Tlingit Language Program – Colors
The word yex yatee in translation means like a color so tíoochí would be tíoochí yex yatee or in translation it is like charcoal, Síoow yex yati in translation It is like Jade. – ·kayaayi this translates to It’s almost like something.
- Síagw·at yex yatee – It is like Hemlock bark Listen
- ShÈixíw yex yatee – It’s like Alder Listen
- LÛol yex yatee – It’s like Fireweed Listen
- Law˙ yex yatee – It’s like a Baby Seagull Listen
- Kanatía yex yatee – It’s like Blueberry water Listen
- Xíaan yex yatee – It’s like Fire Listen
- Tlíaatlí yex yatee – It’s like A Little Bird Listen
- Xíeishxí yex yatee – It’s like Blue Jay Listen
- Síoow yex yatee – It’s like Jade Listen
- Tíoochí yex yatee – It’s like Charcoal Listen
- Dleit yex yatee – It’s like Snow Listen
- Xíeishxí ·kayaayi – It’s almost like a Blue jay Listen
Tlingit Language Program – Phrases
Potential speech phrases.
This is something that needs to be memorized. The more times you do it, it will become easier and you will expand on your speaking. So it will become just a part of your vocabulary. Try not to translate into English, try to keep it all in TlingÌt.
1. Addressing the audience with respect and honoring them.
GunalchÈesh haat yee.aadi. (plural) Thank you all for coming. Listen
GunalchÈesh haat igoodi. (Singular) Thank you for coming. Listen
Sh y·a awudanÈixíi (P) Honored people. Noble people. Listen
Aan yatkíu s·ani (P) Children of honored people. Prince and Princessí Listen
Sh y·a awudanÈixíi ka Aan yatkíu saani. Noble people and Prince and Princessí. Listen
Y·a yeed·t, xat tsu, Ax tuw·a sigÛo xíAx w dataanÌ. At this time, I also, want to give a speech/talk or I would be happy to give a speech/talk. Listen
Chía aadei yei x·t neey.oo. (P) Will you all please forgive me. Listen
HÈl/TlÈl ay·x yoo xíaxw dataani. When I donít speak right. Listen
Y· yeed·t ·wÈ ax tuw·xí sigÛo gunalchÈesh yei xía xwa k·ayi. This night I want to say it gives me pleasure/happiness to say thank you. Listen
Y· gaaw ·wÈ ·t koowah·a. The time has come. Listen
Y· gaaw ·wÈ haa eet koowahaaÖ It is time for our turn (or) the time has now come upon usÖ Listen
Ax Leelkíwu h·s. My grandparents (this is addressing on the fatherís side. It is honoring your fatherís parents and their parents. It is also addressing the tribal grandparents.) Listen
Ax …esh h·s. My fatherís people. My fatherís clansmen. Listen
Ax S·ni h·s. My fatherís brotherís. / My fatherís tribal brotherís. Listen
Ax Aat h·s. My fatherís sisters. / My fatherís tribal sisters. Listen
Lingit yÛo.xíatangi sh tuxaltoow. I am learning the TlingÌt Language. Listen
Yakíei yee y·t · xwal geini. (p) It is good to look upon your faces. Listen
Yakíei iy·t · xwal geinÌ. (S) It is good to look upon your face. Listen
Sh tug·a xat ditee yeexw siteeni. (p) I am very pleased to see you all. Listen
Sh tug·a xat ditee ixw siteeni. (s) I am very pleased to see you. Listen
Yakíei ·y·, woosht kanAx wutoowda.aadi. It is very good that we have all come together. Listen
GunalchÈesh, Ax eet ilatÛowu. (s) Thank you for teaching me. Listen
GunalchÈesh Ax eet yeelatÛowu. (p) Thank you all for teaching me. Listen
GunalchÈesh haa eet yeelatÛowu (p) (p) Thank you all for teaching us. Listen
GunalchÈesh haa eet ilatÛowu (s) (p) Thank you for teaching us. Listen
GunalchÈesh haa x·nt yee.aadi. (p) Thank you all for coming to us. Listen
GunalchÈesh haa x·ntxí iyagoodi. (s) Thank you for coming to us. Listen
Tlingit Language Program – Greetings
It is always important to introduce oneself, which is to give your clan history, your background. Elders need to know who you are so that they can acknowledge the clan you represent and the other clans of your relatives. Always remember that when you stand before a group or when you go somewhere else you are representing not just yourself, it is your family, your grandparents, your clan, your community and your School.
A lot of non-native and American native people in the professional world are now giving their introduction of their heritage roots and they say it with dignity. They know where they come from. This is what you need to do. Say your clan history with dignity.
a. _________ yÛo xat duwas·akw Lingit xíeinax. (TlingÌt name) Listen
b. _________ yÛo xat duwas·akw Dleit Kaa xíeinax. (English name.) Listen
c. _________ ·y· xat. (Eagle- Chí·akí or YÈil -raven.) Listen
d. _________ ·y· xat. (Clan; Gaanaxteidi, Kaagwaantaan, etc.) Listen
i. One can just say the sub clan and others will know where you come from. Most Tlingits know that Gaanaxteidi is under the raven moiety or Kaagwaantaan is under the eagle moiety. However, when you are in a mixed group where there are non-native or other nationalities and TlingÌt elders, it will be appropriate to do the complete introduction.
e. _________ hÌt d·x ·y· xat. (What clan house you come from. Frog, Bear, Wolf etc.) Listen
f. _________ Yadi ·y· xat (or) xat sitee. (Fatherís Clan) Listen
i. You always give honor to your fatherís clan. In the TlingÌt society in the olden days, the fathers were of the opposite clans. However in todayís culture we have changed and adapted, we now have double eagle marriages, or double raven marriages. You still give honor to your fatherís people. Most likely he will be from another house.
g. _________ Dachx·n ·y· xat. (I am the grandchild of this clan. Or My grandparent is ____________ clan.) Listen
i. You are talking about your motherís side. If you want to tell others the clan your fatherís mother married into that is appropriate too, especially if it is a different clan. Your dialog will change a bit here. You will have to tell the audience whether it is on your motherís side or your fatherís side. It is something that one needs to know in the TlingÌt culture. These are phrases students can expand into as they become comfortable with the basic introduction.
h.___________ Dachx·n ·y· xat, ax …esh (and/or) Tlaa y·naanax. (I am a grandchild of the _________ clan on my fatherís side. If giving motherís side this needs to be said twice on for father and one for motherís side.) Listen
i. ___________ d·x ·y· xat. (I am from _________. Town or the Tlingit name of an area.) Listen