UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Particles

Particles are words which serve a purely grammatical function, and do not really ‘refer’ to anything, as such.

kò

even though, although

nı̨dè

if, when

t'à

because

The grammatical functions served by particles in Tłı̨chǫ are highly variable, and include:

Conjunction

Conjunction refers to the use of a word to join together two different parts of a sentence that would otherwise be unrelated.

eyıts'ǫ ('and')

jı̀echo eyıts'ǫ ı̨t'ǫ̀

fruits and vegetables

ts'ǫɂǫ̀ ('because')

Satsǫ̀ tłeè whı̀le ts'ǫɂǫ̀ dıı satsǫ̀ nàɂedlıı nàı̨za.

Because there is no machine oil, the sewing machine has worn out.

hanı̀kò ('but')

Nehdà hanı̀kò sedè sı̀ı nedà-le.

I am heavy, but my sister is light.

t'à ('as; because')

Geejı̨ t'à geze.

They screamed because they were scared.

Focus Marking

Focus marking refers to singling out one specific part of a sentence as the most important part.

sı̀ı ('focus marker')

Cheko sı̀ı nàzèe dǫǫ̀ ts'ǫ̀ tǫmǫèhzha.

The boy ran to the hunter.

Naxı̨goht'ǫǫ̀ sı̀ı k'ǫǫ̀t'a hazhǫǫ̀ wek'enaɂatso.

Your clothes have all just been washed.

t'aa ('focus marker')

Dıı t'aa tı wets'àts'eehdı̀ ha hǫt'e.

This is what we will be offering the water.

Martha t'aa ejıet'òò eht'ò.

Martha is the one who drinks milk.

Tense Marking

Tense marking refers to indicating when an event happened relative to the current time.

ı̨lè ('past tense marker')

Setsı̨ xochı̨ı̨̀ t’à tł’ohtǫ yehtsı̨ ı̨lè.

My grandmother used to make spruce root baskets.

ha ('future tense marker')

Satsǫ enı̨htł'èkǫ̀ xèhoèwı ha.

School will start tomorrow.

Closed question marking

Closed question marking refers to indicating that a sentence is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question.

nı̀ ('closed question marker')

Tsǫ agot'ı̨ nı̀?

Is it raining?