Hókwex means ‘to use’‘. Elders use the same word for ‘to wear’.
Note: to talk about speaking a language, you would also use hókwex, e.g. Hókwex chexw te Hálq’eméylemqel – ‘You speak Halq’eméylem’.
Pronunciation
- Hókwex sounds like HAWK-wish, except that instead of a sh at the end you say the Halq’emeylem soft-x (x).
- To make the soft-x, you touch your tongue gently to the roof of your mouth (more info here).
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
-ing form
Hókwex has a special ‘-ing‘ form, to describe an ongoing action, like this: hó:kwex – ‘using‘ (audio here).
Hó:kwex (the –ing form) has a slightly longer vowel, with a sharply falling pitch.
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