Senjecas snow & ice

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	m̃	m			t	d	þ	ð	ɫ	l			ṡ	ż	s	z	r	n			k	g	x	ƣ	h	ȝ			š	s̨			i	e	a	ǫ	o	u			ĭ	ĕ	ŭ
/p/	/b/	/ɸ/	/β/	/m̥/	/m/			/t/	/d/	/θ/	/ð/	/l̥/	/l/			/ʦ/	/ʣ/	/s/	/z/	/ɾ̥/	/n/			/k/	/g/	/ç/	/ʝ/	/j̊/	/j/			/sʷ/	/sʲ/			/i/	/e/	/ä/	/ɒ/	/o/	/u/			/ɪ/	/ɛ/	/ʊ/

Notes

• The winters of Sefdaania are heavy with snow and ice. As a result there are many words naming various aspects of these two wintry visitors.

Glossing abbreviations

1s/p = first person singular/plural	V(.s/p) = vocative (singular/plural)	CAUS = causative	EQU = equative degree	INS = instrument	Q = interrogative particle
2s/p = second person singular/plural	ABS = absolutive (an unmarked modifying adjective)	CONV = conversive	F = feminine	INT = intensive prefix	QUOT = direct quotation
3p/m/d = third person proximal/medial/distal	ADV = adverb	DES = desiderative	FRQ = frequentative	M = masculine	REL = relativizer
	AG = agent	DIM = diminutive	FUT = future	PP = patient (past) participle	RPRF = recent perfective
A(.s/p) = accusative (singular/plural)	AP = agent (active) participle	ELIS = elision	IMP = imperative	PRF = perfect	SBJ = subjunctive
G(.s/p) = genitive (singular/plural)	AUG = augmentative	EP = epenthesis	INC = inchoative	PRV = privative prefix	SUP = supine
N(.s/p) = nominative (singular/plural)		ELT = elative	IND = indicative	PST = past

Snow

• 1. alűngo – snow bank

gore̋s de̋xlo e-ȝa̋fa da a̋sko alűngom éna e-ṡőta:

The reindeer’s harness broke and the sleigh plunged into the snow bank.

gor-e̋s	de̋xl-o	e=ȝa̋f-a	da	a̋sk-o	alűng-om	éna	e=ṡőt-a
reindeer-G.s	harness-N.s	PST=break-IND	and	sleigh-N.s	snow.bank-A.s	into	PST=plunge-IND

• 2. ṡ̨a̋ga – become frozen [of snow]

ébi tiiþme̋a nérvi pine̋ȝa. toáru tőm̃o u-ṡ̨a̋ga:

If the temperature drops any lower the snow will become frozen.

ébi	tiiþme̋-a	nér=vi	pı̋n-e̋ȝa	toáru	tőm̃-o	u=ṡ̨a̋g-a-
if	temperature-N.s	lower-ADV	decrease-SUB	then	snow-N.s	FUT=become.frozen.IND

• 3. kı̋rmo – thin covering of snow

m̃isőntes kirmős ha pa̋a̋u e-ma̋ƣa:

Because of the thin covering of snow, the bison were able to forage.

m̃isőnt-es	kirm-ős	ha	pa̋a̋-u	e=ma̋ƣ-a
bison-N.p	thin.covering.of.snow-G.s	because.of	forage-SUP	PST=be.able-IND

• 4. ke̋rto – frozen crust on snow

ébi ke̋rto kéþu ba̋ro vuue̋ȝa mee. m̃isőntes ȝa̋fu ma̋ƣa:

If the frozen crust is not too thick, the bison can break through.

ébi	ke̋rt-o	kéþu	ba̋r-o	vuu-e̋ȝa	mee	m̃isőnt-es	ȝa̋f-u	ma̋ƣ-a
if	frozen.crust-N.s	too	thick-N.s	be.SBJ	not	bison-N.p	break-SUP	be.able-IND

• 5. lűűfo – falling snow

lűűfo t̨áárvi leitős k̬éno le̋isom u-ka̋ða:

The falling snow will soon cover any trace of the crime.

lűűf-o	t̨áár-vi	leit-ős	k̬éno-Ø	le̋is-om	u=ka̋ð-a
falling.snow-N.s	short-ADV	crime-G.s	any-ABS	trace-A.s	FUT=cover-IND

• 6. luufpa̋vo – snow flake

ne̋o d̬ő luufpa̋von sőmo b̨őrom ƣe̋vu na̋mu ke̋no e̋sa:

It’s hard to believe that no two snow flakes have the same shape.

neo-Ø	d̬o	luuf-pa̋v-on	sőmo-Ø	b̨őr-om	ƣe̋v-u	na̋m-u	ke̋n-o	e̋s-a
no-ABS	two	snow-flake-A.p	same-ABS	shape-A.s	have-SUP	believe-SUP	hard-N.s	be.IND

• 7. műƣro – soft snow

méti le̋xm̃e műƣrom éva e-pe̋da. šóóðvi e-főőla:

When the puppy stepped onto the soft snow, he fell through.

méti	le̋xm̃-e	műƣr-om	éva	e=pe̋d-a	šóóð=vi	e=főől-a
when	puppy-N.s	soft.snow-A.s	onto	PST=step-IND	through=ADV	PST=fall-IND

• 8. m̃a̋ṡo – wet snow

m̃aṡős te̋lo vőutom vı̋ru e-f̨űða:

The weight of the wet snow caused the tent to collapse.

m̃aṡ-ős	te̋l-o	vőut-om	vir-u	e=f̨űð-a
wet.snow-G.s	weight-N.s	tent-A.s	collapse-SUP	PST=cause-IND

• 9. m̃őpo – sleeping hole in the snow

ƣoosiɠős éna la̋vaþu ȝuþne̋ðlu la̋a̋tam m̃őpom e-vőða:

Caught in the blizzard, the hiker dug a sleeping hole in the snow for the night.

ƣoo=siɠ-ős	éna	la̋v-a-þu-Ø	ȝuþ-ne̋ð-l-u	la̋a̋t-am	m̃őp-om	e=vőð-a
INT=snow.storm-G.s	in	catch-IND-PP-ABS	roam-walk-AG-N.s	night-A.s	sleeping.hole-A.s	PST=dig-IND

• 10. pőm̌a – walk with difficulty through snow, sand, brush, etc.

i-tőm̃o kéþu ṡa̋lo vűűa. ƥúvi m̃us nom šóóða u-pom̌a:

This snow is so deep we will have trouble walking through it.

i=tőm̃-o	kéþu	ṡa̋l-o	vűű-a	ṗúvi	m̃-us	n-om	šóóða	u=pom̌-a
this=snow-N.s	too	deep-N.s	be-IND	that	1p-N	3-A.s	through	FUT=walk-IND

• 11. rı̋no – snow on trees

sáámi rı̋no gőbo vűűa. ébi kéþu me̋e̋o vuule̋ȝa. toáru ża̋vos u-ȝa̋fa:

Although the snow on the trees is beautiful, too much and the branches will break.

sáámi	rı̋n-o	gőb-o	vűű-a	ébi	kéþu	me̋e̋-o	vuul-e̋ȝa	ża̋v-os	u=ȝa̋f-a
although	snow.on.trees-N.s	beautiful-N.s	be.SBJ	if	too	much-N.s	there.be-IND	branch-N.p	FUT=break-IND

• 12. sı̋go – snow storm

sı̋go e-műla da no-leisős éna nűm ne̋ṡun e-te̋m̃a:

The snow storm passed leaving nine dead in its wake.

sı̋g-o	e=műl-a	da	no=leis-ős	éna	nűm	ne̋ṡ-un	e=te̋m̃-a
snow.storm-N.s	PST=pass-IND	and	its=wake-G.s	in	nine	dead-A.p	PST=leave-IND

• 13. sőso – muddy snow

ne dóm̃vi pósi sı̋ɠo e-mŭműla. űde' sosős tőm̃om e-űűlba:

Not long after the snow storm passed, the yaks had turned the fallen snow into muddy snow.

ne	dóm̃=vi	pósi	sı̋ɠ-o	e=mŭ~műl-a	űd-e-'	sos-ős	tőm̃-om	e=ű~űlb-a
not	long=ADV	after	snow.storm-N.s	PST=PRF~pass-IND	yak-N.p-ELIS	muddy.snow-G.s	fallen.snow-A.s	PST=PRF~turn.into-IND

Ice

• 14. haþȝe̋go – thin coating of ice on rock

haþȝe̋gom na̋kantu ne furm̃űűrlu e-pı̋za da nu-kűndom éna e-na̋a̋la:

Not seeing the ice on the rock, the ranger slipped and landed on his butt.

haþȝe̋g-om	na̋k-a-ntu-Ø	ne	fur-m̃űűr-l-u	e=pı̋z-a	da	nu=kűnd-om	éna	e=na̋a̋l-a
thin.coating-A.s	see-IND-AP-ABS	not	forest-protect-AG-N.s	PST=slip-IND	and	his-butt-A.s	on	PST=land-IND

• 15. ȝe̋go – ice

m̃e̋ƣo paavős éna ȝegős ha ha̋iṡim þóósa e-pı̋za:

Because of the ice on the road the car slid into the tree.

m̃e̋ƣ-o	paav-ős	éna	ȝeg-ős	ha	ha̋iṡ-im	þóósa	e=pı̋z-a
car-N.s	road-G.s	on	ice-G.s	because.of	tree-A.s	into	PST=slip-IND

• 16. ȝeƣǧa̋ro – iceberg

v̌eeþ̈a̋fo te̋pu hőőle mare̋m éna mĭme̋e̋o ȝeƣǧa̋ron sa̋isa:

Global warming is producing more icebergs in the polar seas.

v̌eeþ-þa̋fo-Ø	te̋p-u	hőőle-Ø	mar-e̋m	éna	mĭ~me̋e̋o-Ø	ȝeƣ.ǧa̋r-on	sa̋is-a
world-wide-ABS	warming-SUP	polar-ABS	sea-G.p	in	ELT~many-ABS	ice.mountain-A.p	produce-IND

• 17. kaȝe̋mƣo – shore ice

me̋m̃anta hema̋s. kaȝe̋mƣo ba̋ro e-ı̋la:

As winter progressed the shore ice became thicker.

me̋m̃-a-nta-Ø	hem-a̋s	kaȝe̋mƣ-o	ba̋r-o	e=ı̋l-a
progress-IND-AP-ABS	winter-G.s	shore.ice-N.s	thick-N.s	PST=become-IND

• 18. kűro – ice floe

ze̋e̋me: me̋e̋o kűros na̋a̋utam na̋a̋m̃ram u-kı̋a:

Be careful! The many ice floes will make navigation hazardous.

ze̋e̋m-e	me̋e̋o-Ø	kűr-os	na̋a̋ut-am	na̋a̋m̃r-am	u=kı̋-a
be.careful-IMP	many-ABS	ice.floe-N.p	navigation-A.s	hazardous-A.s	FUT-make-IND

• 19. nila̋ƣo – freshwater ice

nilaƣős zı̋nu todantős. ve̋vres he̋mam de̋e̋a:

When the ice begins to form, the beavers settle in for the winter.

nilaƣ-ős	zı̋n-u	tod-a-nt-ős	ve̋vr-es	he̋m-am	de̋e̋-a
freshwater.ice-G.s	form-SUP	begin-IND-AP-G.s	beaver-N.p	winter-A.s	settle-IND

• 20. őőko – ice hole

m̃us i-he̋man ookő' šóóða mı̋ı̋n-' u-ma̋a̋ƣa:

This winter we can fish through a hole in the ice.

m̃-us	i=hem-a̋s	ook-ő-'	šóóða	mı̋ı̋n-'	u=ma̋a̋ƣ-a
1p-N	this=winter-G.s	ice.hole-G.s-ELIS	through	fish-ELIS	FUT=be.able-IND

• 21. puskűro – pack ice

puskűro aiveƣe̋m éra ba̋a̋go uuðzı̋danto ðe̋e̋o e-vűűa:

The pack ice was the perfect hauling-out place for the walruses.

puskűr-o	aiveƣ-e̋m	éra	ba̋a̋go-Ø	uuð-zı̋d-a-nto-Ø	ðe̋e̋-o	e=vűű-a
pack.ice-N.s	walrus-G.p	for	perfect-ABS	out-haul-IND-AP-ABS	place-N.s	PST=be.IND

• 22. sűðo – frost

mu i-aaȝa̋s ȝeerős þűnto sűðom e-na̋ka:

This morning I saw the first frost of the season.

m-u	i=aaȝ-a̋s	ȝeer-ős	þűnto-Ø	sűð-om	e=na̋k-a
1s-N	this=morning-G.s	season-G.s	first-ABS	frost-A.s	PST=see-IND

• 23. s̨őmo – hoarfrost

la̋a̋ta ȝe̋xak̬e sőȝak̬' e-vűűa. sááru s̨őmo aaȝa̋s ta̋lem éva e-vűűla:

The night was clear and cold, so there was hoarfrost on the ground in the morning.

la̋a̋t-a	ȝe̋x-a=k̬e	sőȝ-a=k̬-'	e=vűű-a	sááru	ṡőm-o	aaȝ-a̋s	ta̋l-em	éva	e=vűűl-a
night-N.s	clear-N.s=and	cold-N.s=and	PST=be-IND	so	hoarfrost-N.s	morning-G.s	ground-A.s	on	PST=there.be-IND

• 24. s̨űngo – frazil ice, slush

s̨ungős ka̋ȝa m̃ús o ma̋rem t̨áárvi űɫaþem u-ı̋lu te̋e̋a:

The appearance of frazil ice tells us that the sea will soon be frozen over.

ṡung-ős	ka̋ȝ-a	m̃-ús	o	ma̋r-em	t̨áárvi	űɫ-a-þ-em	u=ı̋l-u	te̋e̋-a
frazil.ice-G.s	appearance-N.s	1p-G	to	sea-A.s	short-ADV	freeze-IND-PP-A.s	FUT=become-SUP	tell-IND