I’ve been practicing translating and reading some Lakota stories that I worked on earlier in the year. I decided to let you all hear and see what I’m studying for a “foreign” language.

Also, I’m a little inconsistent with some of my linguistic symbols, because computers are weird, and I don’t want to mess with it any longer.

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Akhé Iktómi: Táku Ota K’íŋ Ya

Akhé Iktómi táku óta k’į-ye. Yúŋkhą mağákšica óta wąwíčhayąke. Yúŋkhą mağákšica heyápi: “Čhiyé, hená táku čha yak’íŋ he?” eyápi. “Hená olówą yelo,” eyé. “Čhiyé, wąží ųkáhiyayapi ye!” eyápi. Yú̜khą, “Hą,” eyé.

“Ú po!” eyá, “na íyotaka!”

Na mağákšica oyás’į él úpi na élhípi ókšą nážįpi. “Čhá olówą wąží wašté awáhiyayįkte lo. Oyás’į ištógmuza po!” eyé.

Héčhel oyás’į ištógmuzapi. “Tuwá thųwé čįhą ištá šá kte lo!” eyé. Héčhel oyás’į líla sutá ištógmuzapi.

Héčhel wąná lową: “Ištógmus wačhí po — Ištógmus wačhí po — Ištógmus wačhí po,” eyá-lowáŋ.

Héčhel mağákšica líla sitómni wačhípi! Čhąksá wąží káğį na mağákšica wičhákat’a-awíčhaye.

Yúŋkhą wąží thųwíŋ na Iktómi wąyá̜kį na heyá: “Há̜ta po!” eyé, “Iktómi ničásota pelo,” eyé.

Yúŋkhą thųwé čį k’ų, hé thųwé čį k’ų, hé ištá šašá keyápi.

Oyákapi. Skiská eçíyapi.

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Again Iktomi: Carrying Things

Iktomi was going along again carrying many things on his back. Then he saw many ducks. The ducks said, “Older brother, what are those things you are carrying?” they asked. “Those are songs,” he said. “Older brother, please sing one for us!” they said. Then “yes,” he said.

“Come here,” he said, “and sit down!”

And all the ducks came toward him and stood around him. “So now I’ll sing a nice song. Everyone close his eyes!” he said.

And so they all closed their eyes. “If anyone looks, his eyes will turn red,” he said.

And so they all closed their eyes tightly. And so now he sang: “Dance with your eyes closed! Dance with your eyes closed! Dance with your eyes closed!” he said as he sang.

And so the ducks really danced round and round! [Iktomi is always hungry] and so he picked up a club and began beating the ducks to death [around the circle as they danced].

And so one looked and he saw Iktomi and he said, “Let’s get away from here!” he said. “Iktomi is slaughtering you!” he said.

And so they looked and the went flying off and fled. And because they looked, their eyes have been red ever since that time, they say.

This is what they tell. They are called wood ducks.