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OJIBWEMOWIN - Lesson 1
This submission of Ojibwemowin is through the Red Lake Nation Ojibwe Language/Cultural Preservation Department.  It is submitted by Gwekiigaabow with permission of its author Zhaawanoowininii

These Ojibwemowin lessons will be submitted on a regular basis to Red Lake Net News (rlnn.com) as a way for Red Lake Nation tribal members or others to learn more basic Ojibwemowin.  

                                                                                                                         Chi miigwitch!
Ojibwe Grammar
NIIN                                                           ME FIRST OR SINGULAR PERSON
GIIN                                                           YOU SECOND PERSON SINGULAR
WIIN                                                           HE, SHE, HIM, HER, THIRD PERSON
WA'AM (animate)                                       THIS
A'AW (animate)                                           THAT
ONGOW (animate)                                      THESE
INGIW (animate)                                         THOSE

O'O (inanimate)                                           THIS
ITW (inanimate)                                           THAT
ONOW (inanimate)                                      THESE
INIW (inanimate)                                         THOSE

The words are similar, however the translation of each word is different because the length of sound in the vowel changes the meaning in the verb or noun.  The vowel "e" is always long, therefore a double "ee" in the verb is not required.

A sound like aw                  indakoz                      I am short
aa sounds like aaw              indaakoz                    I am sick
I sounds like e                    nita                            To know how
ii sounds like ee                  Niita                           My brother-in-law, used by males
o sounds like o                   onow                          These inanimate things
oo sounds like oo               Atoono                       he/she is building a boat
e sounds like a                    ikwe                            woman

The aniin questions are also in the same grammatical rule as indicated below.

Awegonen gekendaman               What do you know?
Awegonen gekendamaan             What do I know?

This contrast between "I" and "you" could also be indicated by the use of emphatic pronouns in addition to the single 'a' meaning you and double 'aa' meaning I.

Vowels are strongly nasalized when followed by '-ns', '-nz', '-nzh', and '-ny'.  In such cases, the only purpose of the symbol 'n' is to indicate nasalization of the previous vowel.  There will be a few instances where final nasal vowels occur without '-n' as a means of simplifying the spelling.

A(ns)                        Onaagaans                           Little plate, cup
I(ns)                         Ojins                                    Little fly
O(ns)                        Omakakoons                       Little box
E(ns)                         Ikwens                                 Little woman
E(ns)                         Nisayenyag                          My older brothers
E(ns)                         Nisaye                                  My older brother

Although one may think, what's all this/  Vowels, pronouns and whatever.  However, this can be a start to a positive learning experience of Ojibwemowin.  Take this lesson, study it, and start learning the first language of the Red Lake Ojibwe.  Remember, Ojibwewemowin is a gift from the Creator. 

Any questions or comments, please call Bill May at 1-219-368-5286.  I will have my office phone and office e-mail up and running in a very short while and it will be posted on rlnn.com.

                                                                                         Chi-miigwitch
Printable Version
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