Miskomini-giizis (Raspberry Moon)/Manoominike-giizis (Ricing Moon) (September 5, 2024)
I love you.
I care for you.
I see you.
In Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, personal pronouns are not used in verb conjugations. Personal prefixes and suffixes (affixes) are used instead. They help to understand who is performing an action and whom or what this action affects. Personal affixes (prefix + suffix) are parts of a word, so the English phrase "I love you" is one word in Ojibwe : gi-zaagi-in ( you-love-I). The same goes for gi-zhawenim-in: (you-care for-I). Similarly, "I see you" and "I shall see you" are both one word in Ojibwe: gi-waabam-in (you-see-I), respectively gi-ga-waabam-in (you-will-see-I).
Gizaagi'in Gizhawenimin
Giwaabamin
The syllable order in Ojibwe words as well as the word order in sentences tell us a lot about Anishinaabemowin, which is, besides more verb- and action-driven, more "emphatic" in nature than European languages. The latter tend to place the "I" form, rather than the person who is spoken to, central.
To read more about the nature of Anishinaabemowin, visit: Why Bears Never Speak Backward but Some Indians Do.
Illustration: Waawiindamaadiwin ("The Promise") ©2024.
PRONUNCIATION LIST OF OJIBWE WORDS:
Anishinaabemowin -- Ah-nih-shih-naa-BAY-mow-WIN
Gi-zaagi'in -- Gih-ZAAG-ih-in
Giga-waabamin - -Gih-gah-WAAB-bah-min
Giwaabamin -- Gih-WAA-bah-min Gizhawenimin -- Gih-zhah-WAY-ni-min
Ojibwe -- Oh-JIB-way
Waawiindamaadiwin -- Waa-ween-dah-MAA-dih-win
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