s between vowels is frequently pronounced z and written thus.
w after k (= kw) represents the final Algonquin "whistle," as ke‛kw = keḥkwu; w in general is a weak consonant; sometimes initial w almost = u, as w'liko = uliko.
The intonation of Passamaquoddy is highly tonic, showing a voice-raise which often varies, apparently arbitrarily, with various speakers. Thus, such a word as lakutwâk'n has the voice-lift on the first syllable, a drop on the second, lift on the third, and drop on the fourth. As I have noticed so many stress-variations often of the same vocable by different Passamaquoddy speakers, the accent has been rarely indicated in the following texts. The peculiarity of the voice-lift seems to be distinctively Passamaquoddy, as the kindred Maliseets usually speak monotonously, with no especially noticeable voice-lift. The Abenakis also have frequently a monotonous tone, amounting practically to a drawl. All these idioms of the Wabanaki are spoken in a low pitch and almost never with the strong emphasis and often loud voice of western Indian languages such as the Dakota.
J. Dyneley Prince.
New York, Columbia University, 1920.
SERIES 1.
I. Wapapi Ak'not'mâk'n'l.
Medcimiu p'kokni tohokyoltowuk; k'tciyawiu w'ski‛tap epidcik wasis'k nespiw'sikyojik yut metci-mipniltimkil; nit etutc-al-ithuswin'k nek'meyu tepithotmo‛tit tcewi ke‛kw εleyu; eliyowuk tcewi εleyutetc na neksēyu. Nit etutci m'sīu sise-p'tcitaketil kinwetwaswinti m'sī-te elipit w'skitcin; ankwotc elk'wiyik saunisnuk; ankwotc w'tcip'nuk; k't'kik snutsekt'nuk; k't'kik k'skiyasnuk. P'tcio-te petciyik Wapna‛kik. K'matc w'sipkikm'n yaka kes'wuk naka wew'tciyanya. Nit-te tama wejiwe‛tit w't-iyawa w'skitc'no: "k'p'tciptoln'n w'li-ak'not'mâk'n." Nit etlausitkw'ton kisi-putwuso li-kislut'muk. M'sī-te tekepit w'skitcin kinwe‛to nit k'tci lakutwâk'n kitwitaso. M'sīu w'skitcin nut'k ak'notmâk'n; m'sīu w'lit'hasu. M'sīu w'siwatcyokony'l kat-kisilet-te kaum'k mat'nitin. Nit m'sīu kesukmiksit op'dcitakan oputwuswin'm. Nit m'sīu kesukmiksit op'tcitakan nisu kesena akwam'k oputwuswin'm natciwitcitak'wik k'tci lakutwâk'n kesena k'tci maweputwuswâk'n.
Nit m'sīu kis-maweusetil; nit o-matce-tepithotm'nya ta nite w't-elokh'tinya. Ste‛pal m'sīu siwatcyoko‛tit eli-wap'li-p'mau‛sit. Yok't k'tci sak'mak w't-iyana k't'kihi: "yut elapim'k asit-wetcosyo‛kw k'n'mi‛tunen eli-p'kaknapt'wuk; k'n'mi‛tonenw'l kesek ewaplikil; yut'l p'kaknikil t'm'hîk'nsis'l-lo naka tapyik t'pa‛kwyil tcewi-puskenosw'l oskeniu." Nit-te m'sīu w't'li-kislutm'nya w't'lakutinya. Nit w't-akinwi-ponm'nya kis'k etutci-putwusi‛tit. Nit liwetasu tcikte wikwam. Yot w'kesekm'nya etasi-kiskakil katama-lo wen k'losiu. M'sī-te putwuswin tcewit-lithasu tanetc w't-itm'n; tan etutci litutit t'pask'swâk'n'l; m'sī-te w'tepithotm'nya tanetc-li kisi-tcenetaso man'tim'k; kwuni tcikpultowuk lo; pem-lokemkil.