Problem-Solving with Michoacan Aztec

Subject: 
General linguistics
Morphology
Other
Subject (Other): 
Social Studies - Mexico
Grade Level: 
Grades 6-8
Overview: 

This problem-solving exercise allows students to discover meanings of parts of words in Michoacán Nahual, a Uto-Aztec language of Mexico. The benefits include categorizing, analyzing, and conducting basic scientific investigation.

Lesson Plan: 

Michoacán Nihual

Look at the following words from Michoacán Nihual, a Uto-Aztec language of Mexico, and their English translations.

[nokali] ‘my house’ [mopelo] ‘your dog’
[nokalimes] ‘my houses’ [mopelomes] ‘your dogs’
[mokali] ‘your house’ [ikwahmili] ‘his cornfield’
[ikali] ‘his house’ [nokwahmili] ‘my cornfield’
[nopelo] ‘my dog’ [mokwahmili] ‘your cornfield’

a. What is the piece of the Michoacán word that means each of the following English words?

‘house’ ____________________ ‘my’ ____________________

‘dog’ ____________________ ‘your’ ___________________

‘cornfield’ ____________________ ‘his’ ____________________

(plural marker) __________________

b. What is the English translation for the Michocán word [ipelo]?

c. How would you say ‘his cornfields’ in Michoacán?

Class Time Needed: 
Under 30 minutes