Algonquian Language

Algonquian Words

1. Substantives

Spiritual and Human Existence: Terms of Consanguinity: Names of Parts of the Human Frame.

War, Hunting and Traveling

Costume and Decorations

Astronomical and Meteorological Phenomena

Geographical Terms

Metals and the Mineral Kingdom

Horticulture and Agriculture

Botanical Terms and Vegetable Kingdom

General Articles of Food

Native Quadrupeds

Domestic Animals Introduced at the Discovery 3

Reptiles, Insects, Etc.

Birds and Ornithology Generally

Fishes and Objects in Ichthyology

Algonquian Adjectives

In the Algonquin group of languages, the adjective is furnished with a transitive inflection, to denote the class of the object, of the quality of which it is intended to speak; and these transitive forms are the simplest, in which all words denoting the properties and qualities of bodies are orally found to exist. In that language, the two classes of objects which impose rules of construction upon the speaker, in the use of adjectives, are those possessing and those wanting life or vitality, The adjective roots or primitive forms of the adjective, are therefore always encumbered with a transitive inflection, to make certain to the hearer the precise class of objects spoken of. Thus, waub is the root-form of white. Ish or ishk, is a declarative particle, but if it be intended to describe a white person, the particle izzie is added; if a white inanimate substance, the particle is changed to au. Denote whether this mode or any analogous one exists in the language of which you furnish a vocabulary.

In giving these examples, the substantive forms, Nos. 268, 269, and 274, 275, are given in immediate connection with the adjective, for obvious reasons.

Pronouns, Personal and Relative

The genius of the Indian language, to which reference has been above made, which requires that adjectives should have a transitive inflection, also imposes a similar rule of transition on the pro nouns, which are perpetually required to show whether the class of objects to which they apply be animate or inanimate. It is the succedaneum for gender; and there is, as a consequence of so general a principle having been taken, no concord required in that class of languages, to denote the masculine and feminine. State whether the personal, relative, or demonstrative pronouns, be transitive or intransitive.

Adverbs

Prepositions and Prepositional Terms

Verbs

The simplest form of the Indian verb which has been found orally to exist in the languages examined, is the third person singular, present tense, of the indicative mood. The infinitive is only to be established by dissection. If this rule prevails in the language known to you, the equivalents of the verbs to eat, to drink, &c., will be understood to mean, he eats, he drinks, &c., unless it be otherwise denoted.

Participles

Substantive-Verb

1. Analogy and examples denote that there are no elementary participles in the aboriginal tongues, but that the sense of the equivalents generally returned, is, he (is) eating (is) drinking, &c.
2. Conjugations are effected in the Indian languages, by tensal inflections of the pronouns and verbs. The entire absence of auxiliary verbs in the languages was observed at an early period. The Indian who is constantly in the habit of saying, I sick I well I glad I sorry was naturally supposed to speak a language, which, however rich in its inflections and power of description, had no word or radical particle to denote abstract existence. Such does not, however, appear to be the case in the Algonquin, from a scrutiny of some of the Scripture translations which have been received, and a comparison with their vocabularies. But the subject still requires examination. So far as can be judged, the term for abstract existence is of very limited use, and never, in any case, appears to be employed to express passion, emotion, suffering, or enjoyment. In this view, the forms No. 348, 349, are added. It is apprehended that no precise equivalent for 350 the test phrase proposed by Mr. Duponceau for the verb can be given. In the Algonquin, however, the phrase Nin dow iau Iaun has been rendered literally, I (the 4 ) body I am. The whole question turning upon the primary meaning of the root-form IAU or IAH. 5

Citations:

1. It must be evident, that if there be no equivalent for this word as contradistinguished from No. 7, there ran be no translation of Mat. i. 18, and the parallel passages of Luke, &c., which will convey to the Indian mind the doctrine of the mystery of the incarnation.[↩]
2. Here, and in most other cases where a blank occurs, there is no corresponding term to be found in the Bible.[↩]
3. Translations of these names are requested.[↩]
4. As there is no indefinite article in the -language, the [inclusive] term here is merely inferential.[↩]
5. The almost exact identity of the sound of this word with the Hebrew verb To Be, n in has not escaped notice.[↩]