About North Valleys Paiute Language Class

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Reno, Nevada, United States
This course is designed to provide students with a communicative-based foundation in the Paiute language. Students will learn the basic alphabet, pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structure and cultural aspects of the Paiute language. They will develop an understanding of the Paiute culture and learn how to function within that culture in an appropriate manner. Issues regarding the importance of preserving the language will also be addressed.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

I attended Ralph's Paiute Language class at Wadsworth on Tuesday, May 26

> Ralph reviewed last week's class.  Paiute Ws: Hee, hemma, hayoo, hanoo, haga.  The immersion was added when he'd pick up an object and say "Hee esoo?"  He talked about things from a distance: Ya'a (here), Ma'a (there), O'o (way over there).  Immersion:  "Haga esoo o'o katu?"  Who is this sitting way over there?
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> I really liked his use of eka (this, object) with some phrases:  "Jon, eka gea Christina" Jon, give this to Christina.  Also uses of maka (that object), ooka (that over there).  Other examples included:  "Jon eka wunae."  Jon throw this.  A respone to "give this to someone" phrase could be (I REALLY LIKED THIS!) "Hanootu?" means "which one?" 
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> An action word that could stimulate immersion is a word I've never heard of:  tsekwaha (to point).  Here's the immersion:  Ask students to point to where different cities/bands are.  "Jon, Odenowaetu tsekwaha."  Jon, point to Reno.  "Jon, cui ui dicutta tsekwaha." 
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> Then he used -ha'a (ask questions) in ways that I've not had much practice with.  U ha'a tukawunu? ( may have written the action word incorrectly here).  Are you still eating?  U ha'a eka soopedakwatu?  Do you know this? Response:  aha - yes or ki - no. 
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> Another word that's rarely used (by me that is) is pute (or):  Esoo ha'a kamoo pute padakie?  Is this a rabbit or a raccoon?  Esoo ha'a Jon pute Henry?  Is this Jon or Henry?  I can see constant use of these phrases in class during immersion time. 
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> Hanoo u nobekwae?  Where is your home?  Response:  O'o (way over there). 
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> He went over so much in such a short time:  Tumadaena and Oetse.  Haga u tumadaena katu?  Who sits to your right? 

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