lakota
lakota — noun
- lakotasingular
- lakotasplural
1. an Indigenous nation of the northern Great Plains region, with homelands across
an Indigenous nation of the northern Great Plains region, with homelands across what are today the upper-midwest U.S. states and the prairie provinces of Canada; one of the seven main groups making up the Sioux.
The Lakota have lived on the northern Great Plains for many generations.
use with definite article 'the' for the whole nation
Hana wrote her thesis about how the Lakota organize their traditional councils.
collective subject taking plural verb
Treaties between the Lakota and the U.S. government in the 1860s are still debated today.
For the Lakota, the Black Hills of South Dakota are sacred land.
Many Lakota families gather each summer for a community ceremony called the Sun Dance.
- Teton Sioux
older anthropological name for the same nation; less used today
- Sioux
broader label that also includes the Dakota and Nakota divisions
文法句型
the Lakota
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' when referring to the nation as a whole. Distinguish from sense 2 (a single member) and sense 3 (the language).
常見錯誤
2. one person who belongs to the Lakota nation by birth or community ties.
one person who belongs to the Lakota nation by birth or community ties.
Noa met a Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation at the museum opening.
indefinite article 'a Lakota' for a single member
The poet Layli Long Soldier is a Lakota whose work explores treaty history.
predicate noun: 'is a Lakota'
Three Lakotas from South Dakota came to the conference to speak about land rights.
Sirin's coworker, a Lakota raised in Montana, often gives talks at the local school about her culture.
Isabela's grandfather, a Lakota born in Rapid City, taught her several traditional songs.
- Lakota person
more explicit; common in respectful modern usage
- Sioux
broader; refers to anyone from the Sioux confederation, not just the Lakota division
文法句型
a Lakota
Lakotas
用法筆記
Countable: takes 'a / one Lakota' for an individual and 'Lakotas' (or 'Lakota people') in the plural. Distinguish from sense 1, where the bare 'the Lakota' names the whole nation.
常見錯誤
3. the Siouan language spoken by the Lakota nation, today used mainly in parts of N
the Siouan language spoken by the Lakota nation, today used mainly in parts of North and South Dakota.
Élise is learning Lakota through an online course taught by a tribal college.
object of 'learn' — no article with a language name
Christopher and his sister grew up speaking both English and Lakota at home.
object of 'speak'
The children's book was printed in Lakota with an English glossary at the back.
Schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation now offer daily Lakota lessons to younger students.
Linguists describe Lakota as a Siouan language with a rich verb system.
- Lakȟótiyapi
the language's own self-name in its written form
- Teton Sioux (language)
older linguistic label for the same language
文法句型
speak Lakota
in Lakota
用法筆記
Uncountable as a language name — no article ('speak Lakota', not 'speak the Lakota'). 'The Lakota language' is the longer form when extra clarity is needed.