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.