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A Key Into the Language of America, or an Help to the Language of the Natives in That Part of America Called New-England: Together with Briefe Observations of the Customes, Manners, and Worships, &c. of the Aforesaid Natives, etc.Williams, Roger

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A Key Into the Language of America, or an Help to the Language of the Natives in That Part of America Called New-England: Together with Briefe Observations of the Customes, Manners, and Worships, &c. of the Aforesaid Natives, etc.

Name: A Key Into the Language of America, or an Help to the Language of the Natives in That Part of America Called New-England: Together with Briefe Observations of the Customes, Manners, and Worships, &c. of the Aforesaid Natives, etc.
Author: Williams, Roger

Williams, Roger

Narragansett Indians; Narragansett language

5. Because the Life of all Language is in the Pronuntiation, I
have been at the paines and charges to Cause the Accents, Tones or
sounds to be affixed, (which some understand according to the Greeke
Language, Acutes, Graves, Circumflexes) for example, in the second
Leafe in the word Ewò He: the Sound or tone must not be put on E, but
Wò, where the grave accent is.

In the same Leafe, in the word _Ascowequássin_, the sound must not
be on any of the Syllables, but on _quáss_, where the Acute or Sharp
sound is.

In the same leafe, in the word Anspaumpmaûntam, the Sound must not be
on any other Syllable but Maûn where the Circumflex or long sounding
Accent is.

6. The _English_ for every _Indian_ word or phrase stands in a
straight line directly against the _Indian_: yet sometimes there
are two words for the same thing (for their Language is exceeding
copious, and they have five or six words sometimes for one thing) and
then the English stands against them both; for example in the second
leafe.

  Cowáuncakmish
  and                                  I pray your favour.
  Cuckquénamish,




AN HELPE

TO THE NATIVE LANGUAGE

OF THAT PART OF AMERICA CALLED

New-England.




CHAPTER I.

_Of Salutation._--Observation.


The natives are of two sorts (as the English are) some more rude
and clownish, who are not so apt to salute, but upon salutation
resalute lovingly. Others, and the generall, are sober and grave,
and yet cheerfull in a meane, and as ready to begin a salutation as
to resalute, which yet the English generally begin, out of desire to
civilize them.

What cheare _Nétop_ is the general salutation of all English toward
them. _Nétop_ is friend. _Netompaûog_, Friends.

They are exceedingly delighted with Salutations in their own Language.

  Neèn, Keèn, Ewò,                     I, you, he.

  Keénkaneen,                          You and I.

  Ascowequássin,
  Ascowequassunnúmmis,                 Good morrow.

  Askuttaaquompsín,                    Hou doe you?

  Asnpaumpmaúntam,                     I am very well.

  Taubút paump maúntaman,              I am glad you are well.

  Cowaúnckamish,                       My service to you.


OBSERVATION.

This word upon speciall Salutations they use, and upon some offence
conceived by the _Sachim_ or Prince against any; I have seen the
party reverently doe obeysance, by stroking the Prince upon both his
sholders, and using this word,

  Cowaúnckamish and
  Cuckquénamish,                       I pray your favour.

  Cowaúnkamuck,                        He salutes you.

  Aspaumpmáuntam Sachim,               How doth the Prince?

  Aspaumpmaúntam commíttamus,          How doth your wife?

  Aspaumpmaúntamwock                   How doth your children?
  cummuckiaûg?

  Konkeeteâug,                         They are well.

  Táubot ne paump maunthéttit,         I am glad they are well.

  Túnna Cowâum?                        Whence came you?

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A Key Into the Language of America, or an Help to the Language of the Natives in That Part of America Called New-England: Together with Briefe Observations of the Customes, Manners, and Worships, &c. of the Aforesaid Natives, etc.

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