You’re…WHAT?

September 12, 2012

My language helper got a case of the giggles the other day while I checked some verbs. I was running through my list quickly and didn’t pay attention to a stress marker. Big deal, right? Instead of saying “I take care” I said “I am poop.” Trust me, I’ll get put the emphasis on the […]

Look, Ma, I’m Floating!

August 31, 2012

After a somewhat warm and sweaty language session at Andrea’s house, I asked her daughter Natalie if she wanted to go to the creek. There were only a few days left before school started again, and she had been begging me to go. Andrea surprised me by saying she would come, too. She said, “I […]

Fake It

August 18, 2012

Here is an example of the Fake-It-Til-You-Make-It approach to practicing a tribal language. We had some out-of-town visitors in our village and I walked up to one older couple and said hi. After a bit, the conversation went like this: Me: (painfully) They said that you might want to borrow some blankets from me. Cute […]

After the World Was Lost

July 19, 2012

A few days ago, my language helper told me the tale of the first man and woman. It’s a fascinating story that echoes some of the Nahuatl values and points of view. I’m sure you’ll recognize some familiar imagery, as well. When the world was lost, it filled with water. Everything was gone. And when […]