"No Ojibwe owns a skunk"

[stoutfellow]

Courtesy of English, Jack, an amusing anecdote about Edward Sapir. I'm inclined to wonder whether Ojibwe distinguishes alienable from inalienable possession, and if so which of the two Sapir was trying to use?

Comments

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I figured you'd either know or be able to come up with the answer, and provide interesting details as well. ("Never do for yourself what you can get an expert to do for you.")

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

It's a sorry state of affairs when an amateur like me is your "expert"!

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Well, seeing as I haven't seen Marc Okrand in thirty years... ('Sides, he was IIRC more involved with California Indian languages.)

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

That was a singularly stupid comment I just made. What I meant was more along the lines of, "You're at hand, and you're good enough." Sorry.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Aargh. Just ignore me, OK?