Procedure for Proposing Marriage at St. Francis

Maude Benedict

1919

Source: Speck, Frank G. 1919. The functions of wampum among the Eastern Algonkin, 54–55. Memoirs of the American Anthropological Association, vol. VI, no. 1.

Note: Speck’s transcription and translation are given for each line in (a). The retransciptions and retranslations in (b) are by Philip S. LeSourd, January 17, 2019.

1.   a.   <Waʹdji^. – gadaʹwi^.  – kəluʹldi^.muˋk>

             “When – one wants – to propose marriage”

      b.   Waci-katawi-kəlolətimək.

            ‘When one wants to propose marriage.’

2.   a.   <doʹni^.  – aʹgwa  – waʹdji^. – gadaʹwi^. – kuluʹlowaˋt – wski^.ʹ – aʹlnombaˋ>

            “When – ever – in order to – he wants to – propose marriage – young – man”

<ni^.ʹwi^.  – gawos^.a‘ˋ – obi^.thaʹkali^.ˋη – ma^.ʹksa‘ – wiʹgwomαk.>

“at that time – his mother – throws in – blanket – into the wigwam”

      b.   Tąni=ak^wa waci-katawi-kəloləwat wski-alənąpa, ni wikawəssa wəpithahkąlin maksa wikəwąmək.

            ‘At such time as a young man wants to propose marriage, they say, his mother throws a blanket into the house (of the prospective bride’s family).’

3.   a.   <ni^.ʹdαni^.  – aʹdju^.li^.daˋmamαk – ni^.dji^.ʹ – naʹnawaldaˋmαna – ma^.ksa‘ʹ>

            “thereupon – if they like him – then – they accept – blanket”

<ni^.ganowaʹ – nda – wali^.damamαʹk – patagosadawanʹ – ma^.ksa‘ʹ.>

“but if then – not – they like him – they give back – the blanket”

      b.   Ni tąni atoci-wəlitahąmąmək, ni=ci wənanawalətaməną maksa; ni=ka=nawa ąta wəlitahąmąmək, wəpətəkohsatawąną maksa.

            ‘When he is found acceptable, they keep the blanket; but if he is not found acceptable, they take the blanket back to her.’