Let's Talk Taíno 7 - I am... You are...

[@bruja_cat]

That book is ESSENTIAL to learning the Taíno language! You can essentially create sentences from the lessons it teaches, an excellent resource!!

[@CasaAreyto]

Absolutely! I'm loving it. 💜

[@Kris_Phoenixx]

Thank you ive been studying the book, hearing it spoken helps so much

[@CasaAreyto]

Wonderful! I'm so happy this is helping. 💜We got tons more coming up. 😉

[@jenniferteacher449]

Loving your videos ❤❤❤

[@CasaAreyto]

Jajóm (thank you)! Feel free to write with any questions or suggestions you may have.💜

[@krispykream4387]

This is so important thank you for sharing this

[@CasaAreyto]

Of course, our pleasure! And thank you for joining us. I know that together we can bring back the Taíno language and culture. 💜Sending good vibes your way!

[@jewelrybysylvie]

Thank you so much for all your lessons! You are a great teacher! Easy to follow. I'm taking notes. I have a small % of Taino, (12), but very proud of it! I ordered the book from Mr. Hernandez. Here it goes, I'm going to try: Taikarayá, guaitiáo! Tau,guantiao

[@CasaAreyto]

Jajóm! (Thank you!) And your Taíno was perfect. 💜 I can't tell you how happy I am that you're studying along with us. 🙌 I read somewhere that most Puerto Ricans have an average of 12% Taíno genetic ancestry. But DNA isn't everything of course. The most important thing is that we are here, reclaiming what we once thought was lost. 🥰 Bo-guatukán! (Many blessings!)

[@StevenBrundage]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

[@CasaAreyto]

Thank you!!! Glad you're continuing on this journey with us. Let me know if there's anything in particular you're interested in learning, and we'll add it to our list.

[@tradingwithbots4707]

I think our culter can be seen through the language ^-^ I love how "Toká" is impermanent, it's like all things are fluid

[@CasaAreyto]

Jan-jan (yes)! I love this perspective; thank you for sharing.

[@HalfPintOcider]

This is fantastic! Hahom! My mom, my brother & I want to learn Taíno, parte de nuestra herencia borinqueña.❤ 🇵🇷 ❤ Is there a we form, and a they form?

[@CasaAreyto]

Tau (hello) and jajóm (thank you). 💜 Yes, for the plural nouns and pronouns, check out Let's Talk Taíno 14: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHS3nGWno5xlbJI Also we have our entire series in Spanish. You can go to the Let's Talk Taíno en español playlist. Bo-guatukán! (Many blessings/muchas bendiciones). 🥰

[@UmmMuslim]

I was wondering if there are feminine and masculine forms of the words? Thank you for all your efforts!

[@CasaAreyto]

Hello! So happy you're learning with us. 💜Yes, there are feminine and masculine forms of nouns. You add "kio" at the end of a noun to make it masculine (e.g. kokíkio = masculine kokí). You add "xe" (pronounced "che") at the end of a noun to make it feminine (e.g. kokíxe = feminine kokí). I'll be making a video on gender very soon. 😉

[@UmmMuslim]

@@CasaAreyto i can't wait!! thank u 💕

[@mamayoda123]

Gracias, Pricila!!! ❤ I love this lessons! I saw 6 in one sit... just couldnt stop! Guajotic toka bo tai tekina!

[@CasaAreyto]

Wow! You're Taíno is amazing already. Keep up the awesome work, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Bo-guatukán! (Many blessings!)

[@roquehernandez7554]

Dak'toka koki .Hajoma tekina , taikaraya.🐸

[@CasaAreyto]

Taiguey, rokótara. 👋Bo-guatukán! 🙌💜

[@khakachu7778]

Learning the language of My Indigenous ancestors, It Feels Like My Native Roots Have Increased, But sometimes I Wish I was more Native.

[@CasaAreyto]

Tau, guaitiáo! (Hello, friend!) I'm so happy you're learning the language with us. It's an empowering journey and it brings us closer to our true selves. I know sometimes it may seem like we're not enough, not indigenous enough, or this or that because we have to recover what we've lost throughout centuries. But our ancestors are with us, and we're here working to do this together. I read "Taíno, A Novel" where the author talks about how the old ones saw this coming, but ensured we would live on through the intermarriage with other cultures. I recommend the book. 🥰 I'm sending a huge hug your way. Bo-guatukán! (Many blessings!)

[@roquehernandez7554]

Hi tekina !

[@CasaAreyto]

Tau, Roque! 👋🏽Idá buk'toká? (How are you?)

[@roquehernandez7554]

@@CasaAreyto Dak toka tai. Jajom.

[@TemplePriestess]

How do we know the correct pronunciation of the Taino language? I worry as speakers we may be pronouncing words with a Spanish undertone, since as Boricuas most of us have Spanish as our first and / or second language.

[@CasaAreyto]

Thank you for the awesome question! I was just talking about this in a virtual event on Sunday. The minute that sounds start being written down, they inevitably change because the alphabets they are written down with don't have all of the sounds that the original language had. We don't have a time machine to go back and record the classic Taíno, but we can make educated guesses on pronunciation based on who wrote down the words (French, Spanish, English, or Dutch colonizers) and compare pronunciations with living relatives who speak our sister languages. The modern reconstruction of the Taíno language that I use comes from the "Primario Básico del Taíno-Borikenaík"i and clearly outlines the proposed alphabet and pronunciation of each letter. You can also hear the author of the book speak in this modern variant. Check out Let's Talk Taíno 2 for the alphabet pronunciation and sample words and also Let's Talk Taíno 3 for a link to hear the modern variant as spoken by Javier Hernández, the linguist and author of the book. I hope this helps. 💜

[@jandunn169]

i relate to what you said about being a language nerd....I studied hieroglyphics in college. Taino seems so logical, unlike English. Has it been reconstructed by linguists? Did the Spanish try to write it down or write about it? Does the textbook come in English too?

[@CasaAreyto]

Hi Jan, thanks for great questions! OMG, I would've loved to study hieroglyphics. That must've been amazing!!! The main resource I use is the "Primario Básico del Taíno Borikenaíki", which presents a modern, speakable, easier-to-learn version of Taíno. You can find a link to this book in my resources video description: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3-mi2WOZruAbtE The author is a hyperpoliglot who worked in government for many years and studied reconstructed languages such as Hebrew. He used a variety of sister languages as well as the words that remained in use on the island of Puerto Rico AND like you mentioned, the words and phrases written down by Spanish, French, and English. He also had to create new words for tech that didn't exist in the 1400 and 1500s, such as airplane, etc. Language always evolves! You might be interested in the language flavors video, where I go into detail about the sister languages used to reconstruct Taíno: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6qlhoyArLyZpq8 Language nerds to the rescue! 🥰

[@ABAKETONEBORIKEJ]

@@CasaAreyto I’ll check it out. You can gmail me if you want to exchange some words & to compare. I have a nice broad dicctionary. I did not create not one word but I did the investigation some People from guatú ma cú verify this with me.

[@Joyride37]

I know the reconstruction process has lead to a few different dialects forming. Do you know which is from where? Your video describes Dak'toka Taino, but I have seen Dak'tok Taino and Taino Daka.

[@CasaAreyto]

Tau (hello)! 👋 The variant I'm using comes from "Primario Básico del Taíno Borikenaíki" by Javier Hernández. Check out "Let's Talk Taíno 3 - Taíno Resources", where I talk about this and a few other resources. There's a link to the book on Amazon in the video description of LTT 3. If you want to know more about his reconstruction process, check out his interview on HYPIA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2XCeHd7eZmabZo

[@tanairicupp]

Where are you from? I'm from Aibonito Puerto Rico, my paternales family comes from Arroyo Puerto Rico and some moved to and died in Tampa Florida

[@CasaAreyto]

Hi there, thank you for the question and for following us. 🙌 I was born and raised in Mass, but my parents' families are from Arecibo and Guayama. I still have a lot of extended family on the island. 💜🌴 I haven't been on the islands since right after Hurricane Maria, but I would love to go back soon. Sending good vibes your way!

[@ABAKETONEBORIKEJ]

PLEASE explain to me, a Borikéj generalizer, why do you say Dak, and not the normal Dacá?

[@ABAKETONEBORIKEJ]

I just love taíno & don’t understand why do you shorten Dacá, “two different words(seperate)”, into “Dak”. Dá- cá- I- am. Bá Anéke ayjak ahíja katú? “ porqué tú haces hablar así?” Notice my grammar flow. Dá búsika roco, “I want know” .. (I want to know)

[@CasaAreyto]

@@ABAKETONEBORIKEJ Tau 👋! As I mention in my resources video, I did not invent this modern reconstructed version of Taíno. It is the version that I find easiest to learn and teach.When you get the chance, check out Let's Talk Taíno 3 - Taíno Resources. I talk about "Primario Básico del Taíno Borikenaíki", the modern version of Taíno meant to simplify and quickly get you speaking the language. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3-mi2WOZruAbtE Javier Hernández is the polyglot who worked on this modern reconstructed version of Taíno. Feel free to check out his many interviews on HYPIA, Taino Radio, and other sites, where he talks about his process of reconstruction.

[@roquehernandez7554]

Quisqueya I'am is said Daka. Just to say the difference.

[@CasaAreyto]

Jan-jan (yes)! Some Taíno flavors use "Dak'toká" and others use "Daka", which is like deleting the "to" in the middle. Similar to "I am" vs "I'm". 🥰

[@liamheath6355]

I’m sorry if this has already been asked (or answered), but how do you say ‘it’ in Taíno? Is there a separate inanimate pronoun or does one just use ‘lik’ or ‘tuk’?

[@CasaAreyto]

Great question! In most indigenous languages there is no word for "it" because nothing is considered an inanimate object; everything has life, soul, spirit, whether it's a rock or soil, plant or animal. The closest I would suggest is "najak" (they), which can be used as a gender-neutral pronoun option for singular or plural. I cover that pronoun here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHS3nGWno5xlbJI

[@bohiokairinaeyeri9494]

What grammatical base are y'all using?

[@CasaAreyto]

Tau (hello), we're using "Primario Básico del Taíno-Borikenaíki" by Javier A. Hernández: amzn.to/3vjNhMd as one of our main resources. You can check out Let's Talk Taíno 3, where I mention this and other sources. If you want to know more about Hernández's strategies for language revitalization, you can watch his interview on HYPIA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2XCeHd7eZmabZo I see that you're teaching the language too. What resources do you use? I'm always looking to add to my repertoire and share with the community. Jajóm (thank you) for your question and joining us on this journey. 💜

[@bohiokairinaeyeri9494]

@@CasaAreyto Thanks. We're using an Eyeri base.

[@CasaAreyto]

@@bohiokairinaeyeri9494 Are there any book or other resource I could look at? It would be interesting to do a comparison with other variants.

[@bohiokairinaeyeri9494]

@@CasaAreyto not yet, but soon...

[@Kris_Phoenixx]

Hi! I was wondering if there was a gender neutral version of "I am" for either gender non conforming people (or two spirited) i know since Yaya was considered gender less what would have been used to describe them?

[@CasaAreyto]

Awesome question! Based on what I'm seeing in "Primario Básico del Taíno-Borikenaíki", "dak'toká" (I am) is gender-neutral, so it can be used by anyone regardless of gender (as well as non binary, non-conforming, etc.). English dictionaries have begun using "they/them/their" as gender-neutral options for our friends who don't feel comfortable being described with the gendered pronouns "he" and "she". An option I see in Taíno is "najak" ("they/them" referring to everyone in a group regardless of gender). It's composed of "nak" ("they/them" masculine) and "jak" ("they/them" feminine). "Najak'ât" means "their". Therefore, "najak'toká" (they are) is one option to describe an individual in a gender-neutral way. Of course, I would always ask an individual for their prefered pronoun(s). I will be doing a video on the plural personal pronouns soon, and I will mention your question. I think it's wonderful that as we revive our language we can have such wonderful discussions on inclusion. 💜💜💜

[@Kris_Phoenixx]

@@CasaAreyto thank you so much!!!!

[@ABAKETONEBORIKEJ]

Toka means está, & I am sorry but what da heck is Dak where you get this from? Its Dacá. I am. Daaak? Acho mala mía pero en lenguaje taíno (Gua Ahija), no está generalizado. Uá toka juá..

[@CasaAreyto]

Tau 👋! When you get the chance, check out Let's Talk Taíno 3 - Taíno Resources. I talk about "Primario Básico del Taíno Borikenaíki", the modern version of Taíno meant to simplify and quickly get you speaking the language. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3-mi2WOZruAbtE There are a lot of different Taíno flavors right now because the language reconstruction is just starting up, so I can understand how it can be a bit overwhelming. If this isn't your cup of tea, no worries. 😉

[@SupaMarioG]

Taikaraya guaitiao. Dak toca Rokatara. Thats almost similar to "name" in nahuatl. Toca- name notoca Mario or notoca yez mario meaning my name is mario.

[@CasaAreyto]

That is amazing! It's so cool to see the similarities. I may need to talk about that in my upcoming videos. 😉 But seriously, thank you for sharing these language tidbits. I love seeing these patterns. 💜

[@khakachu7778]

It’s Sad To Find Out that I’m Only 8% Taíno…

[@CasaAreyto]

I hear you; it's sad that we can't have a higher genetic percentage of Taíno due to the 530 years of colonization. But like our ancestors showed, ethnicity, country of origin, race, color, etc. did not determine whether you were Taíno or not. Our ancestors took in anyone who wanted to be a part of the community and/or needed help, including many of the African slaves who'd escaped from the colonizers. It helps me to know that being Taíno is a way of life, a connection to our ancestors. Bo-guatukán! (Many blessings!)

[@robiebhagwandeen4617]

how do you say you are a very beautiful puerto rican woman ? I was born in the caribbean Islands of trinidad and tobago , but puerto Rico's prettier

[@MICA-ym1vu]

Any Gender Neutral pronouns?

[@CasaAreyto]

Jan-jan! (Yes!) Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHS3nGWno5xlbJI where I talk about "najak" as the singular and plural gender-neutral option.

[@MICA-ym1vu]

Thank you so much!

[@CasaAreyto]

@@MICA-ym1vu Dak'toká naboría. (I am at your service.) 💜