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
I dlaak’ kajúxaa kát kanaljoox hoondaakahídidé. Take your sister to the store in the wheel barrow. kajúxaa, du dlaak’, a ká, -t, hoondaakahídi, -de, ka-li-joox
Igayeik̲ tsá wé keitl. Don’t let the dog bite you. keitl, ya-yeek̲2
I jín wulich'éx̲'w. Your hands are dirty. i, du jín, li-ch’eix̲’w
Ikawdzitíx̲’. You’re crooked (wicked). i-, ka-dzi-teix̲’
Ik̲náach'x̲ sitee wé lítaa sáxwti. The handle of that knife is brass. ik̲náach', lítaa, a sáxwti
I léelk’u keekándei aneelg̲éin - x̲áat yéi adaané. Go check on your grandpa – he’s working on fish. du keekán, i, léelk’w, x̲áat, A- + a-dli-g̲een
Ín g̲aa k̲ushée. He is looking for flint. ín, A-g̲aa + k̲u-ya-shee
Ín tléil du jee yéi aa utí. He does not have any flint. ín, du jee
Ísh yíkde shalx̲óot’. She is casting into the deep hole in the creek. ísh, sha-dli-x̲oot’1
Ísh yíkde x̲áat ayatéen. She sees salmon in the deep hole in the creek. ísh, a yík, x̲áat
I téeli wé yi.át x̲’usyeex’ yéi na.oo. Put your shoes at the foot of your bed. a x̲'usyee, téel, yi.át
I tundatáani kakg̲inéek. You will tell your thoughts. tundatáan, ka-ya-neek
I tuwáx’ yeewooyáat’ yóo k̲u.éex’. You thought the potlach was long. du tuwáx', k̲u.éex’, yee-ya-yaat’
Ít'chi s’íx’ k̲’áatl’ du jeewú. She has a glass plate. ít'ch, s’íx’ k̲’áatl’
Ít'ch k’wátl s’íx’ du jeet x̲waatán. I gave her a glass bowl. ít'ch, k’wátl, s’íx’
I wak̲ sheeyeex' yéi yatee. It's in front of your eyes. du waak̲, ya-tee1.2
“Ix̲six̲án,” yóo ayawsik̲á du kacháwli. He told his sweetheart, “I love you.” du kacháwli, si-x̲án, A + ya-si-k̲aa
I yádi ax̲ x̲’usyeet wudig̲wáat’. Your child is crawling under my feet. a x̲'usyee, du yádi, di-g̲waat’1
Iyateen gé ch’eix̲’w ayaadéi? Do you see dirt on the face of it? ch'eix̲’w
I yee.ádi ká yís áyá yá x’óow. This blanket is to put on top of your bed. a ká, yee.át, x’óow
I yoo x̲'atángi káa yan hán! Stand on your words! ya-haan1.2, yoo x̲'atánk