Hidatsa Word Analysis

[John Boyle]

Hi All, 

Sorry I didn't respond to the list I didn't know how much interest there would be 
in a Hidatsa word.  This is basically my response to Jimm:  

I to was troubled by the [dw] cluster as Hidatsa doesn't allow this.  I think what 
the word really was, was:

 maruwahiri?isha 
 maruwa-hiri-?-isha 
 something-do-this.way 

Meaning "something that is (meant) to be done".  After talking with Jimm, I 
found out the context of this word.  It was told to him by Finigan Baker, who 
was a very fluent speaker.  Given the context of the conversation, I think this 
gloss is correct.  I have asked several people I work with in North Dakota and 
they agree with this translation.

So, there is my take on it.  Sorry I didn't respond to the list as a whole.

John Boyle

>
>On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 goodtracks at peoplepc.com wrote:
>> The following Hidatsa word __wadwahiri?isha__ was told to me to mean:
>> "To Be Predestined". What are the elements in this word composition?
>
>John (Boyle)'s or Randy's assessments on this would be more useful, I
>suspect, but since John hasn't responded, I gave it a look.  I think the
>surprising -dw- cluster is to be explained as -dua-, but the initial
>sequence waruahi..., or ma(a)duahi... as I think it would be in G.H.
>Matthews, don't seem to lead to anything.  Perhaps it GHM's ma a du h.e pi
>'a shallow spot' or ma a du h.a ku pi 'a crease or groove in anything' are
>relevant.  h. or under-dotted h, is x.
>