Dena'ina Qenaga
Dena'ina language
"Shq'ayna gun Dena'ina dudghełdin.".
"I taught my children Dena'ina." - Dena'ina Qenaga Du'idnaghelnik
About Dena'ina Qenaga
Dena’ina is the traditional language of the Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula and up to Lake Iliamna. The name Dena’ina comes from two parts: dena meaning person and ina, the human plural marker in Dena’ina. About 50 people speak Dena'ina as a first language. Dena’ina language classes are held at Kenai Peninsula College and at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Dena’ina, like many other Alaska languages, is polysynthetic, meaning a whole sentence can be expressed with just one word. For example, the single word nuntnghel'ił means ‘I will see you again.’
Recordings
Naghe Nduninyu.
Chin'an.
Aa'.
Nch'u.
Yaghali du?
Aa', yaghali eshlan, ninki du?
Aa', yaghali eshlan, chin'an.
Ughast'yi.
Nitsut.
You came to us (traditional way to greet a visitor), welcome.
Thank you.
Yes.
No.
Are you fine?
Yes, I'm fine, and you?
Yes, I'm fine, thank you.
Hurry up.
Sit down.
Resources