This collection of over 1,500 Tlingit example sentences and audio recordings was part of a Sealaska Heritage Institute project funded by the Administration for Native Americans between 2005 and 2009. Sentences were provided by elders Keiyishí Bessie Cooley, Kingeistí David Katzeek, Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty, Ḵooteix̱téek Johnny Marks, Aan Yax̱ Saxeex June Pegues, Ḵáachkoo.aaḵw Helen Sarabia, and G̱unaakʼw Fred White. Written examples were compiled by Keri Eggleston. Audio recordings feature the voices of Kingeistí David Katzeek, Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty, Ḵooteix̱téek Johnny Marks, Aan Yax̱ Saxeex June Pegues, Ḵáachkoo.aaḵw Helen Sarabia, and G̱unaakʼw Fred White.
Upload of this resource to this website was made possible by funding from the National Science Foundationʼs Dynamic Languages Infrastructure Program, award #BCS- 2125197 “Morphologically Complex Data Collection and Analysis for Improving Lexicographic Models” to the University of Alaska Fairbanks with Keri Eggleston as PI.
NOTE: We recommend not using Safari as your browser for this resource as it may not load properly. Please note that there are many typos, misspellings, missing tones, etc. in the written examples, as well as many places where the audio recording doesnʼt match up with the written examples in terms of word order. There are also some examples where the audio isnʼt available. The present project however, has concluded, and itʼs not possible to fix these problems at this time. In the interest of making this resource available to the community ASAP, it is being included here despite these issues. The goal during the next phase of the project will be to edit the written examples to match the audio recordings and fix any other typos and correct instances of missing audio. In the meantime, please enjoy the voices of our elders!
Index | A | C | D | E | G | H | I | J | K | L | N | P | O | S | T | U | W | X | Y
Éech’ akaawanóot’ Yéil. Raven swallowed a stone. éech’, yéil, ka-ya-noot’
Eech kát uwak̲úx̲ wé yaakw. The boat ran over a reef. eech, ya-k̲oox̲1
Éek̲x’ yéi teex̲ dzóox’. Small clams are found on the beach. dzóox’, éek̲, A-x’ + yéi + ya-tee
Eesháan, haa keidlí awsitáax’ wé tíx. Our poor dog was bit by a flea. tíx, keitl, si-taax’
Eesháank’ kaltéelk̲ áwé haat wujixíx ax̲ dachx̲ánk’. Poor thing, my grandchild ran over here shoeless. eesháan, -k’, kaltéelk̲, haa, -t, ji-xeex, du dachx̲án
Eeshandéin tuwatee. He’s feeling sad. eesháan, -déin, tu-ya-tee1
Éil’ a kaadéi kanasxá wéi kát yadu.us’ku át. Pour salt in the wash basin. éil’, kát yadu.us’ku át, a ká, -de, ka-si-xaa
Éil’ eetínáx̲ yatee wé tax̲héeni. The broth needs salt. éil’, a eetínáx̲, a eetee-náx̲ + ya-tee1.8, tax̲héeni
Éil’ héen diyáanax̲ á yéi yatee wé al’óoni. The hunter is from across the ocean. éil’, héen, diyáa, dax̲, al’óoni, A + ya-tee1.1, al’óoni
Éil’ héenx’ yéi dag̲aatéeyi haat kool dak̲ digéix’. Whirlpools in the ocean are large. haat kool, éil’
Éil’ kaadáx̲ x̲áat k’idéin aax̲ yixás’ a kajeig̲í. Scrape the scales off the fish from the salt water good. a kajeig̲í, x̲áat, éil’, a ká, -dáx̲, k’idéin, ya-xaas’
Éil’ kahéeni kaa yéi na.oo wé kaháakw. Put the fish eggs in the saltwater brine. kaháakw, éil’ kahéeni
E! Shahíkx̲ haa cháli g̲aatáa yéi daatooneiyí. Wow! When we are out trapping our storehouse is full. chál, g̲aatáa, sha-ya-heek0.1, daa-ya-nei