Chapters Overview¶
Eight chapters across two semesters. Each chapter pairs new vocabulary and grammar with AIS 112 cultural and historical content.
Chapter Map¶
| # | Dakota Title | Theme | Key Grammar | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Háu / Haŋ | Greetings & Identity | Pronouns, gender speech, tiyóšpaye | 1–4 |
| 2 | Otóiyohi | Numbers, Colors & Descriptors | Stative verbs as adjectives, number system | 5–8 |
| 3 | Wóuŋsipi | Daily Life & Action Verbs | Active verbs, SOV word order, future -kte | 9–12 |
| 4 | Čhaŋté | Body, Health & Relationships | Body vocabulary, kinship terms, possession | 13–17 |
| — | Mid-Year Exam | Chapters 1–4 | ACTFL Novice assessment | Week 18 |
| 5 | Wóčhekiye | Prayer, Values & The Sacred | Sacred vocabulary, prayer phrases | 19–22 |
| 6 | Makóčhe | Land, Seasons & Directions | Season verbs, directional vocabulary | 23–26 |
| 7 | Wóoyake | Story, Ceremony & Oral Tradition | Narrative markers, evidentials | 27–30 |
| 8 | Oyáte | Nation, Treaties & Sovereignty | Historical and political vocabulary | 31–36 |
| — | End-of-Year Exam | Chapters 5–8 | ACTFL Novice-High assessment | Week 36 |
Dakota Grammar — Key Features¶
SOV Word Order
Dakota is a Subject-Object-Verb language — the verb comes at the end. "I eat bread" becomes "I bread eat" in Dakota structure. This is one of the biggest adjustments for English speakers.
Future Tense with -kte
The future tense in Dakota uses the suffix -kte at the end of the verb: mduté (I eat) → mduté kte (I will eat). This contrasts with Ojibwe, which uses a prefix (inga-).
Stative Verbs
Many Dakota "adjectives" are actually stative verbs — they describe a state of being. "The dog is black" uses a verb meaning "to be black," not an adjective modifying a noun.