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Thompson Teachings LLC
Go Fish in Yurok Language
A Yurok Language twist on a classic card game. Below you can buy the game and listen to how the words are pronounced by language teacher Brittany Vigil-Burbank.
Basic Phrases
Phrases that will be necessary to play the game. Ideally, the entire game will be played without speaking any English.
CHO' NUE KERT-KERM'!
You should go pole fishing!
CHYUE KEE PYUER-KEYR-EE'-MPH
Let's Play!
KEL' HES 'OKW' K'E-_____?
Do you have a ______?
NEK 'OKW 'NE-______.
I have a _____.
REW-PEE-NEK'!
I won!
Animal Names
Note that traditionally the pronunciation of these words would vary slightly depending on where the village was located on the river. And that there are some translation differences from English, i.e. the word for abalone shell is different from the animal and spring salmon is different from fall salmon.
Translation notes:
Mer-lues = small boney fish
Pee-leen wey-leen= big eyes
REY-GOK
'EYCH-KWOH
KWO'-ROR'
LO-CHOM'
'ES-KEW
KOY-AAKW'
KAH-KAH
WE-CHEW
SA'-RO'
CHKWEY-GES
NEY-PUY
PEE'-EEH
CHPER-GER'
MER'-LUES
PEE'-EE-YERS
HEYKW-SA'
'EYK-SOON
KO'-SES
MEYT-KOH
KEY'-WEEN
WAH-KWEHL
PEY-LEEN 'WEY-LEEN
A special thanks to:
Brittany Vigil-Burbank, Yurok Language Program Distance Learning Coordinator
Victoria Carlson, Yurok Language Program Manager
Barbara McQuillen, Yurok Language Program Collections Coordinator & Lead Teacher
James Gensaw, Yurok Language Program Cultural Coordinator
Andrew Garrett, Department of Linguistics at University of California, Berkeley
Carole Lewis
And Kay Inong
Who work tirelessly to retain the Yurok Language and thus culture.
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As well as past teachers who helped revitlize the language and inspired me and many others.
'Aawokw* Archie Thompson (Ne'-peychew)*
'Aawokw Georgiana Trull
'Aawokw Glenn Moore
'Aawokw Aileen Figueroa
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In addition to all the other flutent speakers and current teachers who continue to inspire the community.
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*Aawokw = alas!, poor thing! (Like saying rest in peace)
Ne'-peychew = My (deceased) grandfater
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