09/21/2025
Káŋ means anything that is old or that has existed for a long time or that should be accepted because it has been so in former times, or it may mean a strange or wonderful thing or that which can not be comprehended, or that which should not be questioned or it may mean a sacred or supernatural thing. Other words are used before or after the word káŋ to give it a particular meaning. The words that may be used before it are a-, wa-, wo-, ya-, and yu-. The words that may be used after it are -la and -pi. When the word a- is used before káŋ, it makes the word akáŋ. This means that the thing spoken of is káŋ. The word wa- means that something or someone is something or does something. When it is used before káŋ, it makes the word wakȟáŋ. This means that which is káŋ, or does káŋ; or one who is or does káŋ. If one says wa-ma-káŋ, this means what I do is káŋ. The younger Oglála do not understand this for they speak Lakȟóta iyápi in a new way. The word wo- is made of two words which are ma- and on-. On- means relative to or of that kind. If one should say on-káŋ or onkáŋ, this word means that the thing spoken of related to something káŋ. Onkáŋ is a good Lakȟóta word but the young people would not understand it. The old people would say wa-on-káŋ if they used all the words. But instead of saying wa-on-, they say wo- and when using this before káŋ they say wo-káŋ or wokáŋ. If an old Oglála were speaking of himself, he would say wo-ma-káŋ. This would mean that what I do is relative to káŋ. The word ya- means to change a thing or person and make it different from what it was before the change or a thing that has been made thus different. When one says ya-káŋ, it means that the thing spoken of has been made káŋ by changing it, or if one says ya-ma-káŋ, he means that he is changed so that he is now káŋ. If I now say ya-ma-káŋ, the young people laugh at me a say I talk foolish. They say ma-wakȟáŋ. When an old Oglála would say ya-wa-wičha-káŋ, the young people would say wičháša yawákȟaŋ. When one speaks Lakȟóta iyápi as it was spoken if former times, the young Lakȟóta do no understand it. The word yu- means nearly the same as ya-. Ya- means that a thing is caused by action done for the purpose of causing it, while yu- means that a thing is caused indirectly. If it is said that a thing is ya-káŋ, it is understood that action was done for the purpose of making it káŋ, but if it is said that it is yu-káŋ, it is understood that it became káŋ because of action for some other purpose. The word -la means a little like, but not exactly like. To say káŋ-la means that the thing spoken of is almost káŋ, or that it is a little like káŋ. Or it may mean that it is a little but not entirely káŋ. The word -pi means more than one or it may mean that which is done in a particular manner by many persons. Káŋ-pi means the things that are káŋ. Wačhí means a dance and wačhí-pi means dancing by a number of persons while wačhí-káŋ-pi means a dance that must be done by a number of persons and is káŋ. The young people say wačhípi wakȟáŋ, meaning a wačhí that is káŋ. In the ceremonies of the Oglála, the wa-wačhí-káŋ, or as the young people would say, the wičháša wakȟáŋ, which means a holy man, use these words a great deal and this is what they mean when the speak them. Káŋ is that which is established by custom and should not be changed, or it is something sacred that can not be comprehended. A-káŋ is that which is mysterious or supernatural. Wa-káŋ when relative to the a-káŋ is a God; when relative to mankind is a holy man or shaman; when relative to other things is sacred. Wo-káŋ is consecrated to the wa-káŋ or for ceremonial purposes. Ya-káŋ means to have supernatural potency. Yu-káŋ means that a thing or person is sacred while being or doing something.
-- George Sword.
