Sometimes Cree language complexity makes English look impoverished. Take this lesson on demonstrative pronouns, for example, that English tries to cover with merely “this/these” and “that/those.” Thanks to Andrea Custer for permission to share this really carefully crafted lesson that shows us how much information Cree can pack into these little word forms.
[Andrea is currently teaching and studying at First Nations University. Find more of her lessons online at https://www.learncreewithandrea.com/]
Animate | Inanimate | |||
Distance from Speaker |
singular | plural | singular | plural |
Near | awa | ôki | ôma | ôhi |
Medial | ana | aniki | anima | anihi |
Far | nâha | nêki | nêma | nêhi |
Summary of Cree Demonstrative Pronouns
Solomon Ratt provides the following adjustments (for th-dialect):
ôki > ôko
ôhi > ôho
ê > î (nîki, nîma, nîhi)
One Response
Thank you. The videos help with proper prounoncation.