Lesson plans on language and linguistics in K-12 education
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.
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?