kamalajo

Wauja

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.maˈla.ʐɨ/

Adjective

kamalajo

1. true, accurate ((in accordance with notions of fact, reality, or what actually happened)

   Kamalajo, nitsupalu. Nunupawi sekunya.

   It's true, my daughter. I witnessed it long ago.

2. right, correct ((in accordance with notions of fact or reality)

   Kamalajo pitsu. Aitsa awojopai kupatotaku ojonain han.

   You're right. The fishing's no good here.

Adverb

kamalajo

1. truly

   Kamalajo ninyanka piyu.

   Truly I speak to you.

Interjection

kamalajo

1. really? is that so? (used to question a remark or ask for more detail about it)

   Kamalajo?

   Really? Is that true?

2. really, certainly, absolutely, that is so. (used to affirm a prior statement)

   Awatukojo oyakaimato ja Yakawiwitsiu.

   Kamalajo?

   Kamalajo!

   [Aruta, Wauja elder:] [They] were contemporaries of our ancestors, those Yakawiwita [people].

   [anthropologist:] Really?

   [Aruta:] Really!

Antonyms

• minyuli (“lie”)

Derived terms

• kamalajoki (“truth”)

References

• "Kamalajo" uttered by Aruta, storyteller and elder, recounting Wauja history in the presence of his son and nephew. Recorded in Piyulaga village by E. Ireland, 4/25/96, transcript page 9.
• Other utterances from E. Ireland field notes. Need to be checked by native speaker.