Wàni Lënape Elixsit

The Language of the Delawares . . . Told by James C. Webber (1877 - 1950) to anthropologist Frank Speck in 1928. It is copied from an old phonograph record which is in the Library of the American Philosophical Society. It is probably the earliest recording of the Lenape language. This talk was re-edited by linguist Ives Goddard. Where there are skips on the record we use *** to indicate that a word or part of a word is missing.

English:

Fellow tribesmen, that I say a few words

Lenape:

Nitape, kexaptun kèku ntëluwen.

English:

For I know that, at the present time to which our granted existence has come,

Lenape:

èli nuwatun mèchi yukwe she petelëmukwenkw

English:

it is more than ever difficult.

Lenape:

ahi hwëska ahot.

English:

More and more, every day and every year, it proceeds to be lost

Lenape:

ahaluwi kikishkwike òk kikahtinke alëmi taonkën

English:

the Delaware language and songs,

Lenape:

wàni Lënape elixsit ok tòsuwakana,

English:

as well as their (old ways? [meaning not clear]) and all their practices.

Lenape:

nal ta ne (ònkuwakàn?) òk wèmi èlaehòsit.

English:

Here now where I have been traveling around in the East

Lenape:

yukwe yu she [ènta] (ni) ayahpamskaa, wehënchiòpànk

English:

by the seashore, is where long ago our departed ancestors used to make their homes,

Lenape:

shòhpiye, lòmëwe ehëlaikèhtit (?) kikayëmënaninka,

English:

precious men now deceased,

Lenape:

ahpashèki lënunka,

English:

who exercised authority over the Delawares at that time.

Lenape:

sakimatamaòhtit nike lëkhikwi yuli Lënapeyo.

English:

*** Pemenent and many older men.

Lenape:

*** Pemënënt òk xaheli khikuwi lënunka.

English:

One of those old men was named

Lenape:

Na *** naka kwëti hilusësa luwènsu

English:

he was named Kwehkwilunt, and

Lenape:

luwènsu Kwèhkwilunt, òk

English:

in addition my late grandfather, when he was made chief,

Lenape:

nahëlii naka nëmuxumsa, ènta pèchi sakimawhenk,

English:

he was named Weoxelinkot.

Lenape:

luwènsu Weòxelinkòt.

English:

Now at present when I too assist in

Lenape:

Mèchi yukwe she ènta nèpe wihìchi

English:

the council over in the West where we now make our homes.

Lenape:

achimulsia yukwe ni she pe maikeyànkw wëntahkwi ehëliwsikak.

English:

*** thanks; I am glad when I am yet again able to remember

Lenape:

*** wanëshi; nulelëntam ènta iapchi kàski mëshatàma

English:

how I might explain their customary practice

Lenape:

ntëli a weitahkënutàmën ehëlaehòsit

English:

and show how Delaware songs are customarily sung.

Lenape:

òk wëntamasin ehëlasuwink Lënapei asuwakàna.

English:

Where I additionally gave my brothers, the Whiteman, all that now

Lenape:

Enta anhùkwi li milak nimahtësàk Weòpsit, yukwe she wèmi

English:

*** this state which is called Pennsylvania;

Lenape:

*** yuni khikhakàn èluwènsik Pennsylvania;

English:

and all these rivers: Delaware River, (and) Hudson River,

Lenape:

òk wèmi yul she sipuwa: Lënapei Sipu, Hudson River,

English:

as it is called by the White people, and in addition

Lenape:

ehëluwèntànk wàni shëwanakw; òk naheli

English:

Siskuwahënèk, which our brother the Whiteman calls Susquehanna;

Lenape:

Siskuwahënèk, wàni kimahtësëna weòpsit ehëluwèntank Susquehanna;

English:

right up to New York, it is called Hupokàn (hupokàn means-'pipe' i.e. Hoboken).

Lenape:

pèchi ika wëli New York ènta hànkw Hupokan

English:

a town is called (that). thanks; that's all for now.

Lenape:

luwensik utènay. *** wanëshi; lahapa nàni txi.

Shè Yu Wëski Kèku

Alahòtuwàk

Mikwëna Tëlekhikàn Pwètanehëmaok Lënapeyunkahke

Moni Ta Nëni

Na Lënu Òk Nèl Mwekaneyëma

Na Elais Kahta Alai