Please download a Languagegeek.com font to view these pages properly.

ᑌᓀ ᒐ Example Text

Unicode encoding

Please note that many characters may not display properly, as they have not been included in Unicode.

This Dene Tha example was taken from a text by the Dene Wodih Society.  This story has been transcribed into traditional syllabics, and my attempt at an accurate modern version of syllabics.  In the Practical transcription, tone and nasal vowels have not been marked, compared to the fully pointed version.  The text, in the standard NWT Roman orthography, is shown at the bottom of this page.

Unicode places all finals at the top-line, where Dene requires some finals to be top-line, some mid-line, and some baseline. The location of the final is vital to correct pronunciation. Please note that your browser may not be able to accomodate the mid-line and baseline finals.

Several of the English-tradition /u/ vowel syllabics are not included as distinct characters in Unicode, therefore I have used the non-spacing dot accent to attempt to put the dot above the syllabic. Note that depending on the font you are using, the dot may instead be somewhere in the middle of the syllabic instead of on-top.

The Roman orthography is entirely Unicode friendly. Therefore, unless you have an OpenType font with ligatures turned on, some of the accents may not be placed properly.

Please see the Practical Syllabics text in .pdf format for those who have not downloaded the font, or to see this language typeset and formatted for printing.

Dene Tha Traditional Syllabics

ᐁᑑ ᒢᕄᕤ, ᐆ ᐁᔨ ᓄᗀ, ᐁᔨ ᕍ ᐃ ᐁᘛ ᓭᐧᐅᑌ ᐆ ᔨᑌᕤ ᐆ, ᐁᑑ ᑑ ᕤᕞᕤ. ᐁᔨ ᑌᓀ, ᓄᗀ ᐨᗱ̇ ᑌᓀ ᐁᕄ ᐆ ᓄᑕ ᓀᗰ, ᓄᑕᗱ ᐁᔨ ᐆ. ᐁᔨ ᒼᐯᑫ ᐧᐅᘔᐃ. ᐁᑌ ᔭᘚᘛ ᐆ ᐁ, ᕤᕠ ᐊᐣᑕᑌ, ᐅ̇ ᒼᐯᑕ ᐊᘚᕞ ᐁᑌ ᒼᐯᑫ ᐧᐅᘔᐃ ᐅ̇ᕞ ᐁᑌ ᐁᑕᐧᐅᑎ ᐅ̇ ᕦᐃ ᐊᐣᑕᑌ, ᐆ ᑫᑫ, ᐆ ᑫᑫ ᐊᕠ ᐆ, ᑌᓀ ᕦᗀ. ᐁᑌ ᒢᕄᐅ ᑌᓀ ᐁᗂ. ᑌᓀ ᐁᗂ ᓄᑕ ᐨᗱ̇ ᐆ.

ᐃ ᑲᐦᐊᕠ ᐆ, ᓄᓯᐁ ᓀᗰ, ᓄᓯᐁ ᓀᗰ, ᐨᗱ̇. ᒼᐯᑫ ᐧᐅᘔᐃ ᐁᑌ, ᑌᓀ ᔭᐃᘛ ᐆ ᐦᐁ, ᗃ ᐁᑑ ᘛᗀᑎᐊ ᐃᗃ ᑰᗀᑎ ᕦ. ᑌᓀ ᕤᕠ ᘚ ᐊᘛᕠ ᐆ ᗂᐃ ᓂᘚᐣᑌ ᑯᐦᕞ ᐁᓴ ᗃ, ᑫᐦᘛᐨᗴ ᐁᓴ ᔭᘚᘛ ᐆ. ᑌᓀ ᓱ ᓀᖈ ᐃ ᐊᕠ ᐁᓴ. ᘔ ᐣᑕᑌ, ᘔ ᐣᑕᑌ ᐁᓴ. ᐃ, ᐧᐅᐨᕄ ᐁᓴ ᘔ ᑭ ᐁᓴ, ᕬ ᕦ ᔭᗁᔨᖙ̇ ᐆ, ᘔ ᒼᐯᑕᗀ ᐁᓯ ᘔ ᑲᗀᐣᑌᕦ ᐁᓴ. ᓄᗀ ᑫ ᐧᐅᘔᐃ. ᓱ ᐊᘛᐨᗴ ᐃᔭ, ᔫᐦᐊ, ᗃ ᕤᕞ ᐅ ᐁ, ᓀᗰᗱ ᐆ ᑫᑫ. ᓄᗀ ᗃ ᑫᘚ ᗀᔭ. ᐆ ᐁᓴ ᐁᔨᐊ ᑯᐦᐁ, ᑯᐦᐁ ᐊᐨᗴ ᐁᓴ. ᐁ! ᗀᑎ ᐁᓴ. ᐃ ᓄᗀ ᐁᓴ, ᐁ! ᖉᓭ, ᘔ ᑲᐣᑌᕦ. ᓱ ᓄᓯᐊ ᐨᗱ̇ ᔦᑎ ᐁᓴ, ᗃ ᔦᘚ ᐊᕠ ᐃᔭ ᑯᐦᐁ ᓂᗀᐨ ᐆ ᐁᓴ. ᐣᑕᑌᐣᑌᗀ ᐆ ᐁᓴ ᑫᕦᐃ ᐁᕃᐨᓯ ᘛᑎ. ᐃ ᐁᓴ ᑲᐦᐨᗯ ᓱ ᒼᐯᔨᐨᕃ ᒢᕄᐅ ᑌᓀ ᑌᘚ. ᐃ ᕦ ᑌᓀ ᕦᐣᑌᑫ ᐆ ᐁᓴ. ᐃ ᐁᓴ ᐣᑕᑌᐣᑌᗀ ᐆ ᓱ ᒼᐯᗯ ᑯᐦᕍ, ᓭᐁ ᔭᐃᕄ ᐁᗃ ᐆ ᐁᓴ.

ᓄᗀ ᐁᓴ ᕤᑊ ᐧᐅᑎ ᐃ ᐁᕃ ᐁᓴ, ᔦᘕᓀᑫ ᐁᓴ, ᑯᐦᕞ ᐁᓴ ᔨᗀ. ᔨᗀ ᓱ ᓭᐁ ᐁᑌᗃ ᔫᗀ ᐆ ᓱ, ᐆ ᐆ ᐆ, ᐁᑎ ᐁᓴ. ᑌᓀ ᒢᕄᐣᕤ ᓱ ᒼᐯᘚ ᑌᔭ, ᐃ ᔪᐊᓂ (ᕭ̇ ᐁᘛᑎ) ᓴᘕᓀ ᓀᑌ, ᐃ ᐯ ᐁᕠ ᕦ, ᐃ ᐆ ᐁᕤ ᕦ ᐨᗱ̇ ᐆ, ᕞᕤ ᑰᐦᕃ. ᐃ ᓱ ᐁᔨᐊ ᑲᐦᕠ ᐁᓴ ᗃ ᔦᒉᑭᐦ, ᓂᓯᐁᗱ. ᐆ ᐁᓴ ᐃ ᓄᗀ ᐁᓴ ᔫᗀ ᐆ, ᐆ ᐆ ᐆ, ᐁᑎ ᐁᓴ. ᑎ ᐣᑕᘚ ᘚ ᗂᐃ ᘚ ᐃ ᓱ. ᐨᗱ ᑯᐦᕠ ᐁᓴ ᔦᑕᐁᗀ ᓱ, ᑲᐦᐨᗴ ᐨᗱ ᑕᐁ. ᓄᓯᐁ ᕃᐨᓭ ᒼᐸᑫ ᑕᐁ ᐊᐨᗴ, ᐃ ᐅ ᑑ ᑌᐣᑎᖆᐨᓭ ᘛᑎ. ᐆ ᑰᐁ ᘚᐊ ᐃ ᓱ ᕦᑌᖉ ᐁᓴ. ᐃ ᑌᓀ ᐆ ᐁᓴ, ᐃ ᑌᓀ ᐁᓯ, ᓱ, ᒢᕄᕤ ᓀᗴ ᐆ ᗃ, ᒢᕍᐁᐃᑎ ᑲᐦᕠ, ᑲᐦᕠ. ᐃ ᕦ ᑌᓀ ᓀᖈ ᒉᑫᐦ, ᑯᐦᐨᕃ ᗀᑎ ᐁᓴ. ᑌᓀ ᒢᕄᕤ ᐯ, ᐯ ᕦ ᐁᓴ, ᒢᕄᕤ ᓂᓯᐁ ᓀᗰ ᓱ ᒡᕦᗁᔦᐣᑎᕦ ᐆ, ᓀᘛᐨᕃ ᐆ ᓱ, ᔭᗁᔦᕃ, ᒢᕄᕤ. ᓄᓯᐁ ᓀᘛᐨᕍ ᗃ ᑎ ᐁᓴ ᔭᗁᔦᕃ, ᒢᕄᐅ ᑫᐦᗁᕍ ᐁᓴ. ᐃ, ᐃ ᗃ ᐆ ᐁᓴ ᑌᓀ ᐁᔨ ᗃ ᐃ ᐧᐅᘚ ᓄᓯᐁ ᓀᗰ ᑰᐦᕃ ᐃᗃ.


 

Dene Tha Practical Syllabics

ᐁᑐ̇ ᒼᕄᐠᑐᑊᐠᐧ, ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᔨ ᓄ̇ᒼᗀ, ᐁᔨ ᕍ ᐃ ᐁᐧᘛᐁ ᓭᐧᐤᐅᑌᐧ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᔨᑌᐁᐧᑐᑊᐠᐧ ᐅ̇ᐧ, ᐁᑐ̇ ᑐ̇ᐧ, ᕤᐠᐧᑌᑊᑐᐠᑊᐧ. ᐁᔨ ᑌᓀ, ᓄᒼᗀ ᐨᗱ̇ ᑌᓀ ᐁᕄᐠ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᓄᑕ ᓀᗰ, ᓄᑕᗱ ᐁᔨ ᐅ̇ᐧ. ᐁᔨ ᒼᐯᑫᐁᐧ ᐤᐅᘔᑊᐥᐃᐠ. ᐁᑌ ᔭᘚᑊᘛ, ᔭᘚᑊᘛ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐁ, ᕤᐠᐧᑎᑊᐠ ᐊᐣᑕᑌᐧ, ᐅ̇ᐧ ᒼᐯᑕ ᐊᘚᑊᐠᑌᑊ ᐁᑌ ᒼᐯᑫᐁᐧ ᐤᐅᘔᑊᐥᐃᐠ ᒼᐅ̇ᐠᑌᑊ ᐁᑌ ᐁᑕᐤᐅᑎᐧ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᑕᑊᒼᐃᐠ ᐊᐣᑕᑌᐧ, ᐅ̇ᐧ ᑫᑫᑊᐧ, ᐅ̇ᐧ ᑫᑫᑊᐧ ᐊᑎᑊᐠ ᐅ̇ᐧ, ᑌᓀᑕᑊᐧᗀ. ᐁᑌ ᒼᕄᐅᐠᐧ ᑌᓀ ᐊᒼᗂᐠ. ᑌᓀ ᐁᒼᗂᐠ ᓄᑕ ᐨᗱ̇ ᐅ̇ᐧ.

ᐃ ᒼᐊᐥᐊᑎᑊᐠ ᐅ̇ᐧ, ᓄᓯᐁᐠ ᓀᗰ, ᓄᓯᐁᐠ ᓀᗰ, ᐨᗱ̇. ᒼᐯᑫᐁᐧ ᐤᐅᘔᑊᐥᐃᐠ ᐁᑌ, ᑌᓀ ᔭᐥᐃᘛ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᑊᐁ, ᗃᐅ ᐁᑐ̇ ᘛᑊᒼᗀᑎᐥᐊ ᐃᒼᗃ ᑯ̇ᒼᗀᑎ ᑕᑊᐧ. ᑌᓀ ᕤᐠᐧᑎᑊᐠ ᘚᑊᐠ ᐊᘚᑊᑎᑊᐠ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᗂᐃᐠ ᓂᘚᑊᐣᑌᐧ ᒼᐅᐠᐧᑌᑊ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᗃᐊ, ᒼᐁᘛᑊᐨᗴ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᔭᘚᑊᘛ ᐅ̇ᐧ. ᑌᓀ ᓱᐅᐠ ᓀᖈᐠ ᐃ ᐊᑎᑊᐠ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᘔ ᐣᑕᑌᐧ, ᘔ ᐣᑕᑌᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᐃ, ᐤᐅᐧᐨᖇ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᘔ ᑭᐠ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᕬᐠᐧ ᑕᑊᐧ ᔭᗁᔨᐠᐧᖙ̇ ᐅ̇ᐧ, ᘔ ᒼᐯᑕᗀ ᐁᐧᓯᐃᐠ ᘔ ᑲᑊᒼᗀᐣᑌᕦᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᓄᒼᗀ ᑫᐁᐧ ᐤᐅᘔᑊᐥᐃ. ᓱᐅᐠ ᐊᘛᑊᐨᗴ ᐃᐠᔭ, ᔪ̇ᐊᑊᐊᐠ, ᗃᐊ ᕤᐠᐧᑌᑊ ᐅᐠ ᐁᐁ ᓀᗰᗱ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᑫᑫᑊᐧ. ᓄᒼᗀ ᗃᐅ ᑫᘚᑊᐠ ᒼᗀᔭᐧ. ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᐁᔨᐊ ᒼᐅᐠᐁᑊᐠ, ᒼᐅᐠᐁᑊᐠ ᐊᐨᗴ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᐁᐁ! ᒼᗀᑎ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᐃ ᓄᒼᗀ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᐁᐁ! ᖉᐧᓭ, ᘔ ᑲᑊᐣᑌᕦᐧ. ᓱᐅᐠ ᓄᓯᐅᐠ ᐨᗱ̇ᔦᐧᑎ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᗃᐊ ᔦᘚᑊᐠ ᐊᑎᑊᐠ ᐃᐠᔭ ᒼᐅᐠᐁᑊᐠ ᓂᐠᗀᐨ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᐣᑕᑌᐣᑌᐧᗀ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᑫᕦᐃᑊᐠ ᐁᕃᐨᘚ ᘛᑊᑎ. ᐃ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᒼᐊᐊᐨᗯ ᓱᐅᐠ ᒼᐯᔨᐠᐧᐨᖆᐁ ᒼᕄᐅᐠᐧ ᑌᓀ ᑌᐧᘚ. ᐃ ᑕᑊᐧ ᑌᓀᑕᑊᐣᑌᑫᑊᐧ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᐃ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᐣᑕᑌᐣᑌᐧᗀ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᓱᐅᐠ ᒼᐯᗯ ᒼᐅᐅᐠᕍ, ᓭᐥᐁ ᔭᐥᐃᐠᕄ ᐃᒼᗃ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ.

ᓄᒼᗀ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᑐᐠᑊ ᐤᐅᑎ ᐃ ᐁᕃ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᔦᘕᓀᑫᑊ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᒼᐅᐠᐧᑌᑊ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᔨᗀ. ᔨᗀ ᓱᐅᐠ ᓭᐥᐁ ᐁᑌᒼᗃ ᔪᗀ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᓱᐅᐠ, ᐅ̇ᐅ̇ ᐅ̇ᐅ̇ ᐅ̇ᐅ̇, ᐁᐧᑎ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᑌᓀ ᒼᕄᐣᑐᑊᐠᐧ ᓱᐅᐠ ᒼᐯᘚᑊᐠ ᑌᐧᔭ, ᐃ ᔪᐊᑊᓂ (ᕭ̇ᐠᐧ ᐁᘛᑊᑎᐃ) ᓴᘕᓀ ᓀᑌᐁᐧ, ᐃ ᐯᐁᐧ ᐁᑎᑊ ᑕᑊ, ᐃ ᐅᐧ ᐁᐧᑐᑊ ᑕᑊᐧ ᐨᗱ̇ ᐅ̇ᐧ, ᕞᐧᑐᑊ ᒼᐅ̇ᕃ. ᐃ ᓱᐅᐠ ᐁᔨᐊ ᒼᐊᐊᑎᑊᐠ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᗃᐊ ᔦᒉᐧᒼᐃᐠ, ᓄᓯᐁᐠᗱ. ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᐃ ᓄᒼᗀ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᔪᗀ ᐅ̇ᐅ̇, ᐅ̇ᐅ̇, ᐅ̇ᐅ̇, ᐅ̇ᐅ̇, ᐁᐧᑎ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᑎᐃᐠ ᐣᑕᘚᑊᐠ ᘚᑊᐠ ᗂᐃᐠ ᘚᑊ ᐃ ᓱᐅᐠ. ᐨᗱᐠ ᒼᐅᐠᐧᑎᑊ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᔦᑕᐊᐁᗀ ᓱᐅᐠ, ᒼᐊᐊᐨᗴ ᐨᗱᐠ ᑕᐁᑊ. ᓄᓯᐁᐠ ᕃᐨᘛ ᒼᐯᑫᑊᐧ ᑕᐁᑊ ᐊᐨᗴ, ᐃ ᐅᐅᐠ ᑐᐧ ᑌᐣᑎᖆᑊᐨᘛ ᘛᑊᑎ. ᐅ̇ᐧ ᑯᐥᐁᐠ ᘚᐅᐠ ᐃᐃᐠ ᓱᐅᐠ ᕦᑌᐧᖉᑊ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᐃ ᑌᓀ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᐃ ᑌᓀ ᐁᐧᓯᐃᐠ, ᓱᐅᐠ, ᒼᕄᐠᑐᑊᐠᐧ ᓀᗴ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᗃᐊ, ᒼᕍᐁᑊᐃᐠᑎ ᒼᐊᐊᕠᐠ, ᒼᐊᐊᕠᐠ. ᐃ ᑕᑊᐧ ᑌᓀ ᓀᖈᐠ ᒉᐧᒼᐁ, ᒼᐅᐨᖆᐧ ᒼᗀᑎ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ. ᑌᓀ ᒼᕄᐠᑐ̇ᑊᐠᐧ ᐯᐁᐧ, ᐯᐁᐧ ᑕᑊᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ, ᒼᕄᐠᑐ̇ᑊᐠᐧ ᓄᓯᐁᐠ ᓂᗰ ᓱᐅᐠ ᕦᗁᔦᐣᑎᐠᑕᑊ ᐅ̇, ᓀᘛᐨᖆ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᓱᐅᐠ ᔭᗁᔦᕃᐧ, ᒼᕄᐠᑐᑊᐠᐧ. ᓄᓯᐁᐠ ᓀᘛᐨᖉᐊ ᒼᗃ ᑎ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᔭᗁᐃᔦᕃᐧ, ᒼᕄᐅᐠᐧ ᒼᐁᗁᐠᕍ ᐁᐧᓴ. ᐃ, ᐃ ᗃᐊ ᐅ̇ᐧ ᐁᐧᓴᐠ ᑌᓀ ᐁᔨᗃᐅ ᐃ ᐤᐅᘚᑊᐠᐧ ᓄᓯᐁᐠ ᓀᗰᐃ ᒼᐅ̇ᕃ ᐃᒼᗃ.
Edu łį́t’ǫ́h, úh eyi nóghe, nóghe, eyi la i ehtsée séhwodeh úh yídeéht’ǫ́h úh, edu duh, tǫht’et’ǫ́h. Eyi dene, nóghe ju dene elį úh nóda nechi, nódacho eyi úh. Eyi mbekeeh wots’a’į. Édé yáts’ítse, yáts’ítse úh éé, tǫht’į ats’edeh úh. Mbeda ats’įt’e édé mbekeeh wots’a’į xǫ́ht’e édé edawodíh úh t’ahį́ andadeh, úh kek’éh, úh kek’éh at’į úh, dene t’áhge. Édé łíǫ́h dene eghǫ. Dene eghǫ nóda ju úh.

I xá’at’į úh, nózíę nechi, nózíę nechi, ju. Mbekeeh wots’a’į édé, dene yá’ítse úh héé, gáa edu ts’eghedi’a igha kughedi t’áh. Dene tǫht’į ts’į́ ats’et’į úh goį níts’indeh xǫ́ht’e éhsą́ gáa, xéts’ejá éhsą́ yáts’ítse úh. Dene sóǫ netlǫ i at’į éhsą́. Tsá ndadeh, tsá ndadeh éhsą́. I, wóhdli éhsą́ tsá kį́ éhsą́, tthįh t’áh yagiyį́hshú úh, tsá mbedage ehsíį tsá k’ághendetah éhsą́. Nóghe keeh wots’a’į. Sóǫ ats’ejá į́yá, yuhaą́, gáa tǫht’e ǫ́ éé, nechicho úh kek’éh. Nóghe gáa kets’į́ gheyah. Úh éhsą́ eyiá xǫ́hę́, xǫ́hę́ ajá éhsą́. Éé! ghedi éhsą́. I nóghe éhsą́, Éé! Tlahzé, tsá k’ándetah. Sóǫ nozią ju yéhdi éhsą́, gáa yets’į́ at’į į́yá xǫ́hę́ nįgéd úh éhsą́. Ndadendéhgé úh éhsą́ ketahį́ eledzi ts’edi. I éhsą́ xáaje sóǫ mbeyįhdleé łíǫ́h dene déhtsį. I t’áh dene t’andek’éh úh éhsą́. I éhsą́ ndadendéhge úh sóǫ mbeché xóǫlá, se’e ya’į́li igha úh éhsą́.

Nóghe éhsą́ t’ǫg wodi i elé éhsą́, yetsónék’é éhsą́, xǫ́ht’e éhsą́ yígé. Yígé sóǫ se’e edegha yuge úh sóǫ, úú úú úú, éhdi éhsą́. Dene łínt’ǫh sóǫ mbets’į́ déhya, i yohani (tthųh ets’edi) satsóné nedééh, i beeh ét’i t’áh, i úh éht’o t’áh ju úh, téht’o xúle. I sóǫ eyía xáat’į éhsą́ gáa yedhéhxį, nozięcho. Úh éhsą́ i nóghe éhsą́ yúgé úh, úú, úú, úú, éhdi éhsą́. Diį́ ndáts’į ts’į́ goį ts’į́ i sóǫ. Jǫ xǫ́ht’i éhsą́ yedaege sóǫ, xáajá jǫ dahé. Nozię ledzé mbek’eh dahé aja, i óǫ duh dendítl’édze ts’edi. Úh ku’ę tsią íį sóǫ tadéhtl’a éhsą́. I dene úh éhsą́, i dene ehsíį, sóǫ, łį́t’ǫh nechá úh gáa, łahéįdi xáatį, xáatį. I t’áh dene netlǫ dhéhxe, xódleh ghedi éhsą́. Dene łį́t’ǫ́h beeh, beeh t’áh éhsą́, łį́t’ǫ́h nozię nechi sóǫ tagiyendįt’á úh, netsédle úh sóǫ, yágiyeleh, łį́t’ǫ́h. Nózię netsédláa gha di éhsą́ yágiyeleh, łíǫ́h xégįlá éhsą́. I, i gáa úh éhsą́ dene eyi gáa i wots’įh nózię nechi xúle igha.
Home Previous Page Last Update: June 13, 2005