From the Chinook Listserv

Dave Robertson runs this interesting list devoted to Chinook. He posts this sort of excerts from time to time. I will admit I am not working hard enough to learn the language. I would like to be able to speak fluently.

Here is Dave's latest post:

Hi, There's one Secwepemc writer who uses the word "tataim" in an 1894 letter, then again in an 1899 letter. I'm reproducing a chunk of the later one below. There are lots of recent English loans here; I suspect "tataim" and "alankam" are from English too. Ideas about their meaning?--Dave R.

Pi wiht Sipria Shanulih iaka piii kwata kopa iaka Kamlups Wawa pipa.
AND ALSO CYPRIAN SHANULIH HE PAY QUARTER FOR HIS KAMLOOPS WAWA PAPER"
And also Cyprian Shanulih is paying a quarter for his Kamloops Wawa paper."

Pi iaka wawa taham mun naika ilo tlap pipa.
AND HE SAY 6 MONTH I NOT GET NEWSPAPER"
And he says, 'There were 6 months when I didn't get a paper'.

"Kakwa naika piii kwata.
SO I PAY QUARTER"
'So I'm paying a quarter.'

"Ukuk iaka wawa Sipria kopa maika.
THIS HE SAY CYPRIAN TO YOU"
That's what Cyprian says to you."

Alta naika Wiliam Waspulawh wawa kopa maika Pir Lchyun.
NOW I WILLIAM WASPULAWH TALK TO YOU PERE LEJEUNE"
Now I, William Waspulawh, am talking to you, Pere Le Jeune."

Tlus maika kopit mash pipa kopa Sipria.
GOOD YOU STOP SEND NEWSPAPER TO CYPRIAN"
You should stop sending the paper to Cyprian."

Nawitka sam taims lust pipa tataim(?) alankam(?) mitlait kopa iakwa Kano Krik.
INDEED SOME TIMES LOST NEWSPAPER ?????? ??????? BE AT HERE CANOE CREEK"
Indeed, sometimes papers get lost ?????? ??????? over here at Canoe Creek."

Pi alta ukuk pus kopa kampani haws kopa iakwa Kano Krik haws.
AND NOW THIS WHETHER AT COMPANY HOUSE AT HERE CANOE CREEK HOUSE"
But now this, whether at the company house [or] over here at Canoe Creek House."

Iaka tlus ilo kakwa kam.
IT GOOD NOT SO COME(?)"
It's fine, not like ???."

Ilo wan taim alta lost pipa.
NOT ONE TIME YET LOST NEWSPAPER"
Not one time yet has the paper gotten lost."

Kwanisim Chan Lawta iaka tlus nanich nsaika Chinuk pipa pi wiht <5> sints naika mash kopa maika.
ALWAYS JOHN LAWTA HE WELL READ OUR CHINOOK NEWSPAPER AND ANOTHER 5 CENTS I SEND FOR HIM"
John Lawta always carefully reads our Chinook paper, I'm sending another 5 cents for him."

Iht man iaka piii ankati iaka chabon kopa pinstil.
ONE MAN HE PAY BEFORE HIS CREDIT FOR PENCIL"
One man previously paid his credit for pencils."