The Set "A" Verb 'say/utter it'
Root verb -we-
Note:
This verb requires the Ꮒ /ni-/ prefix. The ni-
pre-pronominal prefix indicates a specific utterance. Note also the
different forms that this prefix takes in the Infinitive
forms.
Although this verb is used to express animal utterances such as
meow, bark, whinny, etc., it is also used often for a person to say
or express something. ᎯᎠ ᏄᏪᏒᎢ /hiɂa niwesvɂi/ or ᎯᎠ ᏄᏪᏎᎢ /hiɂa
niweseɂi/ appear frequently in the Cherokee New Testament as
Cherokee for "he said, he said this" or even "he replied". It also
appears in Cherokee Phoenix articles to introduce a quoted remark.
In addition to this verb, there are also several other verbs in
Cherokee meaning "to say" that seem to be used interchangeably in
narrations. The ni- pre-pronominal prefix
indicates a specific utterance.
Present Tense
ᏂᏥᏪᎠ - ni-tsi-we-ɂa - I am saying/uttering it.
ᏂᏪᎠ - hni-we-ɂa - you are saying/uttering it. Verb Breakdown
ᏂᎦᏪᎠ - ni-ga-we-ɂa - he/she/it is saying/uttering it.
ᏂᏂᏪᎠ - n-ini-we-ɂa the two of us (including you) are saying/uttering it.
ᏂᏍᏗᏪᎠ - ni-sdi-we-ɂa you two are saying/uttering it.
ᏃᏍᏗᏪᎠ - n-osdi-we-ɂa the two of us (not including you) are saying/uttering it.
ᏂᏗᏪᎠ - n-idi-we-ɂa - we all (including you) are saying/uttering it.
ᏃᏥᏪᎠ - n-otsi-we-ɂa - we all (not including you) are saying/uttering it.
ᏂᏥᏪᎠ - n-itsi-we-ɂa - you all are saying/uttering it.
ᎾᏂᏪᎠ - n-ani-we-ɂa - they are saying/uttering it.
Habitual
ᏂᏥᏪᏍᎪᎢ - ni-tsi-we-sgoɂi - I say/utter it.
ᏂᏪᏍᎪᎢ - hni-we-sgoɂi - you say/utter it.
ᏂᎦᏪᏍᎪᎢ - ni-ga-we-sgoɂi - he/she/it says/utters it.
ᏂᏂᏪᏍᎪᎢ - n-ini-we-sgoɂi - the two of us (including you) say/utter it.
ᏂᏍᏗᏪᏍᎪᎢ - ni-sdi-we-sgoɂi - you two say/utter it.
ᏃᏍᏗᏪᏍᎪᎢ - n-osdi-we-sgoɂi - the two of us (not including you) say/utter it.
ᏂᏗᏪᏍᎪᎢ - n-idi-we-sgoɂi - we all (including you) say/utter it.
ᏃᏥᏪᏍᎪᎢ - n-otsi-we-sgoɂi - we all (not including you) say/utter it.
ᏂᏥᏪᏍᎪᎢ - n-itsi-we-sgoɂi - you all say/utter it.
ᎾᏂᏪᏍᎪᎢ - n-ani-we-sgoɂi - they say/utter it.
1. ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗ ᏱᏥᏍᏚᎲᏍᎪᎢ ᏂᎦᏪᏍᎪᎢ Ꮎ ᎩᎵ. - Galohisdi
yitsisduhvsgoɂi nigawesgoɂi na gili.
Whenever I close the door that dog barks.
2. ᎦᏙ ᏂᏍᏗᏪᎠ? - Gado nisdiweɂa?
What are you two saying?
3. ᏏᏆᏍᎪ ᏂᎦᏪᎠ? - Sigwasgo nigaweɂa?
Is the pig oinking?
4. ᏥᏍᏆᏯ ᎾᏂᏪᏍᎪᎢ ᏧᎩᏨᏅᏓ. - Tsisgwaya naniwesgoɂi
tsugitsvnvda.
The sparrows chirp every day.
ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗ - galohisdi - the door
ᏱᏥᏍᏚᎲᏍᎪᎢ - yi-tsi-sduhv-sgoɂi - if/when I close it Verb
Breakdown
ᏥᏍᏆᏯ - tsisgwaya - sparrow
ᏧᎩᏨᏅᏓ - tsugitsvnvda - everyday
Remote Past
ᎾᎩᏪᏒᎢ - n-agi-we-svɂi - I said/uttered it.
ᏂᏣᏪᏒᎢ - ni-tsa-we-svɂi - you said/uttered it.
ᏄᏪᏒᎢ - n-u-we-svɂi - he/she/it said/uttered it.
ᏂᎩᏂᏪᏒᎢ - ni-gini-we-svɂi - the two of us (including you) said/uttered it.
ᏂᏍᏗᏪᏒᎢ - ni-sdi-we-svɂi - you two said/uttered it.
ᏃᎩᏂᏪᏒᎢ - n-ogini-we-svɂi - the two of us (not including you) said/uttered it.
ᏂᎩᏪᏒᎢ - n-igi-we-svɂi - we all (including you) said/uttered it.
ᏃᎩᏪᏒᎢ - n-ogi-we-svɂi - we all (not including you) said/uttered it.
ᏂᏥᏪᏒᎢ - n-itsi-we-svɂi - you all said/uttered it.
ᏄᏂᏪᏒᎢ - n-uni-we-svɂi - they said/uttered it.
Imperative/Immediate
ᏂᏫ! - hniwi! - [you] Say it!
ᏂᏍᏗᏫ! - nisdiwi! - [you two] Say it!
ᏂᏥᏫ! - nitsiwi! - [you all] Say it!
Infinitive
The prefix "ni-" prepronominal prefix (used in this verb) has a different form in the infinitive:
-- "i-" before consonants and "iy-" before vowels except "i" where it just merges.
ᎢᏯᎩᏪᏍᏗ - iy-agi-we-sdi - (for) me to say/utter it.
ᎢᏣᏪᏍᏗ - i-tsa-we-sdi - (for) you sto say/utter it.
ᎢᏳᏪᏍᏗ- iyuwesdi - (for) him/her to say/utter it.
ᎢᎩᏂᏪᏍᏗ - i-gini-we-sdi - (for) the two of us (including you) to say/utter it.
ᎢᏍᏗᏪᏍᏗ - i-sdi-we-sdi - (for) you two to say/utter it.
ᎢᏲᎩᏂᏪᏍᏗ - iy-ogini-we-sdi - (for) the two of us (not including you) to say/utter it.
ᎢᎩᏪᏍᏗ - i-gi-we-sdi - (for) all of us (including you) to say/utter it.
ᎢᏲᎩᏪᏍᏗ - iy-ogi-we-sdi - (for) us (not including you) to say/utter it.
ᎢᏥᏪᏍᏗ - i-tsi-we-sdi - (for) you all to say/utter it.
ᎢᏳᏂᏪᏒᎢ - iy-uni-we-sdi - (for) them to say/utter it.
1. ᏑᏓᎴᎩᏊ ᎢᏯᎩᏪᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵ. Sudalegi iyagiwesdi
agwaduli.
I want to say just one thing.
2. ᎭᏅᏓᏗᎭᏍᎪ ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏳᏪᏍᏗ ᎤᏚᎸᎲ ᎠᏫ ᎤᏍᏗ? Hanvdadihasg gado
usdi iyuwesd udulvhv Ahwi Usdi?
Do you remember what Little Deer wanted to say?