---
title: potlatch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «potlatch» in the school dictionary: A potlatch is a big traditional ceremony and feast of First Nations and Native American peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America, such as the Kwakwaka'wakw and the Haida, where the host gives gifts to guests to mark important events like births, ma
---

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# potlatch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** potlatch, host, family, Dancers, Today potlatches, We · **What happens:** be, give, mark, hold, celebrate, wear · **To what, where:** big traditional ceremony, gifts, guests, important events, potlatch, new chief

<!-- .vabout -->
«potlatch» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [potlatch in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/potlatch.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A potlatch is a big traditional ceremony and feast of First Nations and Native American peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America, such as the Kwakwaka'wakw and the Haida, where the host gives gifts to guests to mark important events like births, marriages, names and deaths.

<!-- fold The tree, 48 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:m1:1
# text = A potlatch is a big traditional ceremony and feast of First Nations and Native American peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America, such as the Kwakwaka'wakw and the Haida, where the host gives gifts to guests to mark important events like births, marriages, names and deaths.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	potlatch	potlatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	traditional	traditional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	ceremony	ceremony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	feast	feast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	First	First	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	Nations	Nation	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	Native	native	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	peoples	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	Pacific	Pacific	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	Northwest	Northwest	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
26	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	29	case	_	_
27	as	as	ADP	IN	_	26	fixed	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	Kwakwaka'wakw	Kwakwaka'wakw	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	Haida	Haida	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	37	punct	_	_
34	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	37	advmod	_	_
35	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	36	det	_	_
36	host	host	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	nsubj	_	_
37	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	29	acl:relcl	_	_
38	gifts	gift	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	obj	_	_
39	to	to	ADP	IN	_	40	case	_	_
40	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	obl	_	_
41	to	to	PART	TO	_	42	mark	_	_
42	mark	mark	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	37	advcl	_	_
43	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	44	amod	_	_
44	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	42	obj	_	_
45	like	like	ADP	IN	_	46	case	_	_
46	births	birth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	44	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
47	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	48	punct	_	_
48	marriages	marriage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	44	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
49	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	50	punct	_	_
50	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	44	conj	_	_
51	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	52	cc	_	_
52	deaths	death	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	50	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
53	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a potlatch | a big traditional ceremony and feast of First Nations and Native American peoples of the Northwest coast of North America and the Kwakwaka'wakw and the Haida |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | the host | gifts | guests |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent gift=Theme to guest=Recipient |
| 3 | **mark** | to-infinitive | the host *not said here* | important events and marriages and names and deaths |  |  |  | like births | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent event=Destination |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family held a potlatch to celebrate a new chief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:x1:1
# text = The family held a potlatch to celebrate a new chief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	potlatch	potlatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	celebrate	celebrate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the family | a potlatch |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent potlatch=Theme |
| 2 | **celebrate** | to-infinitive | the family *not said here* | a new chief |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chief=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At a potlatch, the host gives gifts to the guests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:x2:1
# text = At a potlatch, the host gives gifts to the guests.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	potlatch	potlatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	host	host	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	gifts	gift	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | the host | gifts | the guests | a potlatch |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.asset»: agent=Agent gift=Theme at potlatch=Asset to guest=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dancers wore carved masks at the potlatch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:x3:1
# text = Dancers wore carved masks at the potlatch.
1	Dancers	dancer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	carved	carve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	masks	mask	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	potlatch	potlatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | Dancers | carved masks |  | the potlatch |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent mask=Theme |
| 2 | **carve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The potlatch was banned in Canada for many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:x4:1
# text = The potlatch was banned in Canada for many years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	potlatch	potlatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	banned	ban	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** | past · passive |  | the potlatch |  | Canada | year |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today, potlatches are an important part of Northwest Coast culture again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:x5:1
# text = Today, potlatches are an important part of Northwest Coast culture again.
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	potlatches	potlatch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	Northwest	Northwest	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Coast	Coast	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	culture	culture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Today potlatches | a important part |  |  | again | of Coast culture | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned about the potlatch in our First Nations unit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potlatch:x6:1
# text = We learned about the potlatch in our First Nations unit.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	potlatch	potlatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
8	First	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	Nations	Nation	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	10	compound	_	_
10	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  | our Nations unit |  | about the potlatch | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about potlatch=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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