Lesson #42: Dechen Kǭ́a – Log Cabin

Leda Jules: Pelly Banks dialect

 

Comparative constructions


Robert:Didī tsʼū łą̄́ dḗdís ełī́gé’ gādígé.

This-log-really-long-one-more.
This log is longer than the other ones.
Randy: Dḗkʼóde łûstʼázī́ sį̄́.
Short-I’ll cut in two [with saw]-maybe.
Iʼll cut it shorter.
Robert: Didī łą̄́ dzehkíł.
This-really-heavy.
This one is too heavy.
Ests’į̄́’néndī nūdzūdūtį̂.
To-me-you help-we will lift.
Help me lift it up.
Randy: Łā́néyéh dzehkíł.
Really-it’s heavy.
That is really heavy.
Ełī́gé’ gegādígé dzehkíł.
One-more than them-it’s heavy.
It is heavier than the other ones.
Robert: Łáhtādé gūt’īe nedū́é są̂ dzīhtʼē nā.
Sometime-our strength-nothing-must be-we are-right.
Maybe weʼre just getting tired.
Łedzūkéī.
Let’s sit down.
Letʼs sit down.
Randy: Kolā gūtīe.
Finally good.
That sounds good.
Ledī́’ ūsbēdzī.
Tea-I’ll boil.
Iʼll make some tea.
Robert: Truck kéh ledī́’ saʼān.
Truck-in-tea-is located.
The tea is in the truck.

S1: Eskʼūkʼǎ’ negādígé dḗtsídle.
My cup is smaller than yours.
S2: Didī gudzįhzís łā́n dāchō’ teyelīdechiné gādígé.
This piece of caribou hide is bigger than the drum frame.
S3: Nehį̄́zé’ gūhį̄́zé’ gādígé dā́chō’.
Your raft is larger than ours.
S4: Didī dechin łā́néyéh dekít.
This piece of wood is thicker.
S5: Didī gūdzį̄hzís łā́néyéh detʼų̄dze.
This caribou hide is thinner.
S6: Didī dzídze łā́néyéh nédendī́ł ahdigé Tū Chō dzídze gādígé.
These berries are riper than the ones at Frances Lake.
Dūłą̄́ nédéndīł .
It’s not ripe.
S7: Dą̄ łā́n łedī́h-ā?
Which one is tastier?
S8: Dą̄ łā́néyéh dzehkíl-ā?
Which one is heavier?
S9: Dą̄ łā́ dzahdṓn-ā?
Which one is lighter (less weight)?
S10: Dḗkʼóde łéntʼā́s!
Cut it shorter!
S11: Dḗtʼų̄́dze łéntʼā́s!
Cut it thinner!
S12: Metsūnetʼḗs łā́néyéh łedī́h estsūnetʼḗs gādígé.
Her bannock is tastier than mine.
S13: Tlį̄’ tsʼī́yōné gādígé dḗtsídle.
A dog is smaller than a wolf.
S14: Kedā gūdzį̄h gādígé dā́chō’.
A moose is bigger than a caribou.
S15: Dą̄ dechin łā́néyéh degóje kʼī yéh tsʼū yéh.
Which wood is harder, birch or spruce?
S16: Bill gādígé Mary łā́néyéh gítl’eh.
Mary can run faster than Bill.
S17: Dáhyigé bédē łā́néyéh nédēdetsed-ā jahyigé īyéh Whitehorse kū́hdegé?
Is food more expensive here or in Whitehorse?
Dáhyigé béde dūłą̄́ nédēdetsed-ā jahyigé īyéh Whitehorse kū́hdigé?
Is food cheaper here or in Whitehorse.
S18: Brendan dōmā gādígé dā́chō’.
Brendan is taller than his mom.