Assiniboine language

Assiniboine
Assiniboin, Hohe, Nakota, Nakoda, Nakon, Nakona, or Stoney
Nakʰóda
Native to	Canada, United States
Region	Saskatchewan, Canada Montana, United States
Ethnicity	3,500 Assiniboine (2007)
Native speakers	150, 4.3% of ethnic population (2007)
Language family	Siouan Western Siouan Mississippi Valley Siouan Dakotan Nakoda Assiniboine
Language codes
ISO 639-3	asb
Glottolog	assi1247
ELP	Assiniboine
Assiniboine is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Nakota / Nakoda / Nakona "ally / friend"
Person	Nakóda
People	Nakón Oyáde
Language	Nakón Iyábi Nakón Wíyutabi
Country	Nakón Mąkóce

The Assiniboine language (/əˈsɪnəbɔɪn/; also known as Assiniboin, Hohe, or Nakota, Nakoda, Nakon or Nakona, or Stoney) is a Nakotan Siouan language of the Northern Plains. The name Assiniboine comes from the term Asiniibwaan, from Ojibwe, meaning 'Stone Siouans'. The reason they were called this was that Assiniboine people used heated stone to boil their food. In Canada, Assiniboine people are known as Stoney Indians, while they called themselves Nakota or Nakoda, meaning 'allies'.

Classification

The Dakotan group of the Siouan family has five main divisions: Dakota (Santee-Sisseton), Dakota (Yankton-Yanktonai), Lakota (Teton), Nakoda (Assiniboine) and Nakoda (Stoney). Along with the closely related Stoney, Assiniboine is an n variety of the Dakotan languages, meaning its autonym is pronounced with an initial n (thus: Nakʰóta as opposed to Dakʰóta or Lakʰóta, and Nakʰóda or Nakʰóna as opposed to Dakʰód or Lakʰól). The Assiniboine language is also closely related to the Sioux language and to the Stoney language (likewise called Nakoda or Nakota), although they are hardly mutually intelligible.

The Siouan Family of Languages

Official status

The Assiniboine language is not a government-recognized official language of any state or region where Assiniboine people live. There are two reservations located in Montana, but the official language of the state is English. An estimate of native speakers ranges from less than 50, to about 100, to about 150 Assiniboine people, most of them elderly. A 2021 study of Indigenous languages in Canada put Assiniboine at 350 speakers.

Phonology

The phonemic inventory has 27 consonants, which includes aspirated, plain, and ejective stops. In addition to this, it has five oral vowels and three nasal vowels. It is a structure-preserving language. Assiniboine has no definite or indefinite articles, no nominal case system, and no verbal tense marking. Clauses unmarked are "realized," while clauses marked as "potential" by means of verbal enclitic, which is successful in producing a future/non-future distinction. The verbal system is split into active and stative (split-intransitive). The active object pronominal affixes coincide with the stative verbs of the subject pronominal affixes.

		Labial	Alveolar	Palatal or postalveolar	Velar	Glottal
Plosive	Plain	p	t	tʃ	k	ʔ
	Ejective	pʼ	tʼ	tʃʼ	kʼ
	Aspirated	pʰ	tʰ	tʃʰ	kʰ
Fricative	Voiceless		s	ʃ	x
	Ejective		sʼ	ʃʼ	xʼ
	Voiced		z	ʒ	ɣ
Nasal		m	n
Approximant		w		j		h

The affricates and stops of Assiniboine are often described as voiced rather than voiceless, due to intervocalic voicing rules which result in surface voiced forms.

Oral vowels

Character used	IPA symbol	Assiniboine pronunciation
i	i	i as in police
u	u	oo as in book
e	e	e as in a in mate
o	o	o as in vote
a	a	a as in father

Nasal vowels

Character	IPA symbol	Also used as
ą	ã	aⁿ, an, aη, aN
į	ĩ	iⁿ, in, iη, iN
ų	ũ	uⁿ, oⁿ, un, uη, uN

There are five oral vowels in Assiniboine, /i u e o a/, and three nasal vowels, /ĩ ũ ã/.

Words that follow the above rules:

• /bahá/ 'hill'
• /pahá/ 'hair'
• /čupó/ 'fog'
• /ptą/ 'otter'
• /pka/ 'heavy'
• /psi/ 'rice'
• /pša/ 'to sneeze'

Syllable structure

Syllables are primarily of CV structure. While codas are possible, they are restricted and uncommon, often becoming restructured as the onset of the following syllable. Onsets may include up to two consonants but codas must be simplex. Possible onset clusters are given in the following table:

		Second
		p	t	k	s	š	c	m	n
First	p	-	ptą ptą otter	-	psį psį rice	pšA pšA sneeze	napcA napcA swallow	-	-
	t	-	-	tkA tkA heavy	-	-	-	-	-
	k	kpamni kpamni serve	kte kte kill	-	ksuyA ksuyA hurt	kšikšA kšikšA curly	pakcA pakcA comb	kmųkA kmųkA snare	kni kni arrive
	s	spayA spayA wet	stustA stustA tired	ską ską melt	-	-	scu scu bashful	smuna smuna fine	sni sni cold
	š	špą špą cooked	štuštA štuštA salty	škatA škatA play	-	-	šcųka šcųka lazy	šma šma deep	šno šno melt
	x	xpą xpą soaked	xtayetu xtayetu evening	-	-	-	xcina xcina tattered	xma xma sleepy	xni xni have a sore
	m	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	mnA mnA smell

Grammar

Morphology

Morphological processes for Assiniboine language are primarily agglutinating. In addition, the character of morpheme alternation in Assiniboine may be classified in terms of phoneme loss, phoneme shift, contraction, nasalization loss, syllable loss, syntactic contraction, and syntactic alternation.

Morphophonemics

Examples from Levin (1964).

Contraction->When two syllabics come into contact they contract as in:

/a/+/i/ > /i/

ex)

ápa

+

íyapi

>

ápayapi

ápa + íyapi > ápayapi

morning + {they go} > {they stayed awake until morning}

ex)

nakóta

+

iápi

>

nakótiapi

nakóta + iápi > nakótiapi

ally + {they speak} > {a little Indian (to speak)}

/i/+/i/ > /i/

ex)

ohómini

+

íyapi

>

(a) óhominiyapi

ohómini + íyapi > {(a) óhominiyapi}

circle + {they go} > {they circle}

/a/+/u/ > /u/

ex)

wicá

+

úkkupica

>

wicúkkupica

wicá + úkkupica > wicúkkupica

them + {we give} > {we give them}

Phoneme loss: Syllabics

when /a/ is in medial position between /k/ and /h/:

/a/> /∅/

ex)

waníyaka

+

hi

>

waníyakshi

waníyaka + hi > waníyakshi

{to see you} + {he comes} > {he came to see you}

when /o/ is in the medial position between /i/ and /k/:

/o/>/∅/

ex)

ukíce

+

okáxniga

>

ukícaxnigapi

ukíce + okáxniga > ukícaxnigapi

{we ourselves} + {to understand} > {we understand each other}

when /e/ is in medial position between /p/ and /k/:

/e/>/Φ/

ex)

napé

+

kóza

>

napkóza

napé + kóza > napkóza

hand + {to wave} > {to beckon}

Phoneme loss: semi-syllabics

/y/ > /∅/ when

/y/ follows /n/

ex)

mn

+

yuhá

>

mnuhá

mn + yuhá > mnuhá

I + {to have} > {I have}

Phoneme loss: non-syllabics

/k/ is in medial position between /u/ and /k/ or /u/ and /h/ or /u/ and /n/ or /u/ and /y/

/k/ > /∅/

ex)

uk

+

kágapi

>

ukágapi

uk + kágapi > ukágapi

we + {they make} > {we make}

ex)

uk

+

ya

+

naxú

>

nauyaxúpi

uk + ya + naxú > nauyaxúpi

we + you + {to hear} > {you hear us}

Phoneme shift: syllabics

/i/ > /a/ before /n/

ex)

awáci

+

ni

>

awácani

awáci + ni > awácani

{to think} + you > {you think}

Phoneme shift: non-syllabics

When /a/--/e/ is in medial position between /g/ and /š/

/g/ > /x/

ex)

okáxnige

+

-ši

>

owákaxnixeši

okáxnige + -ši > owákaxnixeši

{to understand} + -NEG > {I don't understand}

When /a/--/e/ is in medial position between /g/ and /c/

/g/ > /x/

ex)

okáxniga

+

-ce

+

wa

>

owákaxnixace

okáxniga + -ce + wa > owákaxnixace

{to understand} + -ITER + I > {I understand}

When /g/ is in medial position between /a/ and /y/

/g/ > /x/

ex)

icáge

+

-ya

>

icáxya

icáge + -ya > icáxya

{to grow} + -CAUS > {to cause to grow}

Nasalization loss exists as follows:

/ą/ > /a/

ex)

mázą

+

ska

>

mazáska

mázą + ska > mazáska

iron + white > money

Syllable loss occurs as follows:

/ye/ > /Φ/ Ex) iyópe... ye 'to pay' so, iyópe + wa + ye > iyópewa 'I pay'

Syntactic contraction: personal inflectional morphemes

wa 'I' + ni 'you' > ci 'I...you';

ex)

kku

+

ci

+

-kta

>

cicúta

kku + ci + -kta > cicúta

{to give} + {I... you} + -FUT > {I will give you}

Syntactic contraction with verbal themes occurs as follows:

/i/ + /k/ – /kk/ > c;

ex)

i

+

kahíta

>

icáhita

i + kahíta > icáhita

{with something} + {to sweep} > broom

Syntactic alternation

/a/ > /e/ in verbal theme

ex)

wamnáka

>

wamnáke

wamnáka > wamnáke

{I saw} > {I saw}

/a/>/e/ in nomial theme

ex)

skúya

>

skúye

skúya > skúye

sweet > sweet

/a/>/e/ with the future suffix;

ex)

wicákkupikta

>

wicákkupikte

wicákkupikta > wicákkupikte

{they will be given} > {they will be given}

Syntax

Assiniboine has SOV word order. The order of elements may differ from canonical SOV; this is not free nor scrambling word order, but instead, the result of topicalization or other movements. Out-of-context sentences are always interpreted as SOV order even if it sounds odd. For example, 'the man bit the dog', unless an element is moved into a focus position. Focused element sentences are highly marked, and practically, a strange semantic reading is preferred over an interpretation of OSV. For example, the following sentence was interpreted as 'A banana ate the boy' by a native speaker, and to get the OSV reading out of it the object must be stressed, for example if the sentence was given as a reply to the question 'What did the boy eat?'.

škóškobena

banana

wãži

a

hokšína

boy

že

DET

yúda.

ate

škóškobena wãži hokšína že yúda.

banana a boy DET ate

'A banana ate the boy.' (or 'The boy ate a banana.')

Vocabulary

1. wąži – one
2. nųba – two
3. yamni – three
4. tópa – four
5. záptą – five
6. šákpe – six
7. iyušna – seven
8. šaknoğą – eight
9. napcuwąga – nine
10. wikcémna – ten
11. saba – black
12. ska – white
13. ša – red
14. to – blue

More words can be found in the Dakota-English Dictionary.

Writing system

Class 1

wa- 1st person+singular

ya- 2nd person

Class 2

ma- 1st person+singular

ni- 2nd person

For both class 1 and 2

ũ- 1st person-singular

o- 3rd person

wica- 3rd person

ci- 1st person + singular subject/ 2nd person object

Related languages

Sioux, Assiniboine, and Stoney are closely related languages of the Dakota family. Many linguists consider Assiniboine and Stoney to be dialects. However, they are mutually unintelligible. Parks and DeMallie report that they are not variant forms of a single dialect, but that Assiniboine is closer to the Sioux dialects than it is to Stoney. The exact number of interrelationships among the subdialects and dialects comprising this continuum is unknown.

Dialect group	Self-designation	Political designation
Santee-Sisseton	Dakhóta	Sioux
Yankton-Yanktonai	Dakȟóta	Sioux
Teton	Lakȟóta	Sioux
Assiniboine	Nakhóta	Assiniboine
Stoney	Nakoda	Stoney

Geographic distribution

The languages of the Dakotan group are spoken in the following regions:

• Canada
  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
• United States
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • North Dakota
  • South Dakota

Reservation or reserve	Dialect
Alberta
Alexis	Stoney / Nakoda / Isga
Big Horn	Stoney / Îyârhe Nakoda / Nakoda
Eden Valley	Stoney / Îyârhe Nakoda / Nakoda
Paul	Stoney / Nakoda / Isga
Stoney (Morley)	Stoney / Îyârhe Nakoda / Nakoda
Saskatchewan
Carry the Kettle	Assiniboine / Nakhóta
Moose Woods (White Cap)	Sioux (Sisseton, Yanktonai) / Dakhóta / Dakȟóta
Mosquito-Grizzly Bear's Head	Assiniboine / Nakhóta
Sioux Wahpeton (Round Plain)	Sioux (Sisseton, Yanktonai) / Dakhóta / Dakȟóta
Standing Buffalo	Sioux (Sisseton, Yanktonai) / Dakhóta / Dakȟóta
Whitebear	Assiniboine / Nakhóta
Wood Mountain	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Manitoba
Birdtail	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Oak Lake	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Sioux Valley	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Sioux Village-Long Plain	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
North Dakota
Devil's Lake	Sioux (Sisseton, Yanktonai) / Dakhóta / Dakȟóta
Standing Rock	Sioux (Yanktonai) / Dakȟóta
South Dakota
Cheyenne River	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Crow Creek	Sioux (Yanktonai) / Dakȟóta
Flandreau	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Lower Brule	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Pine Ridge	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Rosebud	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Sisseton	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Standing Rock	Sioux (Teton) / Lakȟóta
Yankton	Sioux (Yankton) / Dakȟóta
Nebraska
Santee	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Minnesota
Lower Sioux	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Prairie Island	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Prior Lake	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Upper Sioux	Sioux (Santee) / Dakhóta
Montana
Fort Belknap	Assiniboine / Nakhóta
Fort Peck	Assiniboine, Sioux (Yanktonai, Sisseton) / Nakhóta / Dakȟóta / Dakhóta

D-N-L classification system

The Assiniboine language (Nakota), the Dakota language and the Lakota language are usually classified into a group with D-N-L subgroup classification. As suggested by the name of the system, the variation in pronunciations of certain words follows the D-N-L rule. A typical example is given below:

Language group	'greasy'
Santee-Sisseton	sda
Yankton-Yanktonai	sda
Teton	sla
Assiniboine	sna
Stoney	thna

Santee-Sisseton and Yankton-Yanktonai are languages that belong to the Dakotan group and Teton is a language in the Lakotan group. The table above illustrates a typical variation amongst these three languages. Just as the name of these three tribes suggest, the Dakota language, the Lakota language and the Nakota (Assiniboine) language have respective inclinations towards /d/, /l/, and /n/ in some substitutable consonants.

Arguments against the classification system

Some scholars argue that the D-N-L classification system may not be totally accurate due to the non-rigidness of the substitution form. Siouan Indians live on an expansive continuum such that the distinction between different languages does not manifest in a rigid, clear-cutting criterion. Historically, linguists have debated on Yankton-Yanktonai languages and their proper positions into the D-N-L classification system, but the coexistence of /d/ and /n/ phonemes made such classification doubtful. This example of lexical difference between the languages of the Siouan group illustrates another possible distinction besides the D-N-L variations.

Language group	'horse'
Santee-Sisseton	súkataka
Yankton-Yanktonai	sukawaka
Teton	sukawaká
Assiniboine	súkataka
Stoney	suwatâga

Bibliography

• Cumberland, Linda (2005). A grammar of Assiniboine: a Siouan language of the Northern Plains (Ph.D. Thesis). Indiana University.
• Parks, Douglas R.; DeMallie, Raymond J. (1992). "Sioux, Assiniboine, and Stoney Dialects: A Classification". Anthropological Linguistics. 34 (1/4): 233–255. JSTOR 30028376.
• West, Shannon L. (2003). Subjects and Objects in Assiniboine Nakoda (Doctoral dissertation). University of Victoria. hdl:1828/371.

External links

• A video of Fred Spyglass (Mosquito First Nation) counting
• Video on Assiniboine history
• Language Geek:Assiniboine
• Native Languages: Assiniboine
• Online dictionary of Assniboine, American Indian Studies Research Institute