Our wish

[Rory M Larson]

Carolyn wrote:
> In Osage there is e'bre (and e'kibre) for 'I believe' from, presumably,
> e'dhe 'believe', so I go along with the analysis of 'we think/believe' as
> the best candidate for aNdhe , which would be the expected 1p form of
e'dhe.

You're right, Carolyn!  I was apparently mistaken when I
was reconstructing it as *(e)dha.  In fact, it's in the
La Flesche dictionary as /e'dhe/, just as you say.  It has
the I- and you- forms listed, but not the we- form.  The
dictionary translates it as "think".

What I don't understand now is why the compound /koN'dha/
form comes out as an -a stem.  Perhaps Bob or John can
shed light on this.

> Then 1p  aNdhe is represented on the chair as oNdhe, not surprisingly
since
> modern aN was in LF oN; and dhe, as mentioned, becomes dha before i.

Yes!

> So I would take the phrase koN'oNtha iha to be something like 'we make
the
> wish'.

I agree.

> Then the whole thing loosely glossed would be approximately:
> "Our wish: Friend(s), go forth supremely untroubled!"
> ( Or: Our wish: Friend, walk in peace, go forth in peace, etc. )

Just one quibble here.  As Bob and I argued last night, the
MO-NI is for /moN-hniN/, "you walk".  So it should read:
Friend, we make the wish that you walk in peace/good health, etc.

(The great thing about Siouan is that you're not restricted
to a single finite verb per clause!)

> Peacefully,
> Carolyn

Good advice in any case!

Rory