Adai language

Last updated
Adai
Adaizan, Adaize
Tenánat Hadéyas
Native to United States
Region Louisiana
Ethnicity Adai people
Extinct late 19th century [1]
Revival [2]
unclassified
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3 xad
xad
Glottolog adai1235
Linguasphere 64-BCA-a
Adai language map with modern borders.png
Pre-contact distribution of Adai

Adai (also Adaizan, Adaizi, Adaise, Adahi, Adaes, Adees, Atayos) is an extinct Native American language that was spoken in northwestern Louisiana.

Contents

Classification

It was once proposed that there may be a connection between Adai and the nearby Caddoan languages, but this now seems unlikely. [3]

Vocabulary

Adai is known only from a list of 275 words from 1804 by John Sibley. [4] The manuscript word list below has been reproduced from Grant's (1995) transcriptions. [3] (Note: Due to the poor printing in Grant (1995), the text below may not be entirely accurate and will need to be re-checked.)

Nouns

glossAdai
firenang
waterholcat
earthcapăt
airgavecăt
windsolette
skyganick
sunnaleen
moonnachavat
starotat
lightcahachet
darknesshachaoosto
daynestack
nightarestenet
coldhastalza
smokesewot
cloudsowie
fogsawiatto
rainganic
hailhiechuck
icehăhing
frosthatsuck
dewhelgat
rainbowcochakee
thundernacotrine
lightningnewiche
yesterdaywoncha
todaynaleaton
tomorrowansteete
a daynallenachus
a monthponachus
a yearovetsnachus
springhoasang
summerweetsuck
autumnhăstal neetsoock
winterhenawnck
a manhaasing
a womanquaechuke
a boytallahache
a girlquoatwistuck
a childtallahaning
fatherkewanick
motheramanie
brothergasing
sisternasing
husbandhasekino
wifequochekino
sontallehennic
daughterquolasinic
the bodystieng
the headtochae
the haircatatuck
the beardtosocat
the facedannack
an eyeanalca
the nosewecoocat
the cheekampachochuk
chinteaskuck
lipwacachuck
mouthwacatcholak
toothawat
tonguetenanat
earcalat
neckhautoleat
armwalcat
wristsickolat
handsecut
fingerokinsin
bellynoeyack
backsahaocat
sidesoleot
bubbyacut
nippleactonè
thighotack
legahasuck
footnocal
toenotocat
skinpolac
nailssicksapasca
bonewahacut
bloodpchack
lifewaaton
deathoeying
foodcapisting
meatkosing
fattaanack
leanahcanick
breadokhapin
Indian corn ocasuck
milkhaplecut
eggoalaken
a housecoochut
buffalohaapan
elkwakhanissie
deerwakhine
bearsolang
wolfakalasco
pantherhieanne
wildcatocashine
polecat nowat
foxyanostan
beaverculawa
raccoonangalasto
opossumwasehat
hareawaine
squirrelonack
flying squirrel paachan
moleainolack
a birdwashang
an eagleochuck
a hawktiang
owlonack
turkeyowachuck
swanteotoka
wild goosenicknicka
duckahuck
turkey buzzard aspachuack
ravenanak
crowantocock (anlocock)
blackbird tehalhuck
cranecuhat
pigeonanchocat
pheasant newatocat
partridge newan
mockingbird waccocochin
redbird yatochosto
snakehostuck
lizardannuila
butterflywashep
flyganetso
fishaesut
froghalonloka (halontoka)
goldselhack
silverstawa
copperholnasak
a stoneekseka
woodmang
gumwastocha
a mountaintolola
hillnewanah
valleysteluck
seaaatack
lakeaatalkon
pondholcata
riveryawichat
creekyacuck
a springholcastalga
grasshasack
a treetanack
pinetanquechat
cedar nooktanuck
sycamore heohè
ash toltenna
elm napstein
beech hancaptin
birch caoluck
maple wieack
oak pantana
chestnut hangan
hickory tampchasuck
walnut nahattonie
locust nohat
mulberry etalenno
a vinecolac
tobaccohackhuck
joyolaha
sorrowcachtiek

Adjectives

glossAdai
whitetestaga
blackhatona
greennaetsa
blueostonga
yellowneetsack
redpechasat
goodawiste
badashawè
largetocat
smallenechet
highalonie
lowhatishtinet
broadwalack
narrowcooatechuck
oldhansnala
youngtallahasin
newcolisco
hardtoosca
softyolaca
sweetpiscacha
sourchacuck
bitteryaweiling
hotwelchuck
coldhostalga
drytollooso
wetwalloco
strongolack
weakokesack
prettyalwoinie
uglychawack
sickkistana
bravehackhing
cowardlytewani
wiseacknossese
foolishachiskiet

Pronouns

glossAdai
Ihicatuck
youinnaluak
henassicon
sheestuck
theyostachan
thisattack
thatnatack

Verbs

glossAdai
to eatokeach
to drinkhann
to sleepnican
to laughheike
to crynewaskè
to singhavetoo
to whistleyastoo
to smellnescon
to hearhenaasack
to seewatuck
to speakcocheek
to walkenacoot
to runhehi
to standhintoco
to sithetachelsa
to lie downconnie
to smoke a pipehatchhunk
to lovecosetan
to hatehieska
to strikeecanhack
to killyoeick
to dancenasan
to jumpyestook
to fallyeahtack
to breakcheeceek (cheereek?)
to bendpasquoque

Numerals

glossAdai
1nancas
2nass
3colle
4tacache
5seppacan
6pacanancus
7pacaness
8pacalcon
9sickinish
10neusne
11cooscosnawa
12coawaconnos
13coescoescola
14coescoestacahce
15coescoesspacanas
16coescoespacana
17coescoespalcol
18coescoespaciness
19coescoessickiness
20neusnieanagas
20coescoesnagas
30coescoesnass
40coescoescola
50coescoestathata
60coescoesipagan
70coescosepanas
80coescoeshana
90coescoespalcola
100coescoessikiness
200neusnicola
300neusnicol
400coscosnagas
500coscosnassa
600coescoescolla
700coescoestacataha
800coescoesipacanis
900coescoespacanis
1000quosquospanis

Others

glossAdai
yescola
noieska

Notable places language was spoken

References

  1. Adai at MultiTree on the Linguist List
  2. "Our Language – ADAI CADDO INDIAN NATION" . Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  3. 1 2 Grant, Anthony P. 1995. John Sibley's Adai vocabulary: a contribution to Caddoan Lexicography? Paper presented at 1995 Siouan-Caddoan Conference, Albuquerque. 15pp. (Contains the entire vocabulary of Adai from MS in American Philosophical Soc.)
  4. Sibley, John. 1804. A vocabulary of the Adaye or Adaize Indians. Manuscript. (See also Mithridates Vol. 3, part 3., p. 278.)