Anyone speak SIOUX? Why does 'Dances wih Wolves' seem to translate into 'Dances Buffalo Wolves'?

Question

>---->Chumani Ta-tonka Oh-awa-che<----< ???
Do you know what this means? If you can identify the above, maybe you'll take a shot and add your best guess as to help get the phonetic spelling a little better than my feeble try.

Additional Details

2 days ago
Hmmm. Ok it was in a film set in historical America. Does that help?

2 seconds ago
Another Clue? Associated with Wind In His Hair.

Additional Details

2 seconds ago
Very Good. DANCES WITH WOLVES!!
Tatonka does mean buffalo...it was in the film. but Costner's character was called by name Chumani Ta-tonka Owachee, by my best guess. Therein is the core of the question I'd like to resolve.
ANYBODY SPEAK SIOUX?

Anyone know the SIOUX language known as LACOTA?

Answer 1

I know a few words in Lakota, or Sioux, but not enough. Tatanka is buffalo as in Tatanka Iotanka, meaning Sitting Bull.

The word Sioux is derived from a French word but having more letters than I can recall meaning "Cutthroat." The word "Nadenwesensioux" for some reason comes to mind. I could be wrong and perhaps someone fluent in French or Sioux history can correct me.

While there are seven families in the Lakota there are more within the Nakota and in the Dakota; all major families of the Sioux Nation.

The movie, "Dances With Wolves" portray the Sioux in the Dakotas because the film makers needed scenes having bison, or buffalo in it. The book, however, depicts the Comanche of South Texas--hence the scene having the Conquistador's helmet held by Ten Bears. This chief, Ten Bears, was, in fact, a Comanche. When the film was made in the early 1990s I imagine South Texas had few roaming bison to film.

Nevertheless, the movie tops the list of my favorites because of its authenticity.

Answer 2

Tatanka Dances With Wolves

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Anyone speak SIOUX? Why does 'Dances wih Wolves' seem to translate into 'Dances Buffalo Wolves'?
>---->Chumani Ta-tonka Oh-awa-che<----< ???
Do you know what this means? If you can identify the above, maybe you'll take a shot and add your best guess as to help get the phonetic spelling a little better than my feeble try.

Additional Details

2 days ago
Hmmm. Ok it was in...

Answer 4

You are hearing the sounds "ta tonka" and assuming it is the same as the word for buffalo as they say it in the film. However, his name is actually Šung'manitu Tanka O Waci. The sounds are there, but the first syllable is actually the last part of the first word, and not attached to Tanka.

Source: http://1onewolf.com/lakota/language1.htm#dww

The characters' Lakota names are spelled near the bottom of the page.

Answer 5

sumanitu taka means wolf in Lakota. Emaciyapi Kelly Lakota Winkte Thomas ksto. Anpetu waste ksto. East Sussex el wathi.

Answer 6

Shunka, in Lakota, means Dog. Shunka wakan means horse (mysterious dog). Shunkmanitu means coyote and shunkmanitu tanka means wolf. Tatanka means buffalo (bison). Tanka means large or great. Wakan Tanka means God or great mystery.

Answer 7

This might help you. I wondered the same thing. It's just the way it is pronounced it makes it sound similar. Here is what the name looks like. Šuŋgmánit Tȟáŋka Ób Wačhí

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dances_with_Wolves

Answer 8

is watching the film with subtitles and it showed up as "sugmanitutanka ob washte" . As we found out earlier in the film, Kicking Bird informed Lt. John Dunbar that "tatanka" was buffalo

Answer 9

my girlfrien is half and she said its not call sioux... its called lakota. sioux is the people lakota the language.

Answer 10

my friends, there is no such thing as "wolves" in the Lakota language,there is a "wolf" there is the problem