Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon, or, Trade Language of Oregon by George Gibbs
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George Gibbs >> Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon, or, Trade Language of Oregon
SHEA'S
LIBRARY OF AMERICAN LINGUISTICS.
XII.
DICTIONARY
OF THE
CHINOOK JARGON,
OR,
TRADE LANGUAGE OF OREGON.
BY GEORGE GIBBS.
NEW YORK:
CRAMOISY PRESS.
1863.
PREFACE.
Some years ago the Smithsonian Institution printed a small vocabulary of
the Chinook Jargon, furnished by Dr. B.R. Mitchell, of the U.S. Navy, and
prepared, as we afterwards learned, by Mr. Lionnet, a Catholic priest, for
his own use while studying the language at Chinook Point. It was submitted
by the Institution, for revision and preparation for the press, to the
late Professor W.W. Turner. Although it received the critical examination
of that distinguished philologist, and was of use in directing attention
to the language, it was deficient in the number of words in use, contained
many which did not properly belong to the Jargon, and did not give the
sources from which the words were derived.
Mr. Hale had previously given a vocabulary and account of this Jargon in
his "Ethnography of the United States Exploring Expedition," which was
noticed by Mr. Gallatin in the Transactions of the American Ethnological
Society, vol. ii. He, however, fell into some errors in his derivation of
the words, chiefly from ignoring the Chihalis element of the Jargon, and
the number of words given by him amounted only to about two hundred and
fifty.
A copy of Mr. Lionnet's vocabulary having been sent to me, with a request
to make such corrections as it might require, I concluded not merely to
collate the words contained in this and other printed and manuscript
vocabularies, but to ascertain, so far as possible, the languages which
had contributed to it, with the original Indian words. This had become the
more important, as its extended use by different tribes had led to
ethnological errors in the classing together of essentially distinct
families. Dr. Scouler, whose vocabularies were among the earliest bases of
comparison of the languages of the northwest coast, assumed a number of
words, which he found indiscriminately employed by the Nootkans of
Vancouver Island, the Chinooks of the Columbia, and the intermediate
tribes, to belong alike to their several languages, and exhibit analogies
between them accordingly.[A] On this idea, among other points of fancied
resemblance, he founded his family of Nootka-Columbians,--one which has
been adopted by Drs. Pritchard and Latham, and has caused very great
misconception. Not only are those languages entirely distinct, but the
Nootkans differ greatly in physical and mental characteristics from the
latter. The analogies between the Chinook and the other native
contributors to the Jargon are given hereafter.
[Footnote A: Journal Royal Geographical Society of London, vol. xi.,
1841.]
The origin of this Jargon, a conventional language similar to the Lingua
Franca of the Mediterranean, the Negro-English-Dutch of Surinam, the
Pigeon English of China, and several other mixed tongues, dates back to
the fur droguers of the last century. Those mariners whose enterprise in
the fifteen years preceding 1800, explored the intricacies of the
northwest coast of America, picked up at their general rendezvous, Nootka
Sound, various native words useful in barter, and thence transplanted
them, with additions from the English, to the shores of Oregon. Even
before their day, the coasting trade and warlike expeditions of the
northern tribes, themselves a sea-faring race, had opened up a partial
understanding of each other's speech; for when, in 1792, Vancouver's
officers visited Gray's Harbor, they found that the natives, though
speaking a different language, understood many words of the Nootka.
On the arrival of Lewis and Clarke at the mouth of the Columbia, in 1806,
the new language, from the sentences given by them, had evidently attained
some form. It was with the arrival of Astor's party, however, that the
Jargon received its principal impulse. Many more words of English were
then brought in, and for the first time the French, or rather the Canadian
and Missouri patois of the French, was introduced. The principal seat of
the company being at Astoria, not only a large addition of Chinook words
was made, but a considerable number was taken from the Chihalis, who
immediately bordered that tribe on the north,--each owning a portion of
Shoalwater Bay. The words adopted from the several languages were,
naturally enough, those most easily uttered by all, except, of course,
that objects new to the natives found their names in French or English,
and such modifications were made in pronunciation as suited tongues
accustomed to different sounds. Thus the gutturals of the Indians were
softened or dropped; and the _f_ and _r_ of the English and French, to
them unpronounceable, were modified into _p_ and _l_. Grammatical forms
were reduced to their simplest expression, and variations in mood and
tense conveyed only by adverbs or by the context. The language continued
to receive additions, and assumed a more distinct and settled meaning,
under the Northwest and Hudson's Bay companies, who succeeded Astor's
party, as well as through the American settlers in Oregon. Its advantage
was soon perceived by the Indians, and the Jargon became to some extent a
means of communication between natives of different speech, as well as
between them and the whites. It was even used as such between Americans
and Canadians. It was at first most in vogue upon the lower Columbia and
the Willamette, whence it spread to Puget Sound, and with the extension of
trade, found its way far up the coast, as well as the Columbia and Fraser
rivers; and there are now few tribes between the 42d and 57th parallels of
latitude in which there are not to be found interpreters through its
medium. Its prevalence and easy acquisition, while of vast convenience to
traders and settlers, has tended greatly to hinder the acquirement of the
original Indian languages; so much so, that except by a few missionaries
and pioneers, hardly one of them is spoken or understood by white men in
all Oregon and Washington Territory. Notwithstanding its apparent poverty
in number of words, and the absence of grammatical forms, it possesses
much more flexibility and power of expression than might be imagined, and
really serves almost every purpose of ordinary intercourse.
The number of words constituting the Jargon proper has been variously
stated. Many formerly employed have become in great measure obsolete,
while others have been locally introduced. Thus, at the Dalles of the
Columbia, various terms are common which would not be intelligible at
Astoria or on Puget Sound. In making the following selection, I have
included all those which, on reference to a number of vocabularies, I have
found current at any of these places, rejecting, on the other hand, such
as individuals, partially acquainted with the native languages, have
employed for their own convenience. The total number falls a little short
of five hundred words.
An analysis of their derivations gives the following result:
Chinook, including Clatsop 200
Chinook, having analogies with other languages 21
Interjections common to several 8
Nootka, including dialects 24
Chihalis, 32; Nisqually, 7 39
Klikatat and Yakama 2
Cree 2
Chippeway (Ojibwa) 1
Wasco (probably) 4
Kalapuya (probably) 4
By direct onomatopoeia 6
Derivation unknown, or undetermined 18
French, 90; Canadian, 4 94
English 67
I had no opportunity of original investigation into the Nootka proper, but
from the few words in different published vocabularies, and from some
imperfect manuscript ones in my possession of the Tokwaht, Nittinat, and
Makah dialects, have ascertained the number above given. Some of the
unascertained words probably also belong to that language. Neither was I
able to collate the Wasco or Kalapuya, but have assigned them on the
opinion of others. The former, also called Cathlasco, the dialect of the
Dalles Indians, is a corrupted form of the Watlala or Upper Chinook. With
the Chihalis, Yakama, and Klikatat, and the Nisqually, I had abundant
means of comparison.
The introduction of the Cree and Chippeway words is of course due to the
Canadians. None have been derived from the Spanish, as their intercourse
with the Nootka and Makah Indians was too short to leave an impression.
Spanish words, especially those relating to horses or mules and their
equipments, have of late come into general use in Oregon, owing to
intercourse with California, but they form no part of the Jargon. It might
have been expected from the number of Sandwich Islanders introduced by the
Hudson's Bay company, and long resident in the country, that the Kanaka
element would have found its way into the language, but their utterance is
so foreign to the Indian ear, that not a word has been adopted.
In the nouns derived from the French, the definite article _le_, _la_, has
almost in every instance been incorporated into the word, and the same has
in one or two instances been prefixed to nouns not of French origin.
Besides the words created by direct onomatopoeia, there are quite a number
which are really Indian, but have their origin in the similarity of sound
to sense.
Dr. Scouler's analogy between the Nootkan and "Columbian," or Chinook, was
founded on the following words:
_English._ _Tlaoquatch and Nutka._ _Columbian._
plenty, *aya, *haya.
no, *wik, *wake.
water, tchaak, chuck.
good, *hooleish, *closh.
bad, *peishakeis, *peshak.
man, *tchuckoop, tillicham.
woman, *tlootsemin, *clootchamen.
child, *tanassis, *tanass.
now, tlahowieh, clahowiah.
come, *tchooqua, *sacko.
slave, mischemas, *mischemas.
what are you doing *akoots-ka-*mamook, ekta-*mammok.
what are you saying *au-kaak-*wawa, ekta-*wawa.
let me see, *nannanitch, *nannanitch.
sun, *opeth, ootlach.
sky, *sieya, *saya.
fruit, *chamas, *camas.
to sell, *makok, *makok.
understand, *commatax, *commatax.
But of these, none marked with an asterisk belong to the Chinook or any of
its dialects. The greater part of them are undoubtedly Nootkan, though
there are errors in the spelling and, in some instances, in the meaning.
Of the rest, the Nootkan _tchaak_ and the Chinook _tl'tsuk_ alone presents
an analogy. _Klahowiah_ does not mean "now," nor do I believe it is
Nootkan, in any sense. It is, as explained in the dictionary, the Chinook
salutation, "How do you," "Good-bye," and is supposed to be derived from
the word for _poor_, _miserable_. _Mischemas_ is not Chinook, and is
probably not Nootkan. With the exception of Franchere, whose short
vocabulary was published by Mr. Gallatin, and Mr. Hale, all the writers
mentioned by Ludwig who have given specimens of the Chinook language, have
presented it in its Jargon form, more or less mixed with the neighboring
ones, and with corruptions of French and English words. Mr. Swan, among
others, has been led into this error. The place of his residence,
Shoalwater Bay, is common ground of the Chinook and Chihalis Indians, and
the degraded remnants of the two tribes are closely intermarried, and use
both languages almost indifferently.
Setting aside interjections, common in a more or less modified form to
several adjoining tribes, twenty-one words of those given in this
vocabulary present noticeable analogies between the Chinook and other
native languages. They are as follows:
_English._ _Chinook._ _Hailtzuk and Belbella._
salmon berries, klalilli, olalli.
_English._ _Chinook and Clatsop._ _Nootka._
Jewitt and Cook.
water, tl'tsuk : tl'chukw, chauk : chahak.
_English._ _Chinook._ _Cowlitz._ _Kwantlen._ _Selish._
six, takhum, tukh'um, tuckhum', tackan.
_English._ _Chinook._ _Chihalis._ _Nisqually._
deep, kellippe, kluputl, klep
glad, kwan, kwal (_tame_)
proud, eyutl, juil.
demon, ichiatku, tsiatko, tsiatko.
black bear, eitchhut, chetwut.
crow, skaka, skaka.
oyster, klokhklokh, chetlokh, klokhklokh.
game of "hands," itlokum, setlokum.
_English._ _Chinook._ _Yakama and Klikatat._
certainly, nawitka, n'witka.
always, kwanisum, kwalisim.
younger sister, ats, atse.
road, wehut, wiet (_far_).
barrel, tamtulitsh, tamolitsh.
buffalo, emusmus, musmus.
coyote, italipus, talipa (_gray fox_).
mouse, kholkhol, khoilkhoil.
bread, tsapelil, saplil.
needle, okwepowa, kapus (_a pin_).
The Clatsop (Klatsop) is merely a dialect of the Chinook (Tchinuk); the
Cowlitz (Kaualitsk), Kwantlen, Chihalis (Tsihelis), and Nisqually
(N'skwali), are severally languages belonging to the Selish family. The
Yakama and Klikatat are dialects of one of the Sahaptin languages; and the
Tokwaht (Tokwat), Nittinat, and Makah (Maka), quoted in the dictionary,
are dialects of the Nootka (Nutka), of which the Hailtzuk or Belbella
(variously spelled Haeeltzuk and Hailtsa) is probably the northern type.
It thus appears that, with two or three exceptions, the analogies of the
Chinook, as contained in this vocabulary, are to be sought in the
immediately adjoining tongues, or those of languages belonging to the same
families with them; that these analogies, with perhaps one or two
exceptions, can by no means be considered radical, and that their
correspondence, or rather adoption, is easily accounted for by
neighborhood and habits of intermarriage. A much more remarkable
coincidence is the fact that two words included in this Jargon,--one from
the Nootkan, viz., _Mawitch_, a deer, venison; and the other Chinook,
_Mooluk_, an elk,--are also to be found in the Kowilth, the language of
Humboldt Bay, in California. As this bay was first discovered in the
winter of 1849-50, the words could not have been introduced by the fur
trappers.
With regard to the form into which this dictionary has been thrown, an
explanation is necessary. The Jargon must in some degree be regarded as a
written language, the orthography of which is English. In Mr. Hale's
vocabulary alone has one more scientific been attempted, and of several
other printed, and numerous manuscript dictionaries in circulation, M.
Lionnet's alone, that I have met with, is according to the French.
Although no fixed system of spelling exists among them, I have therefore
deemed it best to preserve for the Jargon words that which most distinctly
represents the common English pronunciation; while for the Indian
derivations, I have adopted that recommended by the Smithsonian
Institution in collecting Indian vocabularies, using the Italian sounds of
the vowels, and representing the guttural of the German _ich_ by _kh_.
This seemed the more proper, as the work would thereby be rendered of
practical use, independent of what philological value it may possess.
In collating the words of the present work and obtaining their
derivations, I have been assisted by a number of friends; among whom I
should specially mention Mr. Alexander C. Anderson, of Victoria, V.I., and
Mr. Solomon H. Smith, of Clatsop, Oregon.
~Bibliography of the Chinook Jargon.~
_Journal of Travels over the Rocky Mountains._ By Rev. Samuel Parker.
12mo. Ithaca, N.Y., 1838.
"Vocabulary of the Chenook language, as spoken about Fort Vancouver," pp.
336-338.
_Ethnography and Philology of the United States Exploring Expedition._ By
Horatio Hale. 4to. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1846.
A vocabulary of the "Jargon or Trade Language of Oregon," with an essay
thereon, and phrases, is given in this work, pp. 636-650.
_Transactions of the American Ethnological Society._ 2 vols., 8vo. New
York: Bartlett & Welford, 1845, 1848.
In vol. ii., pp. 62-70, under title of "Hale's Indians of Northwest
America," is a partial reprint of the above.
Rev. Z.B.Z. Bolduc, "_Mission de la Colombie._" 8vo. Quebec, 1843.
The Lord's Prayer in Jargon, "et quelques mots Tchinoucs et Sneomus." The
Snohomish is a tribe of Puget Sound. The Chinook words are merely Jargon.
_Journal of Travels over the Rocky Mountains, &c._ By Joel Palmer. 12mo.
Cincinnati, 1847, 1852.
"Words used in the Chinook Jargon," pp. 147-152.
_Adventures of the First Settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River, &c._ By
Alexander Ross. 12mo. London, 1849.
Ross gives a "Chinook Vocabulary," pp. 342-348, and words of the "mixed
dialect," p. 349. His Chinook is, however, also impure.
_Ten Years in Oregon._ By D. Lee and F.H. Frost. 12mo. New York, 1844.
"A short vocabulary of the Clatsop dialect." This is likewise Jargon.
_History, &c., of the Indian Tribes of the United States._ Collected by
Henry R. Schoolcraft. 4to. Parts 1-5. Philadelphia, 1851, 1855.
Lieut. G.F. Emmons gives a brief "Klatsop Vocabulary" in Part III., pp.
223, 224, which is of the same character.
Note 1 to article, "Philosophy of Utterance," Part V., pp. 548-551, a
"Vocabulary of the Chinook Jargon."
_Vocabulary of the Jargon or Trade Language of Oregon._ English, French,
and Jargon. 8vo. Washington, 1853. pp. 22.
Printed by the Smithsonian Institution, for private distribution. Without
title-page. This is the one by M. Lionnet, before referred to.
_The Northwest Coast; or, Three Years' Residence in Washington Territory._
By James G. Swan. 12mo. New York: Harpers, 1857.
"A vocabulary of the Chehalis and Chenook or Jargon Languages, with the
derivation of the words used in the latter," pp. 412-422.
_A Complete Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon._ English-Chinook, and
Chinook-English. To which is added numerous conversations, &c. 3d edition.
24mo, pp. 24. Portland, Oregon: published by S.J. McCormick.
Several editions of this work have been published; the last which I have
seen, in 1862.
_Guide-Book to the Gold Regions of Frazer River._ With a map of the
different routes, &c. 24mo, pp. 55. New York, 1858.
A vocabulary of the Jargon, pp. 45-55.
_The Chinook Jargon and English and French Equivalent Forms._ In "Steamer
Bulletin," San Francisco, June 21, 1858.
Contains an unarranged vocabulary of 354 words and phrases.
_The Canoe and the Saddle._ By Theodore Winthrop. 12mo. Boston: Ticknor &
Fields. 1863.
"A partial vocabulary of the Chinook Jargon," pp. 299-302.
_History of the Oregon Territory, &c._ By John Dunn. 2d edition. London,
1846.
"A few specimens of the language of the Millbank and Chinook tribes."
_Chinook tribe:_ 50 words and phrases, including digits. These words, as
usual, are in great part "Jargon," and belong to the Nootkan, _not_ to the
Chinook.
Besides the above, one, of which I have not the title before me, has been
published by Mr. A.C. Anderson, and several in the newspapers of Oregon
and Washington Territory.
~PART I.~
CHINOOK-ENGLISH.
NOTE.--The references, "Hale," "Cook," "Jewitt," are respectively to
Hale's "Ethnology of the United States Exploring Expedition," "Cook's
Voyages," and "Jewitt's Narrative." The others, as "Anderson," "Pandosy,"
"Shaw," "Tolmie," are from manuscript notes of those gentlemen in
possession of the writer.
A DICTIONARY OF THE CHINOOK JARGON.
PART I. CHINOOK-ENGLISH.
~A.~
~Ah-ha~, _adv._ Common to various tribes. _Yes._ Expression of simple
assent. On Puget Sound, E-EH.
~Ah'n-kut-te~, or ~Ahn-kot-tie~, _adv._ Chinook, ANKUTTI. _Formerly;
before now._ With the accent prolonged on the first syllable, _a long time
ago._ Ex. Ahnkutte lakit sun, _four days ago;_ Tenas ahnkutte, _a little
while since._
~Al-ah~, _interj._ Expression of surprise. Ex. Alah mika chahko! _ah,
you've come!_
~Al-kie~, _adv._ Chinook, ALKEKH. _Presently; in a little while; hold on;
not so fast._
~Al'-ta~, _adv._ Chinook, ALTAKH. _Now; at the present time._
~A-mo'-te~, _n._ Chinook, AMUTE; Clatsop, KLABOTE. _The strawberry._
~An-ah~, _interj._ An exclamation denoting pain, displeasure, or
depreciation. Ex. Anah nawitka mika halo shem, _ah, indeed you are without
shame._ On Puget Sound, Ad-de-dah.
~Ats~, _n._ Chinook, idem; Yakama, ATSE (Pandosy). _A sister younger than
the speaker._ In the original, only when used by her brother.
~A-yah-whul~, _v._ Chihalis, ATAHWUL. _To lend; borrow._
~Ay-keh-nam.~See EH-KAH-NAM.
~B.~
~Be-be~, _n., v._ French. A word used towards children; probably a
repetition of the first syllable of BAISER. _A kiss; to kiss._
~Bed~, _n._ English, idem. _A bed._
~Bit~, or ~Mit~, _n._ English, BIT. _A dime or shilling._
~Bloom~, _n._ English, BROOM. _A broom._ Mamook bloom, _to sweep._
~Boat~, _n._ English, idem. _A boat,_ as distinguished from a canoe.
~Bos'-ton~, _n., adj._ _An American; American._ A name derived from the
hailing-place of the first trading-ships to the Pacific. Boston illahie,
_the United States._
~Bur-dash~, _n._ Can. French, BERDACHE (Anderson). _An hermaphrodite._ The
reputation of hermaphroditism is not uncommon with Indians, and seems to
attach to every malformation of the organs of generation. The word is of
very limited use.
~C.~
~Cal'-li-peen~, _n._ French, CARABINE. _A rifle._
~Ca-nim~, _n._ Chinook, EKANIM. _A canoe._ Canim stick, _the cedar, or
wood from which canoes are usually made._
~Ca-po'~, _n._ French, CAPOT. _A coat._
~Chah'-ko~, _v._ Nootka, Clayoquot, CHAKO; Tokwaht, TCHOKWA. _To come; to
become._ Ex. Kansik mika chahko? _when did you come?_ Chahko kloshe, _to
get well._
~Chak chak~, _n._ Chinook, idem. _The bald eagle_ (by onoma.), from its
scream. Of only local use on the lower Columbia.
~Chee~, _adv., adj._ Chinook, T'SHI. _Lately; just now; new._ Chee nika
ko, _I have just arrived._ Hyas chee, _entirely new._
~Chet'-lo~, or ~Jet'-lo~, _n._ Chihalia, CHETLOKH. _An oyster._ Used on
the lower Columbia.
~Chet-woot~, _n._ Nisqually, idem. _A black bear._ Used only on Puget
Sound.
~Chik'-a-min~, _n., adj._ Tokwaht, TSIKAMEN; Nootka, SICKAMINNY (Jewitt);
SEEKEMAILE (Cook). _Iron; metal; metallic._ T'kope chikamin, _silver;_ pil
chikamin, _gold_ or _copper._ Chikamin lope, _wire; a chain._
~Chik-chik~. See TSIK-TSIK.
~Chil-chil~. See TSIL-TSIL.
~Chitsh~, _n._ Chihalis, TSHITSH. _A grandmother._
~Chope~, _n._ Chihalis, TSHUP. _A grandfather._
~Cho'-tub~, _n._ Nisqually, idem. _A flea._ Used on Puget Sound.
~Chuck~, _n._ Nootka, CHAUK (Cook); CHAHAK, _fresh water_ (Jewitt);
Chinook, TLTSUK (Shortess); Clatsop, TL'CHUKW. _Water; a river or stream._
Salt chuck, _the sea;_ skookum chuck, _a rapid;_ solleks chuck, _a rough
sea;_ chuck chahko _or_ kalipi, _the tide rises or falls;_ saghilli _and_
keekwillie chuck, _high_ and _low tide._
~Chuk-kin~, _n., v._ Chihalis, TSUKAEN. _To kick._ Of local use only.
~Close.~ See KLOSE.
~Cly~, _v._ English. _To cry._
~Cole~, _adj._ English, COLD. Cole illahie, _winter;_ icht cole, _a year;_
cole sick waum sick, _the fever and ague._
~Comb~, _n._ English. _A comb._ Mamook comb, _to comb;_ mamook comb
illahie, _to harrow._
~Coo'-ley~, _v._ French, COUREZ, imp. of COURIR. _To run._ Cooley kiuatan,
_a race-horse;_ yahka hyas kumtuks cooley, _he can,_ i.e., _knows how to
run well._
~Coop'-coop~, _n._ Chinook, idem. _The smaller sized dentalium or shell
money._ See HYKWA.
~Co'-sho~, _n._ French, COCHON. _A hog; pork._ Siwash cosho, _a seal;_
literally, _Indian pig._
~Cul'-tus~, _adj._ Chinook, KALTAS. _Worthless; good for nothing; without
purpose._ Ex. Cultus man, _a worthless fellow;_ cultus potlatch, _a
present or free gift;_ cultus heehee, _a jest; merely laughing;_ cultus
nannitsh, _to look around;_ cultus mitlite, _to sit idle; to do nothing;_
cultus klatawa, _to stroll._ _Ques._ What do you want? _Ans._ Cultus,
i.e., _nothing._