Massachusett

Massachusett

Massachusett is an Algonquian language spoken until late 19th century in
the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, especially in Boston, Massachusetts,
on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket by the Massachusett and Wampanoag
nations. It was also one of first Native American languages encountered and
learned by English settlers when they arrived in North America in the early
17th century.

Massachusett, which is also known as Massachusett-Narragansett,
Wampanoag, Natick and Pokanoket, first appeared in writing in 1653
with the publication of a translation of the Catechism. This and
other translations of religous work, including the Bible, were made
by John Elliot (1604—1690), a clergyman and missionary who learnt the
native languages of Massachusetts in order to preach to and convert
the people.

The orthography developed by Elliot helped spread literacy in
the Massachusetts nation and was used to produce such documents
as wills and deeds. As a result, Massachusett is one of the best
documented Native American languages.

Efforts are currently underway to reconstruct and revive the Algonquian
languages of New England. The driving force behind this revival of Wampanoag
(Wôpanâak) is Jessie “Little Doe” Fermino, a Mashpee Indian from Cape Cod,
who launched the Wampanoag Dictionary Project, is working on a Wampanoag grammar, is
developing a Wampanoag language curriculum, and is teaching the language
to tribal members. She has studied linguistics at MIT, and has been
helped and guided by Kenneth Hale (1934–2001), MIT professor of linguistics
and philosophy.

Sample text (The Lord’s Prayer)

Nooshun kesukqut, wunneetupantamuch koowesuounk. Peyamooutch kukkeitasootamounk.
Toh anantaman ne n-naj okheit, neane kesukqut. Asekesukokish petukqunnegash
assaminnean yeu kesukok. Ahquontamaiinnean nummatcheseongatch, neane matchenehikqueagig
nutahquontamanóunonog. Ahque sagkompaguninnean en qutchhuaonganit, webe
pohquohwussinnan wutch matchitut. Newutche keitassootamoonk, kutahtauun,
menuhkesuonk, sohsumoonk micheme kah micheme. Amen.

Tower of Babel in Massachusett

Links

Information about the Massachusett Language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusett_language
http://www.native-languages.org/wampanoag.htm
http://www.archive.org/details/rosettaproject_wam_detail-1

Information about the revival of New England Algonquian languages
http://www.wampanoagtribe.net/Pages/Wampanoag_Education/S004B1EF9
http://www.bigorrin.org/waabu.htm
http://spectrum.mit.edu/issue/2001-spring/inspired-by-a-dream/
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/united-states/language-out-time
http://www.wlrp.org

Information about John Elliot
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/john-eliot.html

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