“Niiniistiit niibooot” /”Songmaker” (21 sentences)

[The following text was composed in Arapaho by Richard Moss, a native speaker. It was translated into English by him and Merle Haas, a tribal educator. The analysis was done by Dr. Andrew Cowell of the University of Colorado, who also added the pitch accent marks to the Arapaho after re-eliciting the text from a native speaker. Text and translation copyright 1993, Wyoming Indian Schools, Title 5. Analysis copyright 2003, Andrew Cowell]

1.

téécxo’ hinóno’éíno’ nih’iiníi3nóú’u hiniibóootiinínoo.

teecxo’ hinono’ei-no’ nih-’ii-nii3n-ou’u hi-niibooot-iin-inoo

long ago Arapaho-PL PAST-IMPERF-possess(TI)-3p 3POSS-song-NOM.PL-PL

‘a long time ago the Arapahos had their own songs’

2.

niibóootno nih’éntóú’u’u téí’yoonóho’, notíkoniihíího’

niibooot-no nih-’entou-’u’u tei’yoonoh’-o’ notkoniihii-ho’

song-PL PAST-exist(II)-PL child-PL scout/warrior-PL

‘there were songs to honor children, warriors

noh nééceeno’ nihí’ééteenebéihí3i’.

noh neecee-no’ nih-i’-eeteenebeihi-3i’

and chief-PL PAST-INSTR-be honored(AI.PASS)-3p

and chiefs.’

3.

honóh’oehího’ noh híseihího’ toonhéécxooyéiní’i’oonóó3i

honoh’oehi-ho’ noh hiseihi-ho’ toon-hee-cxooyein-i’i’oo-noo3i

young boy-PL and young girl-PL INDEF-how much-length of time-grow(AI)-3p.ITER

‘songs were made for young boys and girls

nih’iiníísitonéihí3i’ niibóootno.

nih-’ii-niisitoneihi-3i’ niibooot-no

PAST-HABIT-have something made/done for one(AI.PASS)-3p song-PL

as they were growing up’

4.

nih’ookónooníísitonéíhí3i’.

nih-’ookonoo-niisitoneihi-3i’

PAST-respectful-have something made for one(AI.PASS)-3p

‘[the songs] were made for them in a respectful manner.’

5.

hé’néén nih’iiníístiit niibóoot béésnenítee.

he’-neen nih-’ii-niistii-t niibooot bees-nenitee

NARR.PAST-3 PAST-HABIT-make(AI-T)-3 song large-person

‘a song was made by an older member of the tribe.’

6.

nih’ee’ínonéihí3i’ núhu’ hitíiteenínoo nih’iiniistíí3i’

nih-’ee’inoneihi-3i’ nuhu’ hi-tiiteen-inoo nih-’ii-niistii-3i’

PAST-be known(AI-PASS)-3p this 3POSS-tribe-PL PAST-HABIT-make(AI-T)-3p

‘song makers were known to the

niibóootno.

niibooot-no

song-PL

tribe.’

7.

heebéhnéén beh’éíhehí’ wo’éí3 betebíhehí’ hitííteeníne’;

hee-beh-neen beh’eihehi’ wo’ei3 betebihehi’ hi-tiiteen-ine’

3-POTENT-3.EMPH old man or old woman 3POSS-tribe-LOC

‘it could be an older man or an older woman in the tribe;

8.

tóónhéétniistíít niibóoot hé’ih’iinotéii3héíh.

toon-heet-niistii-t niibooot he’ih-’ii-noteii3heih

INDEF-FUT-make something(AI-T)-3 song NPAST-HABIT-asked to do something(AI.PASS)

‘people would approach a song maker to compose a song for an honored person.’

9.

tóónneníístiit niibóoot, núhu’ héétoh’óotéé’

toon=neniistii-t niibooot nuhu’ heetoh-’ootee-’

INDEF-make something(AI-T)-3 song this where-camp(II)-SING

‘song makers would go out away

kóxuu hé’ih’iiyihóó.

koxuu he’ih-’ii-yihoo

elsewhere NPAST-HABIT-go(AI)

from camp.’

10.

nii’eihíího’, heeséísenii noh howóó heesnóóyootí’i hiinóno’wúú’

nii’eihii-ho’ heeseis-enii noh howoo hees-nooyooti-’i hiinono’wuu-’

bird-PL wind-PL and also how-appear(II)PL become known(II)-SING

‘a song could be learned from birds, the wind, and whatever was out in the environment.’

11.

benée3ihí’ niibóoot, hé’ne’niibóoothéíhiinóó’ nééceenóhóoót.

benee3ih-i’ niibooot he’ne’-niibootheihiinoo-’ neeceenohooot

be finished(II)-SING song then-a song is received (II)-SING ceremonial giveaway

‘song makers made the song and sang it at a giveaway.’

12.

heebéh’oo’éíxootíín wo’éí3 betóoot

hee-beh-’oo’eix-oot-iin wo’ei3 betooot

3-POTENT-gather-PART-IMPERS or dance

‘the giveaway could be at a dance or

né’neeceenohoóótiini’

ne’-neeceenoh-oot-iin-i’

then-give away ceremonially-PART-IMPERS-SING

a social gathering.’

13.

hiiwóonhéhe’ niibóootno heninotínihíítooni’ héétniisníísihí’i.

hiiwooonhehe’ niibooot-no heninot-inihiit-oon-i’ heet-niis-niisihi-’i

today song-PL search-say.PART-IMPERS-SING FUT-how-be made(II)-PL

‘today songs are made by request, how the song will be made.’

14.

hóóyei nih’íisóó’ hinóno’éí hitííne’etíít hoowooh’éntóu.

hooyei nih-’iisoo-’ hinono’ei hi-tiine’etiit hoowooh-’entou

most PAST-how it is(II)-SING Arapaho 3POSS-life no longer-exist(II)

‘many of the Arapaho traditional ways are gone.’

15.

noosóúwoo3éí’i hinóno’einóootno ‘oh

noosou-woo3ei-’i hinon’ei-nooot-no ‘oh

still-be many(II)-PL Arapaho-song-PL but

‘the Arapahos still have many songs, but

hóóyei hoowtonóunéíhiinóóno

hooyei hoow-tonouneihiinoo-no

most NEG-be used(II)-PL

most of them are not used.’

16.

noosóunééteenebéét téí’yoonéhe’

noosou-neeteeneb-eet tei’yoonehe’

still-honor(TA)-1p.EXCL/3 child

‘they still honor the children.’

17.

hiiniibóootiiní3i’ beníiinénnó’.

hiiniiboootiini-3i’ beniiinen-no’

possess songs(AI)-3p soldier-PL

‘there are also veteran’s songs,

nééceenó noh cé’esbeneníihíího’.

neecee-no’ noh ce’es-benen-iihii-ho’

chief-PL and different-together-AGENT-PL

a song for the Business Council, and songs for the tribal organizations.’

18.

hoowoohníítowoo3éíhiinóóno ko3éíninóootno.

hoowooh-niitowoo3eihiinoo-no ko3ein-inooot-no

no longer-be heard(II)-PL old-song-PL

‘many of the old songs are not heard anymore.’

19.

hiiwóonhéhe’ hóóyei niibéihíího’ [hoowóe’ínowuu] hinóno’einóootno.

hiiwoonhehe’ hooyei niibei-hii-ho’ hoow-oe’in-owuu hinono’ei-nooot-no

today most sing-AGENT-PL NEG-know(TI)-PL Arapaho-song-PL

‘now, most singers do not know the Arapaho songs.’

20.

hoonóúseet nenéénit nih’iiniiníístiit niibóootno.

hoonousee-t neneenit nih-’ii-nii-niistii-t niibooot-no

travel and scout(AI)-3 he PAST-HABIT-REDUP make(AI-T)-3 song-PL

‘Francis Sitting Eagle was known as a song maker for the Arapaho tribe.’

21.

hiiwóonhéhe’ héentóó3i’ niiniistíí3i’ hinóno’einóootno

hiiwoonhehe’ heentoo-3i’ nii-niistii-3i’ hinono’ei-nooot-no

today exist(AI)-3p HABIT-make(AI-T)-3p Arapaho-song-PL

‘today, there are other Arapaho song makers in the tribe.’

NOTES:

6. ‘their tribe’ is the agent of the passive verb: ‘the song makers were known by their tribe.’

8. ‘for an honored person’ does not have a corresponding form in the Arapaho sentence.

9. the form koxuu would more correctly be kóxuunííhi’

16. When a plural referent is indefinite, Arapaho speakers often use the singular.

19: hoowoe’inowuu was omitted from the Arapaho version, and has been added based on the English translation.

20. ‘traveling scout’ was Francis Sitting Eagle’s Arapaho name.

20. ‘for the Arapaho tribe’ does not have a corresponding form in the Arapaho sentence.