Chapter 5 – Inanimate
Chapter 5: Inanimate Singular
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Level 1 Mi'kmaq: Video07 - Inanimate Nouns Source: Video produced by Captive Expression for No'kmaq Village / Flat Bay Band, Inc., June 12, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXUidJUkysY |
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Level 1 Mi'kmaq: Video 08 - Inanimate Verbs Source: Video produced by Captive Expression for No'kmaq Village / Flat Bay Band, Inc., June 12, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgxBTE80mW4 |
Now that you are familiar with animate nouns, consider the following inanimate nouns. Also, be sure to notice how most of the colours and one of the sample verbs have changed. Remember, if you are ever in doubt as to whether an object is animate or inanimate, seek out a fluent speaker.
Inanimate Word List
| Sipu | river | Qospem | lake |
| Km'tn | mountain | Mniku | island |
| Wasuek | flower | Wskitqamu'k | earth |
| Sam'qwan | water | Puktew | fire |
| Apaqt | ocean | Mtasoq | cliff |
| Kapsku | waterfall | Kun'tew | rock |
| Awti | road | Ka'qn | door |
| Tuo'pɨti | window | Tu'sati | porch |
| Tmoqta'wi'kan | log cabin | Wen'ji'kuom | house |
| Wikuom | wigwam | Kina'muo'kuom | school |
| Kwitn | canoe | Pleku | nail |
| Tmi'kn | axe | Tmi'knji'j | hatchet |
| Pui'kney | broom | Kmu'j | stick |
| Tepaqn | tobbogan or car | Sapte'kney | fork |
Inanimate Verbs
| Nemitu | I see | Nutm | I hear |
| E.g., | |||
| Nemitu sipu. | I see a river. | ||
| Nutm puktew. | I hear a fire. | ||
Inanimate Colours
| With this first set, there are no differences between animate and inanimate. |
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| Mekwe'k | Red | Wape'k | White |
| Maqtewe'k | Black | Maqtewimkwe'k | Burgundy |
| With this set however, the words change between animate and inanimate. |
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| Wataptek | Yellow | Stoqnamu'k | Green |
| Tupkwanamu'k | Brown | Musqunamu'k | Blue |
| Nisqunamu'k | Purple | Nijinjewamu'k | Pink |
| Nikjawiknejewamu'k | Orange | Ntlu'tewamu'k | Grey |
| Sulieweyewamu'k | Silver | Wisawsulieweyewmu'k | Gold |
| Jijjuaqitewamu'k | Rust | Amalamu'k | Multi-colour |
Building on the simple sentences from the lists above, you can now add color.
E.g.,
| Nemitu sulieweyewamu'k pleku. | I see a silver nail. |
| Nutm wataptek tepaqn. | I hear a yellow car. |
The next step is to add an action to your object. Note how It is used instead of S/he since the object is inanimate.
Inanimate Verbs & Adjectives
| E.g., | |||
| Nemitu musqunamu'k qospem. | I see a blue lake. | ||
| Nutm, tupkwanamu'k sipu. | I hear a brown river. | ||
| Nemitu wape'k wasuek. | I see a white flower. | ||
Nemitu
Translation: I see
Meanings: I see it
Pronunciation Guide: neh-mee-doo
Translation: I hear
Part of Speech: verb inanimate intransitive
Meanings: I hear
Pronunciation Guide: nu-dock
Nemitu sipu
Translation: I see a river.
Meanings: I see a river.
Pronunciation Guide: neh-mee-doo see-boo
Nutm puktew
Translation: I hear a fire.
Meanings: I hear a fire.
Pronunciation Guide: nood-um boog-dehw
Nemitu sulieweyewamu'k pleku
Translation: I see a silver nail.
Meanings: I see a silver nail.
Pronunciation Guide: NEH-mee-doo Soo-lee-eh-way-oo-ah-Moog BLAY-goo
Nutm wataptek tepaqn
Translation: I hear a yellow car
Meanings: "I hear a yellow car" or "I hear the yellow sleigh" or "I hear the yellow wagon/vehicle."
Pronunciation Guide: NOO-dum WAH-dab-deg DEB-ah-chun
Nemitu musqunamu'k qospem
Translation: I see a blue lake.
Meanings: I see a blue lake.
Pronunciation Guide: NEH-mee-doo Moosch-NAH-Moog CHOHS-bem
Nutm, tupkwanamu'k sipu
Translation: I hear a brown river.
Meanings: I hear a brown river.
Pronunciation Guide: NOO-dum DOOB-gwah-nah-Moog SEE-boo
Nemitu wape'k wasuek
Translation: I see a white flower.
Meanings: I see a white flower.
Pronunciation Guide: NEH-mee-doo WAH-beg WAH-soo-weg
