ALASKAN HAIDA PHRASEBOOK FOR BEGINNERS
VOLUME 1
KASAAN DIALECT
TEXT AND AUDIO BY ERMA LAWRENCE
COMPILED AND EDITED BY JORDAN LACHLER

This phrasebook is a collection of simple sentences in Alaskan Haida designed for use by beginning students of the language.  The text for this book, along with the audio recordings, were made in 1974 by Erma Lawrence, a fluent speaker of the Kasaan dialect of Alaskan Haida. 


WHAT IS THIS?
                                           
Gúusgyaa uu íijang? What is this?
Táan-gyaa uu íijang. It is a black bear.
Kungáay uu íijang. It is the moon.
K'aayhlt'áagyaa uu íijang. It is a star.
Xuuyáay uu íijang. It is the sun.
K'áawgyaa uu íijang. It is an egg.
Sk'ín-gyaa uu íijang. It is a seagull.
Tak'íinaan uu íijang. This is an iron.
Gínt'asgyaa uu íijang. This is a blanket.
Kikwgyáa uu íijang. This is a basket.
Xatúugyaa uu íijang. This is a brailer.
K'yúutl'ajaawgyaa uu íijang. This is an axe.
Gúlaagyaa uu íijang. This is an abalone.
Xat'áagyaa uu íijang. This is an adze.
Kálgyaa uu íijang. This is an alder tree.
Nang jáadaa uu íijang. This is a girl.
Nagyáa uu íijang. It is a house.
Gyáa'aang uu íijang. It is a totem pole.
K'áatgyaa uu íijang. It is a deer.
Xúutsgyaa uu íijang. It is a brown bear.
Kwaagyáa uu íijang. It is a rock.
Sgíwgyaa uu íijang. It is some seaweed.
T'áawulgyaa uu íijang. It is a hook.

Áalaang uu íijang. This is an oar.
Áalaang í'waan uu íijang. It is a big oar.
Díi xáat áalaangwaay tlaawhlgán. My father (of a female) made the oar.

Aatgyáa uu íijang. It is a fishnet.
Chíin uu aat eihl tl' isdáang. People catch fish with a net.

Chíin-gyaa uu íijang. This is a fish.
Sk'akgyáa uu íijang. It is a dog salmon.
Gut iláa chíin-gyaa íijang. There are different kinds of fish.
Chíin uu táaw 'láa íijang. Fish is good food.

Giit uu íijang. This is cedar bark.
Kikwgyáa uu giit iist tlaawhlgáagang. Baskets are made out of cedar bark.
Kigwáay kyahtsgat 'láagang. The baskets are pretty.
Lagúus háns giit iist tlaawhlgáagang. Mats are made out of cedar bark too.

Gwáayk'aagyaa uu íijang. These are some skookum roots.
Gwáayk'aagyaa uu dáng gín hats'asáasaang. Skookum roots will make you sneeze.
Guhlga'áangw uu íijang. This is a chair.
Guhlga'áangwaay ts'úujuugang. The chair is small.
Guhlga'áangwaay gadáang. The chair is white.

Hlanggwáay tlagáay uu íijang. This is the world.
Hlanggwáay tlagáay skáangaaldaang. The world is round.
Hlanggwáy tlagáay í'waang-gang. The world is big.

Hldáan-gyaa uu íijang. These are blueberries.
Hldáan-gyaa uu táa an 'láagang. Blueberries are good to eat.

Hlk'itgáagyaa uu íijang. This is a dress.
Hlk'itgáay kyahtsgat 'láagang. The dress is pretty.
Hlk'itgáay guhlálgang. The dress is blue.

K'áawgyaa uu íijang. These are fish eggs.
Íinang uu t'ál gwíi chíiganggang. Herring spawn on seaweed.
K'áawgyaa uu xáwl xusdliyéi. Fish eggs are delicious.

K'yúugyaa uu íijang. This is a clam.
K'yúugyaa táa an 'láagang. Clams are good to eat.
K'yúu 'wáan-gei gulgáagang. It is fun to dig clams.

Kíitgyaa uu íijang. It is a tree.
Kíidaay jánggang. The tree is tall.

Kugíin gwáahl uu íijang. This is a paper bag.
Kugíin gwáahl uu gin kwáan an tl' gya'ándaang. People use paper bags for many things.

K'áalaangwgyaa uu íijang. This is a pencil.
K'áalaangwaay sgíidang. The pencil is red.

K'áang k'úl uu íijang. These are spruce roots.
Kikwgyáa uu k'áang k'úl iist tlaawhlgáagang. Baskets are made out of spruce roots too.

K'íit'aasgyaa uu íijang. This is a berry basket.
Gáan eihl uu st'aagáagang. It is full of berries.
Hldáan eihl uu st'aagáagang. It is full of blueberries.

Hlk'yáawdaalw uu íijang. This is a broom.
Hlk'yáawdaalwaay í'waan-gang. The broom is big.
Hlk'yáawdaalwaay gigwáay sgíidang. The broom handle is red.

K'ust'áan-gyaa uu íijang. This is a crab.
K'ust'áan-gyaa uu táaw 'láa íijang. Crabs are good food.
K'ust'áan-gyaa uu isdéi díi guláagang. I like to get crabs.

Nang íihlangaa uu íijang. This is a man.
Nang íihlangaas dlayáandaalgang. The man is running.
Nang íihlangaas ts'uwiijánggang. The man is tall.

Núugyaa uu íijang. This is an octopus.
Núugyaa uu táa an 'láagang. Octopus is good to eat.
Núugyaa díi guláagang. I like octopus.

Sáawgyaa uu íijang. This is an ooligan.
Satáwgyaa uu sáaw iist tlaawhliiyáagang. Ooligan grease is made from ooligans.

Sk'áamgyaa uu íijang. This is a starfish.
K'aayhlt'áay gingáan sk'aáamaay xangáagang. The starfish looks like a star.
Gám sk'áamaay táa an 'láa'anggang. The starfish is not good to eat.
Chánxaa an sk'áamaay 'láagang. The starfish is good for fertilizer.

Sk'atl'áangwgyaa uu íijang. This is a cup.
Sk'atl'áangwaay ts'úujuugang. The cup is small.
Sk'atl'áangwaay kyahtsgat 'láagang. The cup is pretty.

Skúlgyaa uu íijang. This is a porpoise.
Skuláay náanggei guláagang. The porpoise like to play.
Skuláay uu hlgahls gyáan gadáang. The porpoise is black and white.

Stáwgyaa uu íijang. This is a sea urchin.
Gíi gin k'i k'áwgang. It has sharp needles on it.
Táa an 'láagang. It is good to eat.

Stlán-gyaa uu íijang. This is a needle.
Stlán-gyaa uu k'igáng. A needle is sharp.

Táanaa náay uu íijang. This is a smokehouse.
Chíin uu táanaa náay aa t'aláng xiláadaang. We dry fish in the smokehouse.
Chíin xiláa uu táaw 'láa íijang. Dried fish is good food.

Tlúugyaa uu íijang. This is a canoe.
Tluuwáay uu ts'úu ist tlaahlgáagaang. The canoe is made out of red cedar.
Tluwáay uu í'waan-gang. The canoe is big.

T'áahlgyaa uu íijang. This is an anchor.
Tlúu an uu t'áahlaay tl' gya'ándaang. People use anchors for boats
T'áahlaay t'íits í'waandaang. Some anchors are big.
T'áahlaay t'íits ts'úudalaang. Some anchors are small.

T'áawulgyaa uu íijang. This is a fishhook.
T'áawulaay uu k'igáng. The fishhok is sharp.

Ts'áan tluwáay uu íijang. This is a gas boat.
Ts'áan tluwáay xangaláang. The gas boat is fast.
Ts'áan tluwáay sgíidang. The gas boat is red.

Ts'úugyaa kíidaay uu íijang. This is a red cedar tree.
Ts'úu kíidaay jánggang. A red cedar tree is tall.
Ts'úu kíidaay kyahtsgat 'láagang. Red cedar trees are nice to look at.
Ts'úu iist uu tlaawhlgáagang. It is made out of red cedar.
Kigwáay kyahtsgat 'láagang. The basket is nice to look at (pretty).

Xakwtl'íitgyaa uu íijang. These are some soapberries.
Xakwtl'íit aa hl xit'asáang. I will whip up some soapberries.
Xakwtl'íit xáwlaang. Soapberries taste good.
Xakwtl'íit sgíidang. Soapberries are red.

Xikgyáa uu íijang. This is some edible bark.
Xikgyáa uu 'laagang. Edible bark is good.
Xikgyáa uu ts'úu iist tl' isdáang. People take edible bark from a red cedar tree.
Xikgyáa hl dúusaang. I will get some edible bark.

Xut'úugyaa uu íijang. This is a wooden brailer.
Tlúu gwaa uu tl' gya'ándaang. People use it in a canoe.

Xagyáa uu íijang. It is a dog.
Gúus uu xáay isdáang? What is the dog doing?
Xáay uu gatáagang. The dog is eating.

Xakwgyáa uu íijang. This is a halibut.
Xakw í'waan uu íijang. It is a big halibut.
Awáa xagwáay kúugaasaang. Mother will cook the halibut.

Xit'íit uu íijang. It is a duck.
Gúus uu xit'adáay isdáang? What is the duck doing?
Xit'adáay xíidang. The duck is flying.

Xúutgyaa uu íijang. It is a seal.
Gúus uu xúudaay isdáang? What is the seal doing?
Xúudaay gatáagang. The seal is eating.

Yáahl uu íijang. This is a raven.
Yáalaay hlgálgan. The raven is black.
Yáalaay xíidang. The raven is flying.

Yáanuugyaa uu íijang. This is a sea cucumber.
Gut iláa yáanuu xangáagang. Sea cucumbers look different from one another.
T'íits sgíidang. Some are red.
T'íits gadáang. Some are white.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Gúusgyaa uu nang jáadaas isdáang? What is the girl doing?
Hal k'áw-aang. She is sitting down.

Gúus uu hal isdáang? What is she doing?
Hal káagang. She is walking.

Gúus uu hadáa isdáang? What is Father (of a female) doing?
Hadáa k'áw-aang. Father (of a female) is sitting.

Gúus uu awáa isdáang? What is Mother doing?
Awáa kúugaagang. Mother is cooking.

Gúus uu náanaa isdáang? What is Grandmother doing?
Náanaa tatl'íigang. Grandmother is sewing.

Gúus uu nang ts'úujuus isdáang? What is Baby doing?
Nang ts'úujuus án tluu'únggang. Baby is crawling around.
Nang ts'úujuus gin nílgang. Baby is drinking.

Gíist uu íijang? Who is this?
Díi skáan uu íijang. She is my aunt.
Díi káa uu íijang. He is my uncle.
Díi k'wáay uu íijang. She is my older sister (of a female).
Díi dúun uu íijang. She is my younger sister (of a female).
Díi dáa uu íijang. He is my brother (of a female).
Díi chán uu íijang. He is my grandfather.

Sán uu sgíw xanáagang? What color is seaweed?
Sgíiwaay hlgálgang. The seaweed is black.

Gúus uu awáa isdáang? What is Mother doing?
Sgíwgyaa uu awáa xiláadaang. Mother is drying some seaweed.

Gúus uu hadáa isdáang? What is Father (of a female) doing?
Hadáa uu sgíw táagang. Father (of a female) is eating seaweed.

Gúus háns hadáa isdáang? What else is Father (of a female) doing?
Tlúugyaa uu hadáa tlaahláang. Father (of a female) is building a boat.

Gúus uu tluwáay gwaa hadáa isdáasaang? What will Father (of a female) do on the boat?
Tluwáay gwaa hadáa xáawsaang. Father (of a female) will fish on the boat.

Sán uu sgíiwaay aa awáa tláahlahlsaang? What will mother do with the seaweed?
Awáa sgíiwaay xiláadaasaang. Mother will dry the seaweed.

Sán uu chíinaay aa hadáa tláahlahlsaang? What will Father (of a female) do with the fish?
Hadáa chíinaay eihl 'wáadaasaang. Father (of a female) will sell the fish.
Hadáa chíin ts'úudalaa awáa-k isdáasaang. Father (of a female) will give mother the small fish[es].

Gúus uu hadáa isdáang? What is Father (of a female) doing?
K'áaw uu hadáa isdáang. Father (of a female) is picking fish eggs.

Gíijiist uu k'áaw tl' isdáang? From where do people get fish eggs?
Íinaang-st uu k'áaw tl' isdáang. People get fish eggs from the herring.
K'áawgyaa uu táaw 'láa íijang. Fish eggs are good food.

Gúus uu nang jáadaas isdáang? What is this girl doing?
Nang jáadaas uu sáa-k kahláang. The girl is walking up the stairs.
Nang jáadaas sáa-st kat'a'éilgang. The girl is coming down the stairs.

Gúus uu nang jáadaas isdáang? What is this girl doing?
Nang jáadaas k'yúugyaa hlgáygang. The girl is digging clams.
K'yuwáay xáadang an hal kúugaasaang. She will cook the clams for her father.
Hal áw hánsan k'yuwáay táasaang. Her mother will eat the clams, too.

Gúus uu nang íihlangaa xajúus isdáang? What is this boy doing?
Nang íihlangaa xajúus uu náanggang. The boy is playing.
Dúujaay eihl uu hal náanggang. He is playing with a cat.

Gúus uu nang jáadaas isdáang? What is this girl doing?
Hal git káyts'iidang. She is babysitting.
Hal git káyts'iit gáayaagang. She is a good babysitter.

Gúus uu nang jáadaas isdáang? What is this girl doing?
Káyhlgaay uu awáng an hal dlán-gang. She is washing dishes for her mother.
Káyhlgaay hánsan hal xiláadaasaang. She will also dry the dishes.
Gám káyhlgaay hal tlaxust-'ángsaang. She will not break the dishes.

Gúusgyaa uu nang íihlangaas isdáang? What is this man doing?
Kuk íik hal sginanánggang. He is chopping wood.

Sán uu kugáay aa hal tláahlahlsaang? What will he do with the wood?
Kugáay eihl hal ts'áanuusaang. He will build a fire with the wood.

Gúus uu nang jáadaas isdáang? What is this girl doing?
Git'áang hal dlagánggang. She is packing her baby.
Hal git jáadaagang. Her baby is a girl.

Gúusgyaa uu nang íihlangaas isdáang? What is this man doing?
Hal xáwgang. He is fishing.

Gúus uu nang jáadaa xajúus isdáang? What is the little girl doing?
Káyhlgaa hal dlán-gang. She is washing dishes.

Gúus uu k'áadaay isdáang? What is the deer doing?
K'áadaay uu kíit hlk'áay táagang. The deer is eating tree branches.

ACTIONS IN THE PRESENT

Hláa uu hlgángulaang. I am working.
Hláa uu gatáagang. I am eating.
Hláa uu k'adáang. I am sleeping.
Hláa uu tatl'íigang. I am sewing.
Hláa uu taxáygang. I am knitting.

Hl tak'áalanggang. I am writing.
Hl k'ajúugang. I am singing.
Sanhlgáang hl gúusuugang. I am praying.
Hl gut'gwíinggang. I am thinking.
Hl káa'unggang. I am walking.

'Láa uu káa'unggang. She is walking.
'Láa uu gatáagang. She is eating.
'Láa uu k'ahgán. She is laughing.
'Láa uu sgáyhlaang. She is crying.
'Láa uu gin sk'at'áang. He is learning.

'Láa uu án dánggiidang. He is smiling.
'Láa uu gyúujuugang. He is listening.
'Láa uu gut'gúnggang. He is thinking.
'Láa uu táwk'aang. She is planting.
'Láa uu tahlgáygang. He is harvesting, digging it up.

'Láa uu kúugaagang. He is cooking.
'Láa uu hlgáygang. He is digging.
'Láa uu xukáagang. He is sailing.
'Láa uu xáawgang. He is fishing.
'Láa uu dluudáang. He is lying down.
'Láa uu st'igáng. He is sick.

ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE

Awáa-k hl tláaytsaang. I will help Mother.
Kíihlgaay hl dlánsaang. I will wash the dishes.
Náay hl tlaskúnaasaang. I will clean the house.
Hadáa-t hl tláaytsaang. I will help Father.
Gántlgyaa hl dúusaang. I will get some water.

Hláa uu xaw'ínsaang. I will go fishing.
Chíin hl xiláadaasaang. I will dry fish.
Chíin kwáan hl xiláadaasaang. I will dry a lot of fish.
Chíin hl tangdáasaang. I will salt some fish.
Xákwgyaa hl xiláadaasaang. I will dry some halibut.

Xúut ki'íi hl xiláadaasaang. I will dry some seal meat.
Sgíw hl xiláadaasaang. I will dry some seaweed.
Sgíw hl kúugaasaang. I will cook some seaweed.
K'yúugyaa hl hlgáysaang. I will dig some clams.
K'yuwáay hl k'ats'íisdaasaang. I will shell the clams.

Chíinaay hl ts'aslángsaang. I will boil the fish.
Chíin-gyaa hl ts'aslángsaang. I will boil some fish.
Satáaw chíinaay íik hl isdáasaang. I will put grease in the fish.
Ts'uwúlkw hl skamdáasaang. I will trap for mink.
Gúutsgyaa hl skamdáasaang. I will trap for wolf.

Hlk'itgáa hl tl'íisaang. I will sew a dress.
Kíidaay hl sgik'áasaang. I will chop down the tree.
K'áygyaa hl táasaang. I will eat an apple.
Awáa an uu hl isdáasaang. I will get it for Mother.
Hl stáwjaawaasaang. I will take a walk.
Adíit sii íik uu hl káa'ungsaang. I will walk in the woods.

Hl gáadangsaang. I will take a bath.
Gáadangei díi guláagang. I like to take a bath.
Kajáng hl dlánsaang. I will wash my hair.
Díi kats jánggang. My hair is long.
Kajáng hl k'índaasaang. I will braid my hair.

Sablíi hl kúugaasaang. I will bake some bread.
Sablíigaay xáwlaang. The bread tastes good.
Sablíi táagei díi guláagang. I like to eat bread.
'Láa uu sablíi gaaláangsaang. She will fry some bread.
Sablíi gaalángaa hal guláagang. She likes fried bread.

BEAR STORY

Táan uu gáan guláagang. Bears like berries.
Hldáan kwáan uu hal táagang. He eat a lot of berries.

Táan uu chíin háns guláagang. Bears like fish too.
Chíin kwáan uu hal táagang. He eats a lot of fish.
Gándlaay-st uu táanaay chíinaay isdáang. The bear gets the fish from the river.

Táan uu k'ust'áan guláagang. Bears like crab.
K'ust'áan kwáan táanaay táagang. The bears eats a lot of crab.

Táanaay gíit'ii náanggei guláagang. Bear cubs like to play.
Táanaay gíit'ii háns k'ust'áan-k diyánggang. Bear cubs also look for crab.
Táanaay gíit'ii k'wíidang. The bear cubs are hungry.
Hal gatáa'waasgaay-st hal náang'waasaang. After they eat, they will play.

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Last Updated: 23 March 2004