Name for the Sioux.

[Rankin, Robert L]

> Another question that I have regarding the name (Nah)yssan/Yesa/Yesan/Yesang is whether or not it may be the same word as the Lakota Oyasin as in Mitakuye Oyasin?

I wouldn't think so.  The problem is that the sound /y/ in Tutelo normally wouldn't match the sound /y/ in Dakotan.  If you have a /y/ in Tutelo, you would expect a /ch/ in Dakota.

> Is it possible that a dialect difference would produce a nasal sound at the beginning of the Nah-yssan?


Given that Yesan(g) (actually /yesą/ with a nasal vowel) by itself is attested as the Tutelo's name for themselves, the Na- prefix probably means something specific, but I don't know what that would be.  I wouldn't expect it to simply "appear" without meaning.  One of the many mysteries about Tutelo.

Bob