Chapter 4 – Animate
Chapter 4: Animate Pluralization
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Level 1 Mikmaw: Video 09 - Animate Plurals Source: Video produced by Captive Expression for No'kmaq Village / Flat Bay Band, Inc., June 12, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI0kIQtMoUE |
Using the word list from Chapter 4: Animate Singular, look for the patterns using the examples below. and consider the similarities in sound, despite the variance in the rules and exceptions.
| First, if a word ends in a vowel, add 'k. | |||
| Weti | Worm | Weti'k | Worms |
| Kitpu | Eagle | Kitpu'k | Eagles |
| Next, for nouns that end in a consonant, simply add a k. | |||
| Tapatat | Potato | Tapatatk | Potatoes |
| If a word ends in the letter m however, add uk. | |||
| Ji'nm | Man | Ji'nmuk | Men |
| Tia'm | Moose (1) | Tia'muk | Moose (2+) |
| Another exception is if a word ends with the blends aw or ew, then replace it with aq. | |||
| Klitaw | Raspberry | Klitaq | Raspberries |
| Katew | Eel | Kataq | Eels |
| A further set of exceptions include certain animals, such as dogs, cat, or clams. For these, add ɨk. | |||
| Sqolj | Frog | Sqoljɨk | Frogs |
| L'mu'j | Dog | L'mu'jɨk | Dogs |
| Mia'wj | Cat | Mia'wjɨk | Cats |
| E's | Clam | E'sɨk | Clams |
| For some nouns that refer to people, jɨk is used to pluralize. | |||
| Ansale'wit | Angel | Ansale'witjɨk | Angels |
| Malpale'wit | Doctor | Malpale'witjɨk | Doctors |
| Eleke'wit | King | Eleke'witjɨk | Kings |
| E'pit | Woman | E'pitjɨk | Women |
| Now you can apply verbs, but these indicate pluralization as well, so notice how I see has changed. | |||
| Nemi'kɨk | I see them. | ||
| E.g., | |||
| Nemi'kɨk Klitaq | I see raspberries. | ||
Animate Numbers
To build on your simple sentences, use the following set of numbers. Keep in mind that like most colours, numbers differ when counting animate versus inanimate objects.
| Newte'jit | 1 | |
| Tapu'sijik | 2 | |
| Ne'sijik | 3 | |
| Newijik | 4 | |
| Nanijik | 5 | |
| Asukom-te'sijik | 6 | |
| L'ui'knek-te'sijik | 7 | |
| Ukumuljin-te'sijik | 8 | |
| Pesqunatek-te'sijik | 9 | |
| Newtiska'q-te'sijik | 10 |
Next, expand your simple sentences by specifying how many of an object you are talking about.
E.g.,
| Nemi'kɨk tapu'sijik klitaq. | I see two raspberries. |
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Check out Atlantic First Nation Tech Services' Mi'kmaw Language Learning resources which includes their interactive Mi'kmaq Numbers "talking poster" that includes embedded audio. |
Newte'jit
Translation: One
Meanings: One (counting). Newte'jit is specifically used when counting animate nouns (like people, animals, or sacred spirits).
Pronunciation Guide: noof-deh-chich
Tapu'sijik
Translation: Two
Meanings: Two (counting). A verb pluralized specifically for animate subjects (like people, animals, or trees).
Pronunciation Guide: dah-boo-see-chich
Ne'sijik
Translation: Three
Meanings: Three (counting). "There are three of them" when counting animate subjects (people, animals, or trees).
Pronunciation Guide: nay-see-chich
Newijik
Translation: Four
Meanings: Four (counting). "There are four of them" when counting animate subjects (people, animals, or trees).
Pronunciation Guide: nay-wee-chich
Nanijik
Translation: Five
Meanings: Five (counting). Completing the standard sequence for counting groups of animate subjects (people, animals, trees, etc.) from one to five.
Pronunciation Guide: nah-nee-chich
Asukom-te'sijik
Translation: Six
Meanings: Six (counting). There are six of them.
Pronunciation Guide: ah-soo-gum-deh-see-chich
L'ui'knek-te'sijik
Translation: Seven
Meanings: Seven (counting). There are seven of them. It follows the counting pattern for animate subjects (people, animals, or trees).
Pronunciation Guide: el-oo-ee-gnek-deh-see-chich
Ukumuljin-te'sijik
Translation: Eight
Meanings: Eight (counting). Ukumuljin-te'sijik is used when counting animate things (such as people, animals, or spirits). It translates literally to "there are eight of them" or "eight are alone."
Pronunciation Guide: oo-goo-mool-jin-day-see-jig
Pesqunatek-te'sijik
Translation: Nine
Meanings: Nine (counting). This specific form is used when counting animate subjects (people, animals, etc.).
Pronunciation Guide: bess-gwuh-nah-deg-day-see-jig
Newtiska'q-te'sijik
Translation: Ten
Meanings: Ten (counting). It is used specifically to say "there are ten of them" when counting people, animals, or other animate entities.
Pronunciation Guide: new-dis-gahkh-day-see-jig
Nemi'kɨk tapu'sijik klitaq.
Translation: I see two raspberries.
Meanings: I see two raspberries (or blackberries). In Mi'kmaw, berries are grammatically treated as animate entities.
Pronunciation Guide: nay-meeg-eeg dah-boo-see-jig glee-dahkh
