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Dena'ina Qenaga
Dena'ina language
​"Shq'ayna gun Dena'ina dudghełdin.".
"I taught my children Dena'ina." - Dena'ina Qenaga Du'idnaghelnik
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​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'iÅ‚ means ‘I will see you again.’
Recordings
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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
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