NISWI

We are now going to cover We (exclusive, this excludes the person that you are talking to), We (inclusive, this includes the person you are talking to), You all (all the people in the room) and They/them.  In this section, another verb comes into play, VAI2.  This is the same as a VAI, the only difference is that it does not end with a vowel, like VAI’s do.  It ends with the letter “M”.  In the “Concise Dictionary of Minnesota Ojibwe”, there is a class, this will help you to understand each type of verb.  1^st person and 2^nd person rules are still in effect.  Example, if the word starts with a “B”, you still need to put “NIM” before word, if you have to put “NI” before the word.  Example, the rule for We (inclusive) is NI-MIN.  This means- NI before the word and MIN after the word.  We (in) are swimming- NIMbagizoMIN.  Ginisodaan ina?  

PUT THE FOLLOWING VAI’S INTO WE (INCLUSIVE) FORM, PAGE DOWN TO SEE THE CORRECT ANSWERS.  REMEMBER THAT WE INCLUSIVE, INCLUDES THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH.

Giinawind, We (inclusive) rules

If the verb is a VAI (ends in a vowel) put GI before the word, this will be your prefix and add MIN at the end of the word, this will be your suffix.

If the verb is a VAI2 (ends with the letter “M”) put GI before the word, this will be your prefix and change the letter “M” to the letter “A”, now put MIN at the end of the word, this will be your suffix. 

If the verb VAI ends with “N”, put GI before the word, this will be your prefix and add “INIM” as your suffix.  When a VAI ends in “N”, it is very rare.

Bagizo- s/he is swimming, Dewizi-s/he is aching, Giigido-s/he is speaking

Jiibaakwe-s/he is cooking, Zagaswaa-s/he is smoking, Anokii-s/he is working, Ezhishin-s/he leaves a mark, Inaabi-peeking/looking, Odamino-s/he is playing, Manise- s/he is getting firewood, Naadasabii-s/he is checking a net, Wiisini- s/he is eating, Dagoshin-s/he arrives, Minwendam- s/he is happy, Gashkendam- s/he is sad.

We (in) are swimming-GIbagizoMIN

We (in) are aching- GIdewiziMIN

We (in) are speaking- GIgiigidoMIN

We (in) are cooking- GIjiibaakweMIN

We (in) are smoking- GIzagaswaaMIN

We (in) are working- GIDanokiiMIN

We (in) are leaving a mark- GIDezhishinINIM

We (in) are arriving- GIdagoshinINIM

We (in) are peeking/looking- GIDinaabiMIN

We (in) are playing- GIDOodaminoMIN

We (in) are getting firewood- GImaniseMIN

We (in) are checking the net- GInaadasabiiMIN

We (in) are eating- GIwiisiniMIN

We (in) are happy- GIminwendaAMIN

We (in) are sad- GIgashkendaAMIN

PUT THE FOLLOWING VAI’S INTO WE (EXCLUSIVE) FORM, PAGE DOWN TO SEE THE CORRECT ANSWERS.  REMEMBER THAT WE EXCLUSIVE, EXCLUDES THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH.

Niinawind, We (exclusive) rules

If the verb is a VAI (ends in a vowel) put NI before the word, this will be your prefix and add MIN at the end of the word, this will be your suffix.

If the verb is a VAI2 (ends with the letter “M”) put NI before the word, this will be your prefix and change the letter “M” to the letter “A”, now put MIN at the end of the word, this will be your suffix. 

If the verb VAI ends with “N”, put NI before the word, this will be your prefix and add “INIM” as your suffix.  When a VAI ends in “N”, it is very rare.

Bagizo- s/he is swimming, Dewizi-s/he is aching, Giigido-s/he is speaking

Jiibaakwe-s/he is cooking, Zagaswaa-s/he is smoking, Anokii-s/he is working, Ezhishin-s/he leaves a mark, Inaabi-peeking/looking, Odamino-s/he is playing, Manise- s/he is getting firewood, Naadasabii-s/he is checking a net, Wiisini- s/he is eating, Dagoshin-s/he arrives, Minwendam- s/he is happy, Gashkendam- s/he is sad.

We (ex) are swimming-NIMbagizoMIN

We (ex) are aching- NINdewiziMIN

We (ex) are speaking- NINgiigidoMIN

We (ex) are cooking- NINjiibaakweMIN

We (ex) are smoking- NINzagaswaaMIN

We (ex) are working- NINDanokiiMIN

We (ex) are leaving a mark- NINDezhishinINIM

We (ex) are arriving- NINdagoshinINIM

We (ex) are peeking/looking- NINDinaabiMIN

We (ex) are playing- NINDOodaminoMIN

We (ex) are getting firewood- NImaniseMIN

We (ex) are checking the net- NInaadasabiiMIN

We (ex) are eating- NIwiisiniMIN

We (ex) are happy- NIminwendaAMIN

We (ex) are sad- NINgashkendaAMIN

When learning Ojibwe I like to look for patterns.  With We inclusive and We exclusive, one pattern I notice is when the person you are speaking to is included, it starts with GI.  I like to think of it as, GIIN (you), you included, are doing the action.  The opposite can be said with NIIN.  Niin only thinks of him/herself, s/he isn’t including anyone else, that is why it starts with NI.