How to Say “Stop” in Lakota

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• Because Lakota is polysynthetic, you can embed the reason for stopping directly into the word. Instead of saying 'Stop because it is raining', a speaker can use a single, complex word that incorporates 'rain' and 'stop' together.
• The final ŋ in inážiŋ is a velar nasal sound, which is the same sound found at the end of the English word 'sing'.
• In Lakota, the concept of 'stopping' is often deeply tied to the idea of 'remaining' or 'staying' in a state. A single word for 'stop' can change its meaning entirely based on whether it implies a permanent cessation or a temporary pause in movement.