (pl) sing

21P. nikamotn

TR: lets sing

Conjugate the VAI sswpaht [sey.saa.wee.paah.taa] - jog in the delayed imperative

mode for the following with translations: (6 marks)

2s sswpahthkan

TR: you jog later

2P sswpahthkk

TR: you (pl) jog later.

21P sswpahththk

TR: lets jog later

Conjugate the VAI kaysmo [aa.ku.yaa.see.mo] speak English in the independent

mode (present tense) for the following with translations: (8 marks)

1s. nitkaysmon

TR: I speak English.

3s. kaysmow

TR: he/she/it speaks English.

1P. nitkaysmonn

TR: we (excl) speak English.

2P. kitkaysmonww

TR: you (pl) speak English.

Conjugate the VAI nmihito [nee.mi.hi.to] dance in the conjunct mode (past tense) using
the preverb nitawi- for the following with translations: (8 marks)

2s -k-nmihitoyan

TR: you (sg) danced.

3s -k-nmihitoyit

TR: their___danced.
21P -k-nmihitoyahk

TR: we (incl) danced.

3P -k-nmihitocik

TR: they danced.

Conjugate the VAI kawisimo [koe.si.mo] go to bed in the independent mode (future
intentional tense) using the preverb noht- for the following with translations: (8 marks)

2s. kiw-noht-kawisimon

TR: you (sg) are going to go to bed.

3s. w-noht-kawisimow

TR: He/she/it is going to go to bed.

21P. kiw-noht-kawisimonaw

TR: we (incl) are going to go to bed.

3P. w-noht-kawisimowak

TR: they are going to go to bed.

Conjugate the VAI kw [kee.wey] go home in the conjunct mode (past tense) using
the preverb kakw- for the following with translations: (8 marks)

1s -k-kakw-kwyn

TR: I tried to go home.

1P - kwyhk k-kakwyhk

TR: we (excl) tried to go home.

2P -k-kakw-kwyk
TR: you (pl) tried to go home.

3P - kwyhk k-kakwyit

TR: their___tried to go home.

5.0 VAI Conjugation Conversions: (9 marks)

(1s) VAI atosk [u.tos.key]; Independent mode (past tense), PV ati- [u.ti]

nik-ati-atoskn.

(2s) VAI wanisk [wu.nis.kaa]; Conjunct mode (future intentional), PV mci-

[maa.chi]

-w-mci-waniskyan.

(3s) VAI mto [maa.to]; Independent mode (present)

mtow.

(3s) VAI pimoht [pi.moh.tey]; Conjunct mode (future intentional); PV nitawi

[ni.toe.wi]

-w-pimoht-nitawiyit.

(1P) VAI kw [kee.wey]; Independent mode (future definite); PV kakw-

[ku.kwey]

nika-kakw-kwn.

(21P) VAI phpi [paah.pi]; Conjunct mode (past tense); PV nitawi-

-k-nitawi-phpiyahk.

(2P) VAI sipwht [si.pwey.tey]; immediate imperative mode

sipwk.

(3P) VAI nhiyaw [ney.hi.yoe.wey]; Independent mode (present); PV noht-

[noeh.tey]
 noht-nhiyawwak.

(3P) VAI pwtisimo [pwaa.ti.si.mo]; Conjunct mode (past); PV kakw-

[ku.kwey]

-k-kakw-pwtisimoyit.

6.0 Decipherment of Sentence Constructs with translations: (14 marks)

-k-nitawi-mcisoyk
Decipherment:
Mode conjunct/subjunctive mode
Tense - past
Preverb go and
VAI - eat
Person 2P second person (pl) you

Translation: You have gone to eat.

mcisohkahk
Decipherment:
Mode delayed imperative
Tense no tense
Preverb no preverb
VAI - eat
Person 2s second person (singular) you

Translation: you (singular) eat later

kik-mci-nikamonww
Decipherment:
Mode independent/indicative
Tense - past
Preverb - began
VAI to sing
Person 2P second person (pl) (you)

Translation: you began to sing.

ta-noht-mtaww
Decipherment:
Mode independent/indicative
Tense future definite
Preverb (will) want to
VAI - play
Person 3s third person singular (he/she/it)

Translation: he/she/it will want to play.

-w-nitawi-sswyhk
Decipherment:
Mode conjunct/subjunctive
Tense future intentional
Preverb go and
VAI - exercise
Person 1P first person (singular) we (exclusive)

Translation: I am going to go and exercise

mci-ayamihcikk
Decipherment:
Mode immediate imperative
Tense no tense
Preverb - start
VAI - read
Person 2P second person (pl)

Translation: You (pl) start to read.

-w-mci-masinahikyit
Decipherment:
Mode conjunct/subjunctive
Tense future intentional
Preverb - start
VAI - write
Person 3P third person obviative plural

Translation: Their(?) is going to start to write.

7.0 Nouns, Diminutives and Locatives (12 marks)

Noun Plural Diminutive Locative

atim atimwak acimos atimohk

masinahikan masinahikana masinahikanis masinahikanihk

thtapiwin thtapiwina chcapiwinis thtapiwinihk

maskwa maskwak maskosis maskohk

npw npwak npsis npwihk

iskww iskwwak iskwsis iskwwihk

kinpik kinpikwak kinpikos kinpikohk

atwwikamik atwwikamikwa acwwikamikos atwwikamikohk

8.0 Pronouns Personal, Demonstrative, Inclusive, Interrogative Create 3

sentences for each to demonstrate application and knowledge of these four
pronoun categories: (12 marks)

Personal Pronouns:
1. nikiskyihtn ma -w-kwyan.

2. ka-k-kiskyihtahkik ma -nhiywicik.

3. ma ka-k-kiskyihtahkik, -nhiywicik.

Inclusive Pronouns:
1. peyakwan.
2. Regina mkc nsta niwkin.

3. tnisi ma wstaww.

Demonstrative Pronouns:
1. nimis awa.

2. konit-cimowinis ma.

3. kot anima ohci cimowin ma.

Interrogative Pronouns:
1. tnima astis?

2. tnhki ma k-k-miyikowisiyahk.

3. kkwa c awa?