When learning a new word or phrase, it’s estimated that a person needs to hear/see/say it 20 times in 20 different situations. That is why consistent practice and repetition is so important for the teams in our Native language Mentor-Apprentice Program (MAP).
In our MAP Handbook, we provide immersion phrases (like “say that again”) to help apprentices “stay in the language” while learning with their mentors. In this Native word of the month, we share a helpful immersion phrase in each of the 10 Native languages of the Doyon region.
You can find more immersion phrases in our MAP Handbook, available to all interested language learners on our website, doyonfoundation.com/map.
BENHTI KOKHWT’ANA KENAGA’ (LOWER TANANA)
Chuk’w denodideni.
You (1) say that again.
DEG XINAG
Che yuxudz didene.
Say it all again.
DENAAKK’E (KOYUKON)
Koon denodeedenee.
Say it again.
DINAK’I (UPPER KUSKOKWIM)
Chu’da. Chu’da ihwts’dinodedine.
Again. Say it again.
DINJII ZHUH K’YAA (GWICH’IN)
Chan t’iinyaa.
Say it again.
HÄN
Ǹjìhtth’ëk ko.
I don’t understand you.
DOOGH QINAG (HOLIKACHUK)
Dant’anh?
What are you doing?
IÑUPIAQ
Taitqikkumiñaqpiuŋ sukaisuuraaġlutin?
Can you repeat that more slowly?
DIHTHAAD XT’EEN IIN AANDĚEG’ (TANACROSS)
Těyy’ xú’ dínih.
Say it again.
NEE’AANÈEGN’ (UPPER TANANA)
K’à hǫǫsùu’ ǹdìhtth’ügn.
I don’t understand you well.
For more Native words, view our archives on the Foundation website. Or learn more about our new Mentor-Apprentice Program and access resources at doyonfoundation.com/map.