WelcomeThis website was made for private use to accompany Couro's Let's Talk 'Iipay Aa, a textbook on the Mesa Grande dialect of Kumeyaay (Iipay, Ipai, or Diegueño). Feel free to use this website to learn, but do not consider it a primary source or an authority on the subject. The goal of this site is to simply be a supplemental resource for those interested in learning 'Iipay Aa. What is on here should not be taken as a teaching, but an interpretation of what the author has learned from documentation. As such, there are sure to be errors, omissions, and inaccuracies. If you find any, please report them.
An important thing to note is that the content of this site is intended to be accurate for the Mesa Grande dialect only, specifically replicating the speech of Ted Couro, who left us many texts, recordings, and materials to learn from. Other dialects of 'Iipay Aa will have mostly minor differences, though some Mesa Grande words may be found nowhere else, and many common words in other dialects are not used in Mesa Grande. If you know any amount of Tiipay, you will likely to find Mesa Grande speech to be drastically different. However, once you learn one dialect of 'Iipay or Tiipay Aa, it is not too hard to acquire or transition to another dialect. This site introduces the language slowly through extensive reading, and does not necessarily prioritize language for everyday conversation. For that, it is best to learn from a live teacher, or you can also pick up some conversational expressions in my Intro to 'Iipay Aa Memrise course. Feel free to send comments, questions, or suggestions through the contact page. I am happy to assist and connect learners however I can. This site was developed as part of a class project in Winter 2019, prioritizing the first seven lessons, and is being continued as a personal project. See my Master Plan for more details. |
Website UpdatesNew Resource: 'Iipay Aa Audio Dictionary
Living Dictionaries is a site that hosts online dictionaries for endangered languages. There is now a 'Iipay Aa Living Dictionary with over 1,700 entries, all with audio from native speakers! Support is included for multiple dialects. Click the link above to visit the dictionary, or click here for a full list of Kumeyaay dictionaries. Memrise Course Now Available!
Memrise is a site that helps you learn words with flashcards and quizzes. Try out the Intro to 'Iipay Aa course with over 100 essential words and phrases for conversation. There is also a Basic Verbs & Sentences course for more serious learners, and a Nouns course. Some entries now have audio from native speakers! New Section: Texts
The "texts" section features texts and transcripts from native Kumeyaay speech, followed by notes and vocabulary. This is recommended for those who have at least a basic understanding of 'Iipay Aa grammar, or the content of lessons 1-4 on this site. Help Get the Word Out
If you are finding this site useful, please consider sharing it with others interested in learning 'Iipay Aa! Send feedback and suggestions through the contact page. |
How to use this site
Go to Lessons to start learning from scratch. Go to the Grammar and Vocabulary sections for help, and check out Texts when you're ready for more.
Before starting, it is helpful to become familiar with the Pronunciation and Orthography of the language. The information on this site will help you say things with remote accuracy, but it is much better to listen to and imitate a native speaker if you can.
As you go through the lessons, you will be continuously exposed to new vocabulary in passages of increasing length. Try to read each sentence in a natural manner without translating or changing the word order in your head. Reading out loud may be helpful. Make sure you understand words individually and do not gloss over them. At the same time, do not be afraid to forget words and look them up when needed. Once you finish reading a lesson, reread it at least once before moving on. Some words and concepts are best acquired through repeated exposure. For help memorizing words, look to the Vocabulary section.
Keeping a journal of notes is a good idea. There you can take grammar notes, jot down key words, and write your answers to the review portions of the lessons. By writing your answers down, you will solidify your knowledge of the orthography and you can look back at the answers to review or correct any mistakes you find later on. When answering the questions, be as detailed as you can with your response. You can even say things the question didn't ask for. No one's checking anyway!
This site is best used in tandem with Ted Couro's Let's Talk 'Iipay Aa: An Introduction to the Mesa Grande Diegueño Language, as well as Ted Couro and Christina Hutcheson's Dictionary of Mesa Grande Diegueño. This site also contains information from Margaret Langdon's A Grammar of Diegueño: the Mesa Grande Dialect. While we will try to use these sources to the fullest extent and remain grounded in Mesa Grande Kumeyaay, it may become necessary to pull vocabulary from other sources and related dialects of 'Iipay by use of the Barona Inter-Tribal Dictionary. Be aware that although the northern dialects of Iipay are considered to be the same language, even dialects from nearby regions such as Santa Ysabel may have many lexical differences.
Once you decide to start learning, try to use 'Iipay Aa in your daily life. Describe events and things you see in the language. Write down your thoughts in it. Speak it whenever possible, even if it is to say utterly mundane and obvious things. If people on the street think you've lost it, you're on the right track. With practice, you will become increasingly comfortable and capable of expressing yourself. Finally, try to connect with other learners or speakers to practice and keep motivated.
'Iipay Aa 'ucheyuuwph! Let's learn 'Iipay Aa!
Before starting, it is helpful to become familiar with the Pronunciation and Orthography of the language. The information on this site will help you say things with remote accuracy, but it is much better to listen to and imitate a native speaker if you can.
As you go through the lessons, you will be continuously exposed to new vocabulary in passages of increasing length. Try to read each sentence in a natural manner without translating or changing the word order in your head. Reading out loud may be helpful. Make sure you understand words individually and do not gloss over them. At the same time, do not be afraid to forget words and look them up when needed. Once you finish reading a lesson, reread it at least once before moving on. Some words and concepts are best acquired through repeated exposure. For help memorizing words, look to the Vocabulary section.
Keeping a journal of notes is a good idea. There you can take grammar notes, jot down key words, and write your answers to the review portions of the lessons. By writing your answers down, you will solidify your knowledge of the orthography and you can look back at the answers to review or correct any mistakes you find later on. When answering the questions, be as detailed as you can with your response. You can even say things the question didn't ask for. No one's checking anyway!
This site is best used in tandem with Ted Couro's Let's Talk 'Iipay Aa: An Introduction to the Mesa Grande Diegueño Language, as well as Ted Couro and Christina Hutcheson's Dictionary of Mesa Grande Diegueño. This site also contains information from Margaret Langdon's A Grammar of Diegueño: the Mesa Grande Dialect. While we will try to use these sources to the fullest extent and remain grounded in Mesa Grande Kumeyaay, it may become necessary to pull vocabulary from other sources and related dialects of 'Iipay by use of the Barona Inter-Tribal Dictionary. Be aware that although the northern dialects of Iipay are considered to be the same language, even dialects from nearby regions such as Santa Ysabel may have many lexical differences.
Once you decide to start learning, try to use 'Iipay Aa in your daily life. Describe events and things you see in the language. Write down your thoughts in it. Speak it whenever possible, even if it is to say utterly mundane and obvious things. If people on the street think you've lost it, you're on the right track. With practice, you will become increasingly comfortable and capable of expressing yourself. Finally, try to connect with other learners or speakers to practice and keep motivated.
'Iipay Aa 'ucheyuuwph! Let's learn 'Iipay Aa!
Ta'urvi: Henatt, 'echillich nyaanak mataahway helyepay.
Top: Lake Henshaw, near Devil's Throne and Mataguay.
Top: Lake Henshaw, near Devil's Throne and Mataguay.