Useful Questions in Klallam
Knowing how to ask questions is an essential part of knowing any language. There are several different types of questions. One common type is the yes/no question. That is the type that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’ For example, ‘Did you go?’ is a yes/no question. The formation of this type of question is very easy in Klallam—just add u after the first word. It is so easy and useful, it is covered in detail early, in §3.2.
Other types of questions in Klallam are much more complicated. The details of the formation questions that ask ‘what,’ ‘who,’ ‘where,’ ‘when,’ ‘why,’ ‘how,’ etc. will have to wait until you have control of some of the more basic grammar. Those other types of questions are described in detail in §12, §14, §18, §22, §26, and §38. But for now, and for use in class, here are a few common and useful questions with possible answers.
| stáŋ ʔuč tiə. | ‘What is this?’ | níɬ kʷi cə púkʷ. | It is a book. |
| nə́kʷ ʔuč cán. | ‘Who are you?’ | ʔə́c kʷi Terry. | I am Terry. |
| níɬ ʔuč cán. | ‘Who is he/she?’ | níɬ kʷi Terry. | It is Terry. |
| ʔaʔstúʔŋət cxʷ ʔuč. | ‘What are you doing?’ | ccíɬəŋ̓ cn. | I’m standing. |
| ʔínət cxʷ ʔuč. | ‘What did you say?’ | ʔáwənə. | Nothing. |
| ʔəx̣ín ʔuč. | ‘Where is it?’ | ʔiyá ʔaʔ cə c̓aʔcítən. | It’s on the table. |
There are two issues to mention with regard to these sentences and all of the other example sentences in this book. First, note that there is no question mark used in the Klallam. The teachers and students of the language have determined that the question mark is unnecessary and can be confused with the ʔ symbol. The second thing to note is that English personal names are used in the examples. Traditional Klallam names are considered personal property and are not to be used casually. See Appendix K for a discussion of traditional names and their importance in Coast Salish culture.