n. large cat species
Var.: (’alap̓ałpay)
1. tšaqułtšeq̓ètš kišmiš kinupan tšušpete lo’ištǝnǝ̀kʰ tsʰunuwus lo’išpù, '[the wild cat] separates the good from the bad and cries and then wipes its tears using its paws.'
2. ’iškom̓la’a ’an ’iš ’an wonwonoqʰš k̓uwe lo’ka’alap̓ałpay ’an tšuwa’uškum ’ištǝqʰša’àš, 'both are reddish-gray but the smallish mountain cat is more fog colored.'
Morph.: [<’al- (nz) + ’ap (living place; house) + ’al- (nz) + pay (related to verticality)>]
Cross References: Notes: The literal translation of this word would seem to be 'one who makes his home up high.' There are, perhaps, several possible not necessarily mutually exclusive practical referents for this word. 1. Since it is said to be the larger of two varieties of mountain lion, it may refer to the male mountain lion. 2. It is possible this word (or one of the words for large cat species) refers to the jaguar (Panthera onca), which sometimes roamed north out of Central America. Since, as we see in 3., it refers to a darker colored animal, it may have refered to the melanistic variant of the jaguar. 3. It is also said that this cat is smaller than the ’ałxay̓ ‘bobcat.’ When said to be a type of smaller bobcat, it is said to be more gray in color. Perhaps it indicates a subspecies of bobcat. 4. A final possible translation is that this word is used simply for an unspecified large cat.
IPA: ˀɑɬˀɑˈp̕ɑɬˌpɑj
Ref: Harrington 1986: 3.69.403.2; 71.945.1; 91.431.1-946.1
Var.: (’alap̓ałpay)
1. tšaqułtšeq̓ètš kišmiš kinupan tšušpete lo’ištǝnǝ̀kʰ tsʰunuwus lo’išpù, '[the wild cat] separates the good from the bad and cries and then wipes its tears using its paws.'
2. ’iškom̓la’a ’an ’iš ’an wonwonoqʰš k̓uwe lo’ka’alap̓ałpay ’an tšuwa’uškum ’ištǝqʰša’àš, 'both are reddish-gray but the smallish mountain cat is more fog colored.'
Morph.: [<’al- (nz) + ’ap (living place; house) + ’al- (nz) + pay (related to verticality)>]
Cross References: Notes: The literal translation of this word would seem to be 'one who makes his home up high.' There are, perhaps, several possible not necessarily mutually exclusive practical referents for this word. 1. Since it is said to be the larger of two varieties of mountain lion, it may refer to the male mountain lion. 2. It is possible this word (or one of the words for large cat species) refers to the jaguar (Panthera onca), which sometimes roamed north out of Central America. Since, as we see in 3., it refers to a darker colored animal, it may have refered to the melanistic variant of the jaguar. 3. It is also said that this cat is smaller than the ’ałxay̓ ‘bobcat.’ When said to be a type of smaller bobcat, it is said to be more gray in color. Perhaps it indicates a subspecies of bobcat. 4. A final possible translation is that this word is used simply for an unspecified large cat.
IPA: ˀɑɬˀɑˈp̕ɑɬˌpɑj
Ref: Harrington 1986: 3.69.403.2; 71.945.1; 91.431.1-946.1