Hocąk Text — A Prophecy

A Prophecy

Interlinear text by Thomas A. Sebeok

This text comes from an Ediphone (wax) cylinder recorded sometime well prior to 1945. In that year it was forwarded to Indiana University to be transcribed. A native Hocąk speaker, Mitchell Redcloud, Sr., of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, listened to the text three times, then repeated it from memory. The text was slightly redacted by Alvin Stacy, who described it as "archaic" and "awkward." [1]

Expressions appearing in brackets, [ ], are supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle).

p. 169 —

Hiragra mayžą žejanągiži ’egi wokanąk hirasanągre

After a year at this time and [or, here] people with hats on

hiwanimįgwigi hįwakara ǧewigi janąga

when we attack them shouting the war cry all things [or, as many as there are]

wągregi mąxi hozų́naki žigé hą́pjanerèšge

above the clouds full again even the day[s]

janąga žige hąp hamanįra herèaki

all and [again] day [or, light] those who walk (birds)* those possibly†

*parenthetical expression added by Sebeok.
†Sebeok has "possibility," which I take to be a typographical error.

hereanąga ’egi žige janąga mą́haxkiràgra

besides [or, also, likewise] and again all [or, as many as there are] things that move on the earth

’egi hohuhinągre hijobíhike žige wągregi

and the winds all four and [again] above

wągšig hišca sane hacawira hanącį

people face white whom we had seen all

hįgijèrirékjinena. Žežegųgiži manągre hixkąxką́kjinena. Žežegųgiži

they will help me. If [or, when] this is done the earth it will shake. In this case [or when this is done]

Máyxetera hižugra hijàjire wahíreške hąke

white men [lit., Big Knives] guns aim even if not

warujox ruxuruk hiranį́kjinena higų jasge waninegi

make explode could they will not be able to no matter hold

hižugra žegunąkhikcanena. Hąke hixkąruxuruk. hiranį́kjinena.

guns they will be as they were. Not move they will be able to.

Žežegųgiži gisagrašana hiųwigiži Žežegųgiži žeją

When this occurs only knock unconscious if we do. When this happens end

hį́hįwìgi. Manągre ne’e hokarayxkąwigi ’ineki

if we do. The earth we if we move in it alone

žežegųhįhiwìgiži wąkšiǧoinra pįhį’ųjinihawįna. Mežesge wagi’ųhajina

if we do this our lives we shall get along very well. For this I came for this purpose

megi. Hinuš’ak wianąga žeže gųgiži manągre

here. Fail if we do if this occurs the earth

jaskexcį nągre wokanąk hirasánągre hahi

all of it hat with attached in time

hoyxcį́kjinena. Hoyxcįgiži hahišge hegų nįgicira

it will be fully occupied. If it is filled in time even someplace we live

hinuš’akhikjinihàwina. Žigenige hįcìkjinihawigíške hįhohįwahiwianąga

fail we will. And any place if we shall camp we must ask permission

’ųwągaširawigšana ’eja hįcwínana. Žige nąkisgra hižą

only if they give us permission there we shall camp. Again stick one

cišu hįgicgísnikjinihàwiške hį́hohįwahįwianąga

for framework of wigwams if we are about to cut we must ask for permission

hižą hįgicgíswinana. Žežegųkcanahena. Hąke hoyxcį́pini

one we shall cut. Thus it shall be. Not be filled

hirewahinųnįgi manągre hahi hakinírekjinena.

we would not think the land in time they will be overcrowded.

Source:

Thomas A. Sebeok, "Two Winnebago Texts," International Journal of American Linguistics, 13 (1947): 167-170; Text II — A Prophecy, 169.