Literature of the Indian Languages: A Bibliographical Catalogue of Books, Translations of the Scriptures, and Other Publications in the Indian Tongues of the United States, With Brief Critical NotesSchoolcraft, Henry Rowe
History
Literature of the Indian Languages: A Bibliographical Catalogue of Books, Translations of the Scriptures, and Other Publications in the Indian Tongues of the United States, With Brief Critical Notes
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe
Indian imprints -- United States; Indians of North America -- Languages -- Bibliography
In the investigation of the dialects of this important groupe,
fifty-five printed works have been received, of which, twenty-eight
are in the Odjibwa or Chippewa dialect, ten in the Ottawa, seven in
the Pottowattomie, one in the Mohegan, one in the Montagnais, three
in the Delaware, three in the Shawanoe, and one in the Abenaki. More
than three-fourths of the whole number of the numerous tribes of this
stock, are thus far, unrepresented by translations of the Scriptures; a
species of evidence of the affinity of tribes which, as it is founded
upon a fixed and accurately divided standard, affords one of the best
general means of comparison. It is desirable, therefore, to collect all
that has been, or may be done in this branch of literature, not only
respecting the Algonquin groupes, but also in relation to each of the
other groupes of our Aboriginal languages.
SECTION I.—CHIPPEWA, OR ODJIBWA.
17.—The Gospel of John, in Chippewa. 1 vol. 12mo. 280 pages. London:
British and Foreign Bible Society, A. D. 1831.
In point of mechanical execution, and binding, this work is by far
the best volume of Indian translation, which has been sent among the
Sons of the Forest. It is the well-known translation of the brothers
John and Peter Jones, of the River Credit, Canada West, which has been
extensively used by our missionaries in the United States, as well as
the Canada Societies, and has the concurrence of various denominations,
as being a faithful version. It is a curious fact, that while learned
philologists are discussing the actual use, by the Indians, and
existence in the language, of the substantive verb, To Be, the native
missionaries should be in the constant use of various forms of the
Chippewa verb, I AU, alleged to be found among the Chippewas of Sault
Ste. Marie, in 1822, to denote, as is done in this volume, the various
senses of “is,” “was,” &c. The orthography of this word as here given,
as “Ahyah.”
18.—The First Book of Genesis. 1 vol. 12mo. 178 pages. Toronto: A. D.
1835.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account