A Prophecy

Interlinear text by Thomas A. Sebeok

English Translation

This text comes from an Ediphone (wax) cylinder recorded sometime well prior to 1945. In that year it was forwarded to Indiana University to be transcribed. A native Hočąk speaker, Mitchell Redcloud, Sr., of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, listened to the text three times, then repeated it from memory. The text was slightly redacted by Alvin Stacy, who described it as "archaic" and "awkward." [1]

Expressions appearing in brackets, [ ], are supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle).

 

p. 169 —
Hiragra mayžą žejanągiži ’egi wokanąk hirasanągre
After a year at this time and [or, here] people with hats on

 

 

hiwanimįgwigi hįwakara ǧewigi janąga
when we attack them shouting the war cry all things [or, as many as there are]

 

 

wągregi mąxi hozų́naki žigé hą́pjanerèšge
above the clouds full again even the day[s]

 

 

janąga žige hąp hamanįra herèaki
all and [again] day [or, light] those who walk (birds)* those possibly†
*parenthetical expression added by Sebeok.
†Sebeok has "possibility," which I take to be a typographical error.

 

 

hereanąga ’egi žige janąga mą́haxkiràgra
besides [or, also, likewise] and again all [or, as many as there are] things that move on the earth

 

 

’egi hohuhinągre hijobíhike žige wągregi
and the winds all four and [again] above

 

 

wągšig hišča sane hačawira hanąčį
people face white whom we had seen all

 

 

hįgijèrirékjinena. Žežegųgiži manągre hixkąxką́kjinena. Žežegųgiži
they will help me. If [or, when] this is done the earth it will shake. In this case [or when this is done]

 

 

Máyxetera hižugra hijàjire wahíreške hąke
white men [lit., Big Knives] guns aim even if not

 

 

warujox ruxuruk hiranį́kjinena higų jasge waninegi
make explode could they will not be able to no matter hold

 

 

hižugra žegunąkhikčanena. Hąke hixkąruxuruk. hiranį́kjinena.
guns they will be as they were. Not move they will be able to.

 

 

Žežegųgiži gisagrašana hiųwigiži Žežegųgiži žeją
When this occurs only knock unconscious if we do. When this happens end

 

 

hį́hįwìgi. Manągre ne’e hokarayxkąwigi ’ineki
if we do. The earth we if we move in it alone

 

 

žežegųhįhiwìgiži wąkšiǧoinra pįhį’ųjinihawįna. Mežesge wagi’ųhajina
if we do this our lives we shall get along very well. For this I came for this purpose

 

 

megi. Hinuš’ak wianąga žeže gųgiži manągre
here. Fail if we do if this occurs the earth

 

 

jaskexčį nągre wokanąk hirasánągre hahi
all of it hat with attached in time

 

 

hoyxčį́kjinena. Hoyxčįgiži hahišge hegų nįgičira
it will be fully occupied. If it is filled in time even someplace we live

 

 

hinuš’akhikjinihàwina. Žigenige hįčìkjinihawigíške hįhohįwahiwianąga
fail we will. And any place if we shall camp we must ask permission

 

 

’ųwągaširawigšana ’eja hįčwínana. Žige nąkisgra hižą
only if they give us permission there we shall camp. Again stick one

 

 

čišu hįgičgísnikjinihàwiške hį́hohįwahįwianąga
for framework of wigwams if we are about to cut we must ask for permission

 

 

hižą hįgičgíswinana. Žežegųkčanahena. Hąke hoyxčį́pini
one we shall cut. Thus it shall be. Not be filled

 

 

hirewahinųnįgi manągre hahi hakinírekjinena.
we would not think the land in time they will be overcrowded.

 

Source:

Thomas A. Sebeok, "Two Winnebago Texts," International Journal of American Linguistics, 13 (1947): 167-170; Text II — A Prophecy, 169.