Alëmskakw!

You People Leave! . . . Told by Nora Thompson Dean in 1984. A group from American Playhouse contacted Nora because they were doing a docudrama called Roanoak and wanted some lines of dialogue in Lenape which they were told was the closest related Indian language still spoken and they wanted something authentic. Nora received the script with the lines to be translated. She completed the work and made an audiotape of the Lenape for the film.

English:

Our deceased relatives had told us that you would come here.

Lenape:

Elànkumàkpaninkahke ktëlkuna kpahëmo.

English:

We who live along the shore reach from the summer islands to the winter sea.

Lenape:

Kiluna shòhpe wikichik nipëni mënataya òk luwàni kitahikàn.

English:

We shall protect you from our enemies and show you the riches of this land and water.

Lenape:

Kenahkihëmòch wënchi shinkalkwenk òk pënëntulën yushe weltëk hàki òk mpi.

English:

Oh, how unfortunate you bring the hairy faces today.

Lenape:

Oho, alàkwi èli pèshëwàk nèki wixëwinkàk yushe kishkwik.

English:

Some of the men are across the river.

Lenape:

Alënte lënuwàk kamink.

English:

The moon is full, low tide. It is a good time for gathering oysters.

Lenape:

Tùkwsu kishux, hìkpèxën. Wëlët awèn mayhòn sisawinàk.

English:

There are only a few young men here but they are fishing.

Lenape:

Kèxa skìnuwàk ahpuwàk shëk ameyok.

English:

Don't be afraid. The visitors are friendly.

Lenape:

Kàchi wishasihàn. Wëlànkunsuwàk kiikamàchik.

English:

Let me go see them, I honor them.

Lenape:

Lahapa may neyòòk, xinkwelëmaok

English:

Come in. I am glad that you all came.

Lenape:

Tëmikèkw. Nulelìntàm èli paèkw.

English:

There is something strange in these.

Lenape:

Kànkami kèku yushe hate.

English:

They look hot, but they're cool to the touch.

Lenape:

Kshëteinakòhtu, shëk te ènta alënink.

English:

Give me those arrows! You are acting foolish in this house!

Lenape:

Mili nèl alunsa! Sòmi kpëchehòsi wikwahëmink!

English:

Leave at once! All of you! Now!

Lenape:

Alëmskakw! Wèmi! Yukwe!

English:

I think they want what we want.

Lenape:

Ntite kahtatàmëneyok kiluna kètatàmink.

English:

You return to your homeland with these two men.

Lenape:

Talëmuxòlaok yukishe nisha lënuwàk.

English:

Yes. We have been honored to bear good things to give to the King.

Lenape:

E-e. Nulelìntàmuhëna alukalkehëna tìli pètuna weltëk kèkuna ènta milënt na Sakima.

English:

Don't die, friend. You must see this.

Lenape:

Kàchi ànkëluhàn, nchu. Knemën yushè.

English:

Are we dead? Where is this place?

Lenape:

Ankëluhëna hàch? Tani hàch yu tali?

English:

Thanks to (the spirits) of our grandfathers we are well!

Lenape:

Wanìshi kikayuyëmënaninkahke nulamàlsihëna!

English:

John's home - a new world.

Lenape:

John wikit ahpihëna - pili hàkink.

English:

What are you wearing? What am I wearing?

Lenape:

Kèku hàch ktàkwi? Kèku hàch ntàkwi?

English:

Is the water deep?

Lenape:

Xitkwe hàch?

English:

We will trade, tribe to tribe, one to one.

Lenape:

Ashëntèsihëna, mësi èlhakèchik, nèntkwëti.

English:

Look at me, Grandfathers, with my friend the four-legs! (the four-legs refers to a horse.)

Lenape:

Pënaikw, muxumsëna, òk wa nitis newkatat!

English:

We are going to Roanoak with White and other people.

Lenape:

Nishuxwehëna White òk pili awènik Roanoakink ntahëna.

English:

Yes, we're at Wococon.

Lenape:

E-e, Wococonink ntàpihëna.

English:

Do you remember what happened yesterday? You've been sick for a long time.

Lenape:

Këmëshatàmën kèku èlèk lòkëwe? Lòmwe nochi kpalsi.

English:

We will come back, don't worry.

Lenape:

Xu làpi mpahëna, kàchi sàkwelìntàmuhàn.

English:

Don't be afraid. It's me, Manteo!

Lenape:

Kàchi wishasihàn. Manteo ta ni!

English:

They are owned by a woman. She is named "Queen."

Lenape:

Xkwe nihëlalkuk. Luwènsu "Queen."

English:

Why have they come?

Lenape:

Kèku wënchi peyok?

English:

They are just curious, and they have come to trade.

Lenape:

Lëni shëk kahta watuwàk, òk pèchi ashëntèsuwàk.

English:

Our temples are called Machicomuck. It is there that we pray.
[note - Machicomuck is not a Lenape word.]

Lenape:

Mpatamweikaonëna luwènsik Machicomuck. Ika tali mpatamahëna.

English:

Ow! Leave me alone! Stop!

Lenape:

O! Punihi! Kàchi!

English:

Be careful! Don't do anything foolish!

Lenape:

Tekata! Kàchi xahowehòsihàn!

English:

Now on this day things are difficult. We are friends now.

Lenape:

Yukwe ènta kishkwik ahòt. Nitis'hëmëna yukwe.

English:

They want such a little. We are full while they are hungry.

Lenape:

Kèxiti kahtatàmuk. Kiluna kispwihëna nèkaonèk kahtupuwàk.

English:

Let us give them corn (seed) and the women to help them plant it.

Lenape:

Milawëna xàskwim òk xkweyok wichëmëkuk tìli hàkihèneyo.

English:

They are servants of the spirits, because evil comes to them, we will have a strange experience.

Lenape:

Elalukalchik manëtuwàk, èli mata weltëk mëshikakëwo, chipilinamuhëna.

English:

Remember many of our friends died over the winter.

Lenape:

Mëshatàmën xaheli kitisënàk ànkëluk luwàne.

English:

Some people now absent from this Council, have spoken against you

Lenape:

Alënte awènik ktàkënimkuk mata ahpiyok yushe achimulsin,

English:

and would not help you. However, he speaks well of you

Lenape:

òk mata wichëmùkuk. Shëk, wëlàkënimukw

English:

and to repay me when your ships come.

Lenape:

òk tènhùkw ènta muxulàk pahtit.

English:

I will never forget that when I was sick, you prayed to your Jesus Christ for me.

Lenape:

Tan wiwàniwàn ènta palsia patamwelxi na Jesus Christ.

English:

I will give what you ask.

Lenape:

Këmilël kètatàma.

English:

We have sent for Wanchese. We wait.

Lenape:

Wènchimawëna Wanchese. Pèhëwehëna.

Shè Yu Wëski Kèku

Alahòtuwàk

Mikwëna Tëlekhikàn Pwètanehëmaok Lënapeyunkahke

Moni Ta Nëni

Wàni Lënape Elixsit

Na Lënu Òk Nèl Mwekaneyëma