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Ponca Language Class with my Grandfather, Edwin Little Cook
Parts of the body


Words are spelled as they sound. X indicates the throat sound made with the back of the tongue on the roof of the mouth.  There should be no hard and fast rule on pronouncing these words according to the English Language, because certainly this would be wrong. There is a nasal sound to many words and that almost has to be heard, too. Some words have parts that are emphasized and in the same word a part that is soft and almost not heard. In some words there is a rise and fall of one sylable over another and this is difficult to show.Again, this almost has to be heard to be learned.
 
We have many linguists, who have tried to write the language, and have made a life time study through government grants, but where is their material?   Their methods cause even more confusion, and I believe the sounding words out according to just how the word sounds in English is the best way, but must be approached with careful study.
 
Head -- Nah-shkee' or Nah-sh key'
Mouth -- Ee (long e)
Eye -- Eenk stah'  (soft k, almost not there, long E)
Teeth -- He (strong h, long ee)
Face -- En day'( soft n, long E, emphasize E)
Nose -- Pbah (pb together by putting lips together to pronouce p and b at the same time.  Pbah
Jaw -- Thay'-bah
Throat -- Newn'-day, second n,nasal softly heard.          
Neck -- Pbah' he 
Tongue -- Thay' ze
Arm -- AHHH'  kay (Double emphasize first sylable, soft kay. Inflection here is a questioning sound.
Hand -- Nohm' bay
Back -- Nahn'kah
Leg -- Zhee' bay
Heel -- Say they-_day
Feet -- See
Big feet -- See Tongk'gah

 Return to Native Indian Lore


 


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