Hočąk Syllabic Text — The Origin of the Decorah Family

Hočąk Text — Origin of the Decorah Family

interlinear text by Richard L. Dieterle

For stylistic features, see the first episode of this story ("First Contact").

p. 22 —

Ai d.	w ttAo do	Ai tte Ki di.	e tt.	Ai noKo Ki d
Hižą	wačožu	hijegiži,	éja	hinųkižą
One	leader	after he landed,	there	a woman

K liAi de.	Ao Ki d.	Ae Le Ki di.	de e.	Ai noKo
gipįže.	Hųgižą	heregiži,	žee	hinųk
he liked.	A chief	[as he was,]	[this one]	woman

Ai Ki di.	w Ki liAi de.	K n Ki Ktte	w wi Ke de.	xoo Ke L .
higiži,	wagipįže.	"Kanąkikje?"	wawigeže,	x’okera.
[as she was,]	he liked her.	["May I marry her?"]	[he asked them,]	[the parents.]

p. 23 —

e Ki.	e	wK w tt lL .	no liAi wi wi Ki di.	e
Égi	e	wąkwačąpra	nųpiwiwigiži,	e
[And]	[they]	brothers	as the two of them,	her

Ai Lo K n	Ai Le de	Ai Ky Le de.	e Ki.	wK n K
hirokana	hireže,	higaíreže.	Égi	wąknąka
[to be in charge]	they were,	they said to him.	And	that man

w wi Ke de.	Ki oyi L e de.	e tt	Ai noK[o]	K nK deAe.
wawigeže,	ki’ųireže.	Éja	hinųk	kanąkše.
they said to him,	[they did it for him.]	There	woman	he married.

e tt.	w d	w Ki L e de.	e tt.	wK tt ne.
Éja	wažą	wagireže.	Éja	wąkjane
[There]	[something]	[they said to him.]	There	the man

rii	w Ki do	o de.	wi L o Ko n K.	Ai o L .
s’i	wakižu	’ųže.	Wirokunąka	hi’ųra
[a long time]	to stay with	he did.	The tools	using

w Ki Koro deAe.	e Ki.	Ai noKo	K nK tt ne.	KeAe L e ra de
wagigusše.	Égi	hinųk	kanąkjane	keres’aže.
he taught them.	[And]	woman	the one he married	[she would go home with him.]

p. 24 —

di Ke	tti ra de.	A Ko L ey d.	ni KttK	ttAo de.
Žigé	jis’aže.	Hagoreižą	nįkjąk	čųže.
Again	he would come back.	After awhile	child	it was born.

w Ki d.	A K ni L e de.	Ai Ko	di Ke	Ai l
Wąkižą	haganireže.	Higų	žigé	hipa
[A man]	[they had.]	[Yet]	[again]	[since then]

A K ni Le de.	no liAi wi.	w KL.	Ki ttAo	Ai Le de.
haganireže.	Nųpiwi	wąkra	kičų	hireže.
[they had.]	Two	men	to have themselves	they did.

wK tt tt ne.*	e Ki.	A Ko L ey d.	ni Ktt Kn K.	xAe te L .
[Wąkjane]	égi	hagoreižą	nįkjąknąka	xetera
This man	here	in time	the children	the elder

*there is a line break after the first /tt/, suggesting that the second /tt/ is an accidental redundancy.

A K L ni Ke L e Ktte	e de.	e tt	A Ki	w KidiKi i Ktte Ke.
hakaranikerekje,	éže.	Éja	haki	wąkšikikjege,
he would take back with him,	he said.	[There]	[to arrive back]	[so as to live,]

p. 25 —

e tt	Ai K K	w d L .	Ai d	n tteKe
éja	hįkaga	wažąra	hižą	nąčge
[there]	[never]	[anything]	[one]	[heart]

wo ttAi ni xeAe te Ktt n Ae Ke.	te e di.	w Kidi Kn KeL e.	tt tt n K.
wočinįxetekjanahege.	Teeži,	wąkšiknągere	jająnąga
[since it will not bother it.]	[But as it is,]	[the people]	[always]

no w w Ke rKe	w Kidi Kii n Ke.	Ki oyi L e de.
nųwąwąkesge	wąkšik’įnąge,	ki’ųireže.
dangerous	[as they live their lives,]	[they make for themselves.]

xoAo no L di.	e tt	Ai dKe	Ai o ni L .	A K L Ki do
Xonuraži	éja	hišgé	hi’ųnįra	hakarakižu
[In any case, the younger one]	[there]	[also]	his mother	[with her]

wK KidiKi i Ktte	ay L e de.	e Ki.	A K L ni	Ke L e de.
wąkšik’įkje,	aíreže.	Égi	hakarani	kereže.
[he would live,]	they said.	Then	he took him	he went home.

xAe te ni KL .	A ni Ki Ki di.	wK tte K.	da Kow Ai Ki di.	e tt
Xetenįkra	hanįkigiži,	wąkjega	š’agowahigiži,	éja
The oldest boy	his own,	the man	his parents,	there

p. 26 —

Ki de.	Ai Ke	Ai noKo	K n Kini d	w o tte de
giže.	Hįké	hinųk	kanąknįžą	wa’ųježe,
he got home.	Not	woman	[he did not make a marriage]	he did it,

n K.	e Ki.	wo dK.	Ai L o K ny d	Ae Ae L e.
nąka	égi	wošga	hirukanaižą	hehere.
and	then	[in his affairs]	a leader of men	he was.

e rKe.	Ai lK	de rKe	tt	o ni Ae ra de.
Ésge	hąpak	žesge	ja	’ųnihes’aže.
[So]	[every day]	[this way]	[to exert]	[he would do continuously.]

m dtt	wo xtt	Ai L e de.	A tt	deKe
Mąšją	woxja	hireže.	Haja	ške
[Very]	to be liked	they were.	To see	also

tt tti L e ra de.	w d	deKe	Ao Koo Koo	Ai L e ra de.
jajires’aže.	Wažą	ške	hok’ųk’ų	hires’aže.
they would come.	Things	also	to give him	they would do.

wi dK tto Ki L ttL	Ao Koo	Ai Le de.	de rK	no ni Ke
Wišgajokirajra*	hok’ų	hireže.	Žesga,	nųnįgé,
Many toys	to give	they did.	In spite of all,	however,

*< wišgač-hokirač-ra. The word wišgač, "toys", comes from wa-hi-šgač, "things by means of which to play".

p. 27 —

Ao Lo daK deAe.	x KL.	A lK	a nK ra de.	a nK o
horuš’akše.	Ğakra	hąpak	anąks’aže.	Anąk’ų,
he was homesick.	Crying	every day	he would say.	[While he said,]

Ai Ko	e tt	n ra de.	x Ki L	dotto w K.
higų	éja	nąs’aže.	Ğakira	šjųwąga,
[still]	[there]	he would fall asleep.	He cried all the time	as he got sleepy,

Aoyi diAili	de de rKe	Ai de.	Ai Ke	deKe
hoišip	žežesge	hiže.	Hįké	ške
always	[this way]	[he did.]	Not	[also]

w Lo ttini ra de.	e rKe.	Ai Ki Ke Le	Ao	ay Le de.
warujnįs’aže.	Ésge,	higikere.	"Ho,"	aíreže.
he would not eat.	[Therefore,]	he should go home.	"Ho,"	they said.

o nK Koo	Ao w d Ki di	tee Ke.	ai Le Ke.	e rKe.
’Ųnąk’ų,	howažágiži,	t’ege,	aírege.	Ésge,
Finally,	having become sick,	he would die,	they said.	[Therefore,]

Ai Ko	xA lee niKi	Ai Ki Ke Le tti de.	e Ki.	de rKe
higų	xap’enįk	higikerejiže.	Égi	žesge
[then]	before long	he brought him back.	[And]	[this way]

e de.	Ai miKi w A L.	w Ki Le K tt.	de Ko	e Ki
éže,	"Hinįkwahara	wąkiregają.	Žegų	égi
he said,	"My sons	they are now men.	[So]	here

p. 28 —

w KidiKi i ne Ktte n.	e de.	e Ki.	tt rKe.	wK diKi
wąkšik’įnekjeną,"	éže,	égi,	"Jasgé	wąkšik
they will live,"	he said,	and,	["What way]	men

dii wi Ki di.	Ai dKe	de rKe	w KidiKi i Lni Ae Ktte n	e de.
š’įwigiži,	hišgé	žesge	wąkšik’įranihekjeną,"	éže.
as you intend to do,	[indeed]	[that way]	they will be raised,"	he said.

e Ki.	A t Ki ntt	w Ki Ki	Ai Le ra de.	de e
Égi	hataginąč	wagigi	hires’aže.	Žee
And	fasting	to make them	they would do.	[This one]

A Ko L eyi d.	xeAe te niKi n K.	Ay ni xitti.	Ki K w	a Ki di
hagoreižą	xetenįknąka	hainixjį	kikáwa	ągiži,
[once]	the eldest one	early in the morning	he got up	[pulling himself up, and]

Ai Ke	A t Ki ntt ni de.	de Ko	Aiy n K.	w Al.
hįké	hataginąčnįže.	Žegų	hianąga	wahąp
not	he did not fast.	So	he did, and	corn

p. 29 —

Lo tti Ko Lo Ao K tt.	Ai te KL.	xeAe te Ki di	w o de.
rujikuruhogają,	hitekra	xetegiži	wa’ųže.
when he got ready to cook,	uncle	older	he did this.

n deAey n K.	o xiAi ni d.	w ttAo l n K.	Ai dtt L.
Našeanąga	’ųxįnižą	wačopanąga	hišjara
He took it away from him, and	a piece of charcoal	he mashed it, and	his face

Ai Ki w d n K.	ttA KL.	Ao too ne de.	m L.	A K L ni Ki Kiy n K.
hikiwažanąga	čakra	hot’ųneže.	Mąra	hakaranigigianąga
he rubbed it, and	outdoors	he threw him.	[His arrow]	[he made him take, and]

de Ko	Ki xA L.	Ao w Le de.	e tt	Ao no xA w
žegų	gixara	howareže.	Éja	honųxawą
[so]	the wilderness	he went.	There	secret place

liAi Ki di.	e tt	no xA w de.	e Ki.	Ao K L ni Ai L
pįgiži,	éja	nųxawąže.	Égi	hokaranihira
[as it was good,]	[there]	he hid.	And	they searched

no ni Ke.	A Ke	Ai e	Ai L ni de	e Ki.
nųnįgé	hąké	hi’e	hiranįže.	Égi
but	not	to find	they did not do it.	[And]

p. 30 —

Ko no K.	w Ky Le de.	Ai Ke	de rKe	Ai liAi ni
Kunuga	wagaíreže,	"Hįké	žesge	hįpįnį
[Kunu]	[they said to him,]	"Not	[this way]	you did not do good,

no ni Ke	w o de	Ai Ky Le de.	Ai deKe	Ai Ki l
nųnįgé	wa’ųže.	higaíreže.	Hišgé,	hikipá,
but	it is done,"	[they said to him.]	In reality,	to meet,

no ni Ke	de Ko	o Ki ni K tt.	Ai a ttL	n Ke we
nųnįgé,	žegų	’ųginįgają,	hi’ąčra	nąkewe
however,	thus	as he already did,	his father	he was afraid

w nK deAe.	de Ko	xA w ni de.	wi d.	A r r xitti.
wanąkše.	Žegų,	xawanįže.	Wižą	hasasaxjį
he was.	[Thus,]	[he disappeared.]	A month	a full one

e Ki	A Ko Ley d.	Ki Li de.	A te de.	e Ki.
égi	hagoreižą	kiriže.	Hateže.	Égi
then	[in time]	he came home.	He had dreamt.	And

n Lo Ki ri d.	A ni Ki Li de.	Lexe ttA ttA ri d.	de e	A ni Ki Li de.
nąrugisižą	hanįkiriže.	Reǧ čačasižą,	žee	hanįkiriže.
a circle of wood	he brought back.	A small drum,	this	he brought back.

p. 31 —

de	n tti Lo tt	Ai Le de	e de.	Ai Ke.
"Že	nąjiroją	hireže,"	éže.	"Hįké
"[This]	[to bless me]	[they did,"]	he said.	"Not

wo n xi Le tt.	Ai o ni de.	w Kidi Ko i.	Ai Lo xoAo Lo Ki d.	Ae Le de
wonąǧireja	hi’ųnįže.	Wąkšiko’į	hiruxurukižą	hereže,"
in war	it is not to be used.	Life	an obtainer	it is,"

e de.	e Ki.	de e	wo Ki A Ktt n Ae Ki di.	m o L.
éže.	Égi	žee	wogihakjanahegiži,	Mą’ųra
he said.	And	this	if there were a feast made,	Earthmaker

e	de e	n tti Lo tt Ki di.	e	w Kidi Ko i
e	žee	nąjirojągiži,	e	wąkšiko’į
he himself	this	to be blessed, and	he	life

A ni Ki di.	w KidiKi	n Lo K w	wi Ky Le Ki di.	e
hanįgiži,	wąkšik	narukawa	wigaíregiži,	e
he had, and	[people]	to serve	he was called, and	[he himself]

p. 32 —

w ni o Kette	Ai Ke de.	e rKe	de e	Ae Le de.
wani’ųkje,	higeže.	Ésge	žee	hereže.
[he will take care of them,]	he said.	Therefore,	this	he was.

Ai n di	Ai Le de.	tt Ko L.	Ai d	Ae Le Ki di.
Hinąžį́	hireže.	Jagura	hižą	heregiži,
To depend on	they did.	Whatever	one	when it was,

ttAo we tt	A ni oyi Le de.	w xAo liAi ni n K	Ai Ky Le de.	Ai roAo KL.
čowéja	hani’ųireže.	Waxopininąka	higaíreže.	Hisųkra
foremost	they undertook.	"The Spirit"	they called him.	His younger brother

ttA loAo. rK K	Ai Ky Le de.	Ao w Le L.	de rKe de.	w xoAo liAi ni.
Čapo-skaga	higaíreže.	Howarera	žesgeže.	Waxopį́nį
"White Throat"	they called him.	[As a result]	that way it is.	Spirits

w Kidi Ki i L.	e	Aoy diAili	Ai d	AoKo
wąkšikira	e	hoišip	hižą	hųk
[the person]	he	always	[one of them]	chief

p. 33 —

ni Ae de.	e dA n	deKe.	w xoAo liAi ni n KeLe	e tt
nįhéže.	Éšaną	ške	Waxopininąkre	eja
[he is thus.]	He alone	also	the whites	[there]

w d	e	Ai rKe	wy Ln Ae de.	e Ki.
wažą	e	hisge	wairanaheže.	Égi
anything	he	[in truth]	he could accomplish.	And

te de Ko ne Ki.	Lo A xitti n.	w Kidi Ko i L.	liAi	Ai L ni Ae n.
težegųnegi	rohaxjįną.	Wąkšigo’įra	pį	hiraniheną.
at the present time	they are numerous.	[Lives]	[good]	[they have.]

A Ke	w Ko ni	Ai tt ne n KeLe.	w wi Ki rKe	Ai L ni n.
Hąké	wągoni	hijanénąkre	wawikiske	hiranįną,
Not	family	[the rest]	[the same size as the]	[they were not,]

e dA n.	de Ko ne Ki	wo Lo A n.	Ao ni Ae	de e.
éšaną	žegųnegi	worohąna	honihé	žee.
[they alone]	[at the present time]	[the number of them]	group	this.

p. 34 —

e Ki.	w d	w K ttAK	Ai ni Ae K.	Ai rKe n.
Égi	wažą	wakąčąk	hínihéga	hiskeną.
And	[thing]	holy	as it was	it is indeed.

w K ttAK dA n.	e rKe	tt Ko	n tti Lo tt.	Ai Le L.
Wakąčąkšaną.	Ésge,	jagú	nąjiroją	hirera
[It is holy.]	[Therefore,]	[what]	[to be blessed]	[they were]

de rKe n.	Al te e.	e	w n rKe L Ae n.	A Ai
žesgeną.	Hąptee	e	wanasgeraheną.	Hahi,
[it is that way.]	Today	it	it is powerful.	Finally,

A ntt	e	Ae Le Ktt ne n.	rK L	tt Ko o L
haną́č	e	herekjaneną.	Skara	jagú’ųra
all	it	it will be fulfilled.	The whites	[how they do]

e liAi n.	te de Ko ne Ki.	de rK Ki ni n.	te e	a ni Ae L.
epįną.	Težegųnegi,	žesgaginįną.	Tee	anihera,
it is good.	[At this time,]	[it is already that way.]	[This]	[what he had said,]

a nK dA n.	w xoAo liAi ni	w Kidi Ki i L.
ánąkšaną.	Waxopį́nį	wąkšikį’ira
[they say.]	Spirits	the history

Decorah L.*	de tt n.
Decorah-ra	žejaną.
the Decorahs	this is the end.

*the name "Decorah" is in Latin script with the syllabic /L / attached as shown.

Source:

Paul Radin, "Winnebago Contact with the French," Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3897 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago V, #17, 22-34. A loose translation is found in Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 19-21.