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Mid-Year Exam — Chapters 1–4

Covers: Chapters 1–4 | Total: 100 pts | Time: 60 min | ACTFL Target: Novice Low → Mid

Format

  • Part A: Multiple Choice — 15 × 2 pts = 30 pts
  • Part B: Fill in the Blank — 10 × 3 pts = 30 pts
  • Part C: Translation — 5 × 4 pts = 20 pts
  • Part D: Essay — 1 × 20 pts = 20 pts

Part A — Multiple Choice (30 points)

1. Which greeting does a Dakota man use?

A) Háu | B) Haŋ | C) Pidámayaye | D) Háŋ | Answer: A

2. The Dakota word order is:

A) SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) like English
B) SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) — verb comes last
C) VSO (Verb-Subject-Object)
D) Free order with no pattern
Answer: B

3. How do you form the future tense in Dakota?

A) Add a prefix wí- before the verb
B) Add the suffix -kte after the verb
C) Change the vowel of the verb root
D) Use a separate auxiliary word
Answer: B

4. The color 'red' as a stative verb in Dakota is:

A) šá
B) tó
C) sápa
D) ğí
Answer: A — šá

5. 'My name is ___' in Dakota uses the construction:

A) ___ emítiyapi
B) ___ emáčiyapi
C) ___ etáŋhaŋ waúŋ
D) ___ mitiyóšpaye
Answer: B

6. Numbers in Dakota greater than ten are formed by:

A) Using separate words for each digit
B) Using wikčémna (ten) with a multiplier, then adding units
C) Borrowing English number words
D) Using a completely separate number system for teens
Answer: B
e.g., wikčémna núŋpa (twenty) + ákeyaŋ waŋží (plus one) = 21

7. 'I do not eat' in Dakota uses:

A) Hiyá + verb
B) The negation suffix -šni on the verb
C) A separate word né before the verb
D) Reversing the SOV order
Answer: B

8. The tiyóšpaye is:

A) A type of food storage
B) The extended family band — the basic social unit
C) A ceremonial lodge
D) The Dakota national council
Answer: B

9. Dakota stative verbs for colors:

A) Must always follow the noun they describe
B) Function as predicates — 'the dog is-black' not 'the black dog'
C) Are identical in all grammatical persons
D) Only apply to animate nouns
Answer: B

10. 'My heart' in Dakota:

A) čhaŋté mítawa
B) mičháŋte
C) čhaŋté emáčiyapi
D) mitiyóšpaye čhaŋté
Answer: B — mičháŋte (possessive prefix mi- + čhaŋté)

11. How do you say 'I am sick / something hurts me' in Dakota?

A) Wičhášta mayázaŋ
B) Mayázaŋ (lit. "it pains me")
C) Sápa mayázaŋ
D) Mičháŋte yá
Answer: B — Mayázaŋ

12. The Očhéthi Šakówiŋ consists of how many council fires?

A) 4 | B) 5 | C) 7 | D) 13 | Answer: C

13. 'You're welcome / it's nothing' in Dakota:

A) Pidámayaye
B) Tokhéya
C) Tókheča šni
D) Háŋ
Answer: C — Tókheča šni (lit. "it's not different")

14. Pre-contact Dakota leadership was based on:

A) Hereditary chieftainship
B) Earned respect through wisdom, bravery, and generosity
C) Military conquest
D) Religious appointment
Answer: B

15. Which word means 'woman' in Dakota?

A) Wíčhaša
B) Wiŋyaŋ
C) Oyáte
D) Akíčhita
Answer: B — Wiŋyaŋ

Part B — Fill in the Blank (30 points)

  1. The Dakota number for "seven": ___
  2. Dakota word order: Subject — ___ — Verb
  3. To negate a Dakota verb, add the suffix ___
  4. The stative verb for "it is black" in Dakota: ___
  5. "Thank you" in Dakota: ___
  6. The extended family band in Dakota society: ___
  7. Future tense suffix in Dakota: ___
  8. "I am from ___" in Dakota: ___ etáŋhaŋ waúŋ
  9. "It hurts / I am sick" in Dakota: ___
  10. The four seasons: Spring _______, Summer _______, Fall _______, Winter _______
Part B Answers
  1. šakówiŋ | 17. Object | 18. -šni | 19. sápa | 20. Pidámayaye
  2. Tiyóšpaye | 22. -kte | 23. [place name] | 24. Mayázaŋ
  3. wétȟo | blokétu | ptaŋyétu | waníyetu

Part C — Translation (20 points)

Translate each sentence into English (4 pts each):

  1. James emáčiyapi. Bdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ etáŋhaŋ waúŋ.
  2. Šúŋka waŋ sápa yá.
  3. Waŋží, núŋpa, yámni, tópa, záptaŋ.
  4. Mičháŋte mayázaŋ. Pidámayaye.
  5. Wičhášta kiŋ wóuŋsipi-kte.
Part C Answers
  1. My name is James. I am from Mdewakanton.
  2. A dog is black. (There is a black dog.)
  3. One, two, three, four, five.
  4. My heart hurts. Thank you.
  5. The man will work / do daily activities.

Part D — Essay (20 points)

Choose ONE prompt. Write 8–12 sentences. Underline at least 5 Dakota words used correctly.

Option A: Explain the tiyóšpaye system and pre-contact Dakota political structure. How does the language reflect Dakota social values (passive name construction, gender speech, etc.)?

Option B: Explain the SOV word order and the stative verb system for colors in Dakota. Give 4 example sentences showing both features, with translations.

Option C: Describe what you would say in a formal Dakota introduction — name, origin, and closing. Explain the cultural significance of each element and how it differs from an English introduction.

ACTFL Self-Assessment

Skill Novice Low Novice Mid Novice High
Greet using correct gender form ☐ ☐ ☐
Introduce myself in Dakota ☐ ☐ ☐
Count 1–100 ☐ ☐ ☐
Use SOV word order ☐ ☐ ☐
Form future (-kte) and negative (-šni) ☐ ☐ ☐
Use stative verbs for colors ☐ ☐ ☐
Describe the tiyóšpaye and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ ☐ ☐ ☐

See: ACTFL Reference