Oneida Names
Here, you’ll find a list of plant names in Oneida (Onyota’a:ká:), complete with translations and phonetic pronunciations provided by Chelsea Jocko, the language instructor. Use this resource alongside the curriculum, New York’s Natural Resources 4-H Wild Edibles: A Guide to Tradition, Safety, and Conservation, designed to help you explore the beauty and diversity of plant life through the lens of the Seneca language. Whether you’re a language learner, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious, you’ll find valuable insights and practice opportunities to connect with the language and its cultural significance.
Quick Guides
Quick pronunciation guide for vowel sounds in Oneida
-a- is pronounced like -a- in Father.
-e- is pronounced like -ei- in Vein and Eight.
-i- is pronounced like -i- in Ski or Machine.
-o- is pronounced like -o- in Hope or Low (with the -p- and -w- sound never being pronounced).
-u- is pronounced like -u- in Tune, but is nasalized more than the usual English sounds.
-Ʌ- is pronounced like -un- in Sun, but the -n- is half pronounced and nasalized.
Quick pronunciation guide for consonant sounds in Oneida
-h- is pronounced like -h- in Hat (a -h- is always pronounced).
-k- is pronounced like -g- in Bingo or with an "h" in the sound blend of "kh," making like -k- in Hike.
-n- is pronounced like -n- in No.
-l- is pronounced like -l- in Like, and it can also be pronounced like -l- in Ball.
-s- is pronounced like -z- in Was or with an "h" in the sound blend of "sh," making like -s- in Saw.
-t- is pronounced like -d- in Dog or with an "h" in the sound blend of "th," making like -t- in Tone.
-w- is pronounced like -w- in Way or Water.
-y- is pronounced like -y- in Yes.
Quick guide for diacritical marks in Oneida
Diacritical marks in Oneida signify where the word is stressed.
Up stress – á /é /í /ó /ú /Ʌ́ it signifies that the vowel is stressed quickly; raises the vowel sound).
Colons – a: /e: /i: /o: /u: /Ʌ: (it signifies that the vowel is stressed; it makes a long vowel sound).
Glottal – a’/e’/i’/o’/u’/Ʌ’ is a similar version of the English apostrophe mark, but a glottal makes a voiceless stop - ’ -, which is pronounced like -t- in the word "Gut" and has a similar sound to "uh oh!"
Underlines – a /e /i/o/u/Ʌ (are signified as whispered endings which are breathed out rather than spoken).
Think of how the Spanish and Italians stress their words; it is similar to that.
