Hočąk Syllabic Text — Journey to Spiritland, Version 8

narrated by a member of the Bear Clan

interlinear translation by Oliver LaMère

  

English Translation

 

Stylistic Features

 
  hapaxlegomena: čak, fork (used as a noun); gihahap, "to cup" (the ancient medical procedure for drawing blood); jopa-jega, "the four"; mąnį́, "steps" (noun); regit’ųk , "to lie, dissemble"; roko, "to wish";
 

rare words: hakregi, "in back, behind"; kunų, "to be lonesome".
 

kisga for kisge, "like".
 

warara for waraga, "relatives".
 

all declarative sentences (52) except one end in -ną, which implies direct personal knowledge of their truth, as opposed to -že, which implies hearsay.
 

use of hąké without the following negative particle nį, and the converse, the use of nį without the precedence of hąké (etc.).

 

-kjaneną is always used for the future tense, and never the longer -kjanaheną.

p. 72 —
t ni s.
me e se n.
e Ki.
te e
ttAo we tt
taníra
meereną,*
égi
tee
čowéja
The tobacco
here is it,
and
these
in front
*< mee-hereną.

p. 73 —
A diAi ni
m diAi ni Kette s.
t ni Ao s.
e Ki.
leAe tts
hašįnį́
mąšínįkjera,
tanihúra
égi
pejra
you keep
as you go,
the pipe
and
the fire

A s K s di ni
m diAi ni Kette s.
e Ki.
w so tts.
w d
harakárašini
mąšínįkjera,
égi
warujra
wažą
[that you have along with you]
as you go,
and
the food
things

w s K.
ni Ki oyi se n.
de se Ktt n A se.
Ay ni Ki.
waraga
nįki’ųireną.
Žerekjanahare.
Haínigi,
your relatives
they have prepared for you.
[You will go.]
In the morning,

wi s xele Ao Ki.
deAe se Ki di.
ttKe s
tti Ke se K tt.
wiraǧéphugi,
šeregiži.
Čekra
jikeregają,
when the sun rises,
you will start.
[The first thing]
[to come to,]

ni Kowo xeAe te xitti d
Ao s tal
s tti dA n Ki Ktt ne n.
nigu-woxetexjįžą
horat’ap
rajišanagikjanéną.
[a much beloved road]*
[you are stepping]
you will take.
*the translation has "a large road".

de e
Ao s w dAe se Ki.
ttAe Kitti s.
doo
A s Ai K tt.
Žee
horawašeregi,
čekjįra
š’ų
harahigają,
Something
[as you go,]
the first*
you do
[when you get there,]
*"the first thing" is lined out.

p. 74 —
e tt
m s
Ki ttoKo x Ki Ktt ne n.
n m ttAe s.
Ai s Kow n K.
éja
mąra
gičguxagikjaneną.
Nąmąčera
hiraguanąga
there
[the ground]
[you will cut across.]
Your Warclub
you take, and

Ao s tti Ktt ne n.
AK se Ki
Ao s too deAe se Ktt ne n.
A Ke
horajikjaneną.
Hakregi
horat’ųšerekjaneną.
Hąké
you will strike it.
In back
[you will cast it and go on.]
Not

A s Ktt lini.
di Ke
deAe se Ktt ne n.
e tt
A doAo wo tti
harakjąbnį.
Žigé
šerekjaneną.
Éja
hašowoji
you will not look back.
[Again]
[you will go on.]
[There]
you will come upon something

s tti dA n Ki Ktt ne n.
w diAi diAi Ks.
di Ke
AK se Ki
rajišanagikjanéną,
wašišigra.
Žigé
hakregi
you will come,
[animals.]
Again
in back

Ao s too deAe se Ktt ne n.
A Ke
A s Ktt lini.
di Ke
horat’ųšerekjaneną.
Hąké
harakjąbnį.
Žigé
[you will cast it and go on.]
Not
you will not look back.
Again

deAe se Ktt ne n.
di Ke
dow s Ai K tt.
w noyi tteKe s.
šerekjaneną.
Žigé
žowarahigają,
wanoíčgera
you must go on.
Again
as you go along,
animals

p. 75 —
A doAo wo tti Ktt ne n.
di Ke
Ai Ke
A s Ktt lini
A Kese Ki
hašowojikjaneną.
Žigé
hįké
harakjąbnį.
Hakregi
you will come upon.
Again
not
you will not look back.
In back

Ao s too deAe se Ktt ne n.
de e.
m Ai A Kese Ki.
Ao w
Ao w s Ki Ki
horat’ųšerekjaneną.
Žee
mąhihakregi
howa
howagigi
you will throw and go on.
[These]
on this earth
[here]
they come

w doo Ktt ne n.
wo n xi se s.
w KidiKi
w d ni se s.
wy noyo ttKe s.
waš’ųkjaneną,
wonaǧirera,
wąkcik
wažąnirera,
wainoíčgera,
[you will do it,]
wars,
[men]
[possessions],
animals,

w so tts.
e Ki
e tt
dAe se Ki di
Ai Ke
A si dA s ni Ktt ne n.
warujra.
Égi
éja
šeregiži,
hįké
harišaranįkjaneną.
food.
[And]
[from there]
when you go,
not
you will not have gone far.

e tt
ttAi lAo so Ke d.
A doAo wo tti s tti dA n Ki Ktt ne n.
Éja
čiporokežą
hašuwojirajišanąkikjaneną,
[There]
[an oval lodge]
you will come,

Ai to Ke ni Ki d
w o n Ki Ktt ne n.
e
de e.
wo ni Ki s Ki Kette s
hitokenįkižą
wa’ųnąkikjaneną.
E
žee
wonįkirakikjera
an old woman
there will be.
She
[this one]
she will inform you

p. 76 —
w o nK dA n.
Ai ttAo deKe
tt Ko
Ai ni Ky se de
e Ktt ne n.
wa’ųnąkšaną.
"Hičųšgé,
jagu
hinįgaireže?"
ekjaneną.
she is the one.
"Grandson,
what
it is your name?"
she will ask.

w s Ke Ktte n.
Ko ni K.
Ao y Ko so Ao s.
te e.
wi so sK
Warakikjeną,
"Kunika,
hoyakuruhora,
tee
wirorak
Then you must tell her,
"Grandmother,
when I was about to start,
these
mediators

y o Kette
ay se n.
t ni Ao s.
i
Ke se s Ki Ki Ktt ne n.
ya’ųkje,
aíreną."
tanihúra
i
kereragigikjaneną.
I was given,
[it is said."]
The pipe
mouth
you will put.

Ko ni K
daK w A s.
w Ki no ls.
Ao Ki K s tt ni s.
Ao tt
"Kunika,
š’akwahara,
wakinųpra,
hokikarajanira,
hoją́
"Grandmother,
my parents,
my brothers,
my relatives,
[even now]

wo w rili
w K s Ki Ke.
wo n xi se s.
tt rKe.
woyo to Ki Kii s.
wowazip
wakarágige,
wonaǧirera
jasge
woitokík’įra
lonesome
I have made, therefore,
[the wars]
[what]
honors

so Ko
Ai se n.
Ao tt.
w n tto tty rKe
w K s Ki Ke.
roko
hireną.
Hoją́
wanajojaisge
wakarágige
to wish
I do.
[Even now]
low in spirits
[I have made, therefore,]

p. 77 —
w Kidi Ko i s
tt rke
wy dtt Ao s.
de e.
ty se n.
wąkšigo’įra
jasge
waišjąhúra,
žee
taireną.
life
[what]
I left behind,
[that]
they asked.

e Ki.
A Ke
A K
Ai so tti
e Ki
Ai d
Égi
hąké
haga
hiroji
égi
hižą
And
not
[any time]
[very soon]
here
[one of them]

tti n Kette
ay se n.
e Ki.
w KidiKi
w d ni se s.
jinąkje,
aíreną.
Égi
wąkšik
wažąnirera
they might travel,
they said.
And
people
such things

tt n K
to Kd Ki.
di Ke
de e
t
janąga
tokšagi,
žigé
žee
ta
[all]
[as in summer ?],
[again]
[these]
to ask

Ai se n.
te de rKe
Ko ni K
Ai Ky se n.
Ao y Ko so Ao s.
hireną.
Težesge,
kunika,
higaireną,
hoyakuruhora
they did.
This,
grandmother,
they said to me,
when I was about to start

n Ko s.
Aoyi tte s.
tto liAi wi
m ni
ttAo
nagúra
hoijera,
jopíwi
mąnį ´
čo
[the road]
[stepping,]
four
steps
blue

Ai n teeKe tte Ki.
n Ko s.
m ni
ttAo
hinat'ekjegi,
nagúra
mąnį ´
čo
[if you could direct me ?]
[the road]
steps
blue

Ao do tte Ki
e
w w te Ktt ne
A Ky se n.
Ko ni K.
hožujegi,
e
wawatekjane
hakaireną,
kunika."
as they are imprinted,
[these]
[I will go in]
they told me,
grandmother."

p. 78 —
A A.
Ai ttAo dKe niKi A xitti
ni xAo no ni K tt.
w n ni Kr ld n.
"Hąhą́
hičųšgenįkhaxjį,
nįxununįkają,
wananįksapšaną.
"Well
[my dear grandson,]
you are young, but
you are wise.

e liAi n.
wo ni Ki A Ktte n.
a n K.
wo A s
Epį́ną.
Wonįgihakjeną,"
ánąga
wohąra
It is good.
I will boil something for you,"
she will say, and
the kettle

Ai tt Ke se Ktt ne n.
riAi
Ao A Ktt ne n.
Att ttiKi di.
n roAo s
hijakerekjaneną.
Sį
hohąkjaneną.
Hajajigiži,
nąsúra
she will put it on.
Rice
she will boil.
If  you eat,
head

ni te Ki Ktt ne n.
e Ki.
w ni Ke Ktt ne n.
Ai ttAo dKe
n roAo s.
nįtekikjaneną.
Égi
wanįgekjaneną,
"Hičųšgé,
nąsúra
you will have an ache.
Then
she will say to you,
"Grandson,
head

ni teKe dA n.
ni Ki A A li Ktte n
e Ktt ne n.
ni Ki A A liKi
e tt.
nįtekšaną.
Nįgihahapikjeną,"
ekjaneną.
Nįgihahapigi,
éja
you have an ache.
Let me cup it for you,"
she will say.
[After she cups it,]
[there]

n roAo s.
ni Ki xoAoxo x n K.
n roAo so Ko ls
ni Ki so ri Ktt ne n.
nąsúra
nįgixuxanąga
nasurugopra
nįgirusikjaneną.
skull
she cracks, and
the brain
she will take them out of you.

p. 79 —
de de Ko Ki.
m
e Ki
Ao dA s se.
w s K.*
Žežegųgi,
mą
égi
hošarare.
Waraga
Then,
earth
here
you will forget.
[Relatives]
*the period after the word is written so high that it appears to be an /i/, giving w s Ki, but in the next instance of the word below it is clear that the /i/ is actually a period, and that the standard form of the word, w s K, is meant.

Ko no ni Ktt ne n.
w d
w s K.
Ai Ke
n ttKe w wo s
kunųnįkjaneną.
Wažą
waraga
hįké
nąčge wawora
[you will not be lonesome.]
[Things]
relatives
not
to worry

ttAi ni Ktt ne n.
w xAo liAi ni
w s tti se.
Ai s
Ki rK
činįkjaneną.
Waxopini
warajire
hira
kisga
[you will not live.]
Spirits
[the various ones]
[being]
like

s tti tte Ktt ne n.
m Ai A Kse Ki.
wo we wi s.
e tt
Ai lA
rajijekjaneną.
Mąhihakregi
wowewira
éja
hipá
you shall become.
Just to the earth
your thoughts
there
any further than

Ai ni Ki se Ktt ne n.
w xAo liAi ni
w s tti se
s ni Ktt ne n
e lA.
hinįkirekjaneną.
Waxopini
warajire
ranikjaneną.
Epa
[you will think.]
[Spirits]
[the various ones]
[you shall be.]
[From then on]

riAi
Ao A K.
Ae.
w Ki o n.
e rKe.
sį
hohąga,
he
waki’ųną.
Ésge,
rice
which she boils,
lice
[she made it.]
For this reason,

p. 80 —
e tt.
w d
diAi di Ks.
A ntt
Ao sy diAili dA n.
e Ki.
éja
wažą
šišikra
haną́č
horaišipšaną.
Égi
[there]
things
bad things
[all]
you will be through with.
Then

deAe se Ktt ne n.
Aoyi tte
tto l tte K.
w wo sy tte Ktt ne n.
e tt
šerekjaneną.
Hoijé
jopajega,
waworaijekjaneną.
Éja
you will go on.
Steps
the four,
[you will step them.]
[There]

n Ko s.
ttA Ki d
Ke
tte n.
m ni
ttAo
nagúra
čakižą,
ge
jeną.
Mąnį́
čo
the road
a fork,
that is why
[to step.]
[To walk]
blue

Ao do tte K.
liAi se se n.
w d
w s K
e tt
hožujega
pįrereną,
wažą.
Waraga
éja
[the ones filled]
it is best,
[thing.]
Relatives
[there]

A ntt
A Ai n Kd n.
e Ki
to w
deAe se Ktt ne n.
haną́č
hahinąkšaną.
Égi
towa
šerekjaneną.
[all]
[they went.]
[And]
on
you will go.

dow s Ai K tt.
e tt
leAe tts.
Ki ttoKo x
Ki Ktt ne n.
Žowarahigają,
éja
pejra
gičgúx
gikjaneną,
As you go along,
there
fire
across
[it will go,]

m s
Ai s o ni.
e tt.
n xA m ni s.
A Ke
mąra
hira’uni.
Éja
nąxąmąnįra
hąké
the earth
from one end to the other.
There
the bridge
not

p. 81 —
A m ni
liAi ni
Ki Ktt ne n.
n xA m niy K.
Ao w so sow Ki Ktt ne n.
hamąnį
pįnį
gikjaneną.
Nąxąmąnįąka
howarorowagikjaneną,
to walk
not easy
[it will be.]
The bridge
it will swing,

no ni Ke
s doKo ni
sy deAe se Ktt ne n.
A ni ni oyi se Ktt ne de
nunige
rašguni
raišerekjaneną.
Hanini’ųirekjaneže.
but
safely
you shall go on.
[They will take you over.]

Ao ni Ki s Ki se s.
de e
A ni ni A so ttAyi se Ktt ne n.
liAi xitti
Honigiragirera,
žee
haniniharočairekjaneną.
Pįxjį
The ones they told you about,
[these]
they will take you over and care for you.
Good

wo ni Ki tK wi n.
w n xi s
Ai d
m no ni K.
wonigitakwiną.
Wanąǧira
hižą
mąnųnįga,
we have told you of it.
[The souls]
[one of them]
[if he leads them astray,]

Ai s.
wo Ki s Ks.
se Ki too Ki se K.
e tt.
dAi lese K.
hira
wogiragra
regit’ųkirega,
éja
šiprega,
[to mind]
[telling it to them]
if they lie,
there
as he falls,

n xi s Ks.
t xoAo tte n.
te e di
liAi xitti
sy deAe se Ktt ne n.
nąǧirakra
taxujeną.
Teeži
pįxjį
raišerekjaneną.
the soul
it burns.
But you
very well
you shall go on.

p. 82 —
e Ki.
deAe se Ki.
e tt
Ao ni K s w tti se Ktt ne n.
Égi
šeregi,
éja
honikarawajirekjaneną.
[And]
as you go on,
there
they will come to meet you.

ttiAi nK n K
e tt
s Ai Ki.
wi so K n n K
e tt
Činąknąka
éja
rahigi,
wirukananąka
éja
The village
there
you go, and
the chief
there

s Ai Ki.
tt Ko
Ai n Ki wi se.
wo t s
e tt.
rahigi,
jagú
hinągiwire,
wotara
éja
you go, and
[what]
[we want ?]
[requests]
there

Ai deAe Ktt ne n.
t ni s.
w so tts
w diAi diAi Ks.
Ai tt
hišekjaneną.
taníra,
warujra,
wašišigra
hija
you will say.
The tobacco,
the food,
the animals,
there

s Ki do Ktt ne n.
tt Ko s A s
di Ke
de rKe
Ai deAe Ktt ne n.
ragišųkjeną.
Jagúrahara
žigé
žesge
hišekjaneną.
[you may attend to.]
[Whatever]
[again]
[that kind]
you will say.

e tt.
w d
w s s
tt n K.
tee s.
Éja
wažą
warara
janąga
t’era,
There
everyone
relations
[as many as there are]
who died,

e tt
ttAi rAe se tti d Ks.
e tt
Ao s Ke we Ktt ne n.
éja
čiserečižągra,
éja
horakewekjaneną.
there
[the long house,] 
there
you will enter.

Ao.
A.
Ho-o-o-o!
Ha-a-a-a!
Ho-o-o-o!
Ha-a-a-a!

Source:

Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3897 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago V, #24: 72-82 (Hočąk syllabary), 72-82 (English translation). This has been published in English translation in Radin, The Winnebago Tribe, 95-96.