A MINI LANGUAGE LESSON

Mini language lesson for emergent readers of Mi’kmaq, using Motherese in early Mi’kmaq Infancy: 0-1 year old.

In an effort to increase language fluency among Mi’kmaq I would like parents to try and use “Mi’kmaq Motherese” with their new babies and toddlers. Babies and children need to hear the initial phonic sounds of Mi’kmaq in their first year of life, in order to have language acquisition of Mi’kmaq in the formative language stage.

 It would be a good chance for you and your new baby to start learning Mi’kmaq together. Please don’t be afraid of making mistakes. You and your child have no one to hear, so you should not be afraid that someone will laugh at your efforts. 

It has to be everyday, all day long, only in Mi’kmaq. And be happy to have this chance to use your phonic skills in the privacy of your own home.

A sounds like ah as in amu, awti, apaji, ala. 

A’ aaahe sounds like eh as in epit, eliey, epsi,

 E’ _i sounds like ee as in ila’si, iapjiw, I’ _o sounds like oh as in otia, oqua, O’ _u sounds like oo as in ula, utan, U’ -p-pata’wti (bah dow dee) tablet- tapatat ( tah bah dud) potatok- kanata (kah nah dah) Canadaj- jakwet (jaw kwet) 

He is talking a lot.... laputi (lah poo dee) binocularm-ma’winej (mah wee nedge)

 Let’s kiss...nisa’si (niss sah see) get downq- qalipu (qah lee boo) caribous- sasap (saw sub) jelly fishw- waspu (was poo) seala’a - isn’t that righta- don’t touchala- that oneali kali- hide mee’e- yese’pit- womani’aq- yuckyiaki- something is dirtyiayya - sorejujij-bugjipji’j-birdji’nm- mankekka - lookkiju’-mom
kiju’ji’j- grandmala’li- take me therelie’-go over thereli’- makem’ma’- kissm’po’ - ghostmi’mi-foodna - herena’na - breadni’n - mentayij- minenu’nu – bottleo’o- something is wrongpa’pa - go to sleeppi’ -urinatepi’pi - babypo’po - horsepu’- defecateqalipu- carribouta - don’tta’ta- dadta’ta’ji’j grandfatherti’ti- dollu’t- this oneula- this one

Wowo - dogwili....belly button

Imperatives: command words.

Sankami.....Look at me

 Ika’tu.... leave it alone

Jikla’si... go away

Jiksitui.....Listen to

 Mejukue’.... come here

Jukwa’tui..... Bring me 

Ke’, ankami...... Look at 

Memijisi.... eat.

Mnja’si. ....Get up

Mpasma’si. ...Lie down

Mukk tla’tekew .....don’t do

 Thatmukk sama’t....Don’t touch

Nisa’si... get down

Pa’si ...sit down

Tepiaq na.... that’s enough

Tluey.......... Say........

Encourage the child by rewarding appropriate responses....kelu’kw tela’teken.....Good job

.Koqoey menueken..... What do you want ?

Menueken......?Do you want

Wela’lin....Thank you

Weliaq. ...That’s good.


Source: Miss Helen