Beothuk language
| Beothuk | |
|---|---|
| Beothukan | |
| Native to | Canada |
| Region | Newfoundland |
| Ethnicity | Beothuk |
| Extinct | 6 June 1829, with the death of Shanawdithit |
unclassified (Algonquian?) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | bue |
bue | |
| Glottolog | beot1247 |
 Pre-contact distribution of Beothuk language | |
Beothuk (/biːˈɒtək/ or /ˈbeɪ.əθʊk/), also called Beothukan, is an extinct language once spoken by the indigenous Beothuk people of Newfoundland. The Beothuk have been extinct since 1829, and there are few written accounts of their language. Hence, little is known about it, with practically no structural data existing for Beothuk.
Classification
[edit]Claims of links with the neighbouring Algonquian language family date back at least to Robert Gordon Latham in 1862. From 1968 onwards, John Hewson has put forth evidence of sound correspondences and shared morphology with Proto-Algonquian and other better-documented Algonquian languages. If this is valid, Beothuk would be an extremely divergent member of the family.[1]
Other researchers claimed that proposed similarities are more likely the result of borrowing than cognates.[2] The limited and poor nature of the documentation means there is not enough evidence to draw strong conclusions.[3] Owing to this overall lack of meaningful evidence, Ives Goddard and Lyle Campbell claim that any connections between Beothuk and Algonquian are unknown and likely unknowable.[4]
Recorded song
[edit]In 1910, American anthropologist Frank Speck recorded a 74-year-old native woman named Santu Toney singing a song purported to be in the language. The recording resurfaced at the very end of the 20th century. Some sources give the year 1929, but the 1910 date is confirmed in Speck's book Beothuk and Micmac (New York 1922, p. 67). The words are hard to hear and not understood. Santu said she had been taught the song by her father, which may be evidence that one person with a Beothuk connection was alive after the death of Shanawdithit in 1829 since Santu Toney was born about 1835). Contemporary researchers have tried to make a transcription of the song and to clean up the recording with modern methods. Native groups have learned the song.[5]
James P. Howley, Director of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland, who for more than forty years was interested in the history of the Beothuk, doubted (in 1914) the truthfulness of Santu Toney.[6]
Wordlists
[edit]Beothuk is known only from several wordlists from the 18th and the 19th centuries by George C. Pulling (1792),[7] Rev. John Clinch, Rev. John Leigh, and Hercules Robinson (1834).[8] They contain more than 400 words that had been collected from speakers such as Oubee, Demasduit, and Shanawdithit, but there were no examples of connected speech. Wordlists had also been collected by W. E. Cormack (who worked with Shanawdithit), Richard King (whose wordlist had been passed on to Robert Gordon Latham[9]), and James P. Howley (1915)[10] (who worked with Jure, a widow from the islands of the Bay of Exploits).[11]
The lack of any systematic or consistent representation of the vocabulary in the wordlists makes it daunting to establish the sound system of Beothuk, and words that are listed separately on the lists may be the same word transcribed in different ways. Moreover, the lists are known to have many mistakes. That, along with the lack of connected speech leaves little upon which to build any reconstruction of Beothuk.
Combined lists
[edit]The wordlists have been transcribed and analyzed in Hewson (1978). The combined Beothuk wordlists below have been reproduced from Hewson (1978: 149–167).[11]
| Gloss | Beothuk (all lists combined) | Latham / King (1850) | Cormack (m.s.) | Clinch (m.s.) | Leigh (m.s.) | Robinson (1834) | Howley (1915) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| afraid | cockaboset don't be afraid | cockaboset don't be afraid | |||||
| alive | mamisut; mamseet | mamseet | mamisut | ||||
| angry | assoyt | assoyt | |||||
| ankle | geijebursut | geijebursut | |||||
| arm | watheek; shedbasing wathik upper arm; watheekee; memayet arms | watheekee | watheek; shedbasing wathik upper arm | memayet arms | |||
| arrow | ashooging; dogemat | ashooging | ashooging | dogemat | |||
| asleep, dead | widdun | widdun | |||||
| awake | amet | amet | |||||
| baby | messiligethook | messiligethook | |||||
| back | posson; possont | posson | possont | ||||
| bad | mudty; mudeet bad man; maudee, muddy, madich | maudee, muddy, madich | mudty; mudeet bad man | ||||
| bakeapples | abidemashick | abidemashick | |||||
| bat | sosheet | sosheet | |||||
| bead | baasick (cf. necklace) | baasick (cf. necklace) | |||||
| bear | washawet; gwashuwet | washawet | gwashuwet | ||||
| beast | obditch (cf. cat, seal) | obditch (cf. cat, seal) | |||||
| beat | pugathuse beating; bukashowite | pugathuse beating | bukashowite | ||||
| beaver | maumshet; mamshet | maumshet | mamshet | ||||
| (go to) bed | boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down) | boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down) | |||||
| belly | haddabatheek (cf. body) | haddabatheek (cf. body) | |||||
| berries | manus; bibidigemidic | manus | bibidigemidic | ||||
| birch | paushee birch rind or paper; by-yeech birch tree; boyish birch rind | by-yeech birch tree | paushee birch rind or paper | boyish birch rind | |||
| bird | deynyad, deynyadrook birds | deynyad, deynyadrook birds | |||||
| bird (large) | popadish (cf. pigeon) | popadish (cf. pigeon) | |||||
| bird (little) | obseet; ounermish | obseet | ounermish | ||||
| birds' excrement | sugamith | sugamith | |||||
| bite | bashoodite | bashoodite | |||||
| black | maudzyke; mandzey | mandzey | maudzyke | ||||
| blackbird | woodch | woodch | |||||
| blankets | manaboret; manavorit | manaboret | manavorit | ||||
| blind | kaesing-guinyeet | kaesing-guinyeet | |||||
| blood | ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth or iggobauth | ashaboouth | arrowbauth | izzobauth or iggobauth | |||
| blow | deschudodoick | deschudodoick | |||||
| blow the nose | shegame; shegamit | shegame | shegamit | ||||
| blue | eeshang-eyghth | eeshang-eyghth | |||||
| blunt | boas seek; mocothutt blunt-nosed fish | boas seek; mocothutt blunt-nosed fish | |||||
| boat | adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship); adothe boat or vessel | adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship) | adothe boat or vessel | ||||
| boat (large) | dhoorado | dhoorado | |||||
| body | haddabothy; haddabothic | haddabothy | haddabothic | ||||
| boil (as water) | oadjameet | oadjameet | |||||
| boil (transitive) | moadamutt | moadamutt | |||||
| bone | aenameen | aenameen | |||||
| bonnet, hat | abodoneek; abadungeyk; abodonec | abadungeyk | abodoneek | abodonec | |||
| bosom | bodchmoot; boghmoot (cf. breast) | boghmoot (cf. breast) | bodchmoot | ||||
| bow | hathemay; anyemen | anyemen | hathemay | ||||
| boy (white) | bukashamesh; buggishamish; buggishamesh | buggishamesh | bukashamesh | bukashamesh | buggishamish | ||
| boy (Indian) | mossessdeesh; mogazeesh | mogazeesh | mossessdeesh | ||||
| bread | maujebathook; annawhadya | annawhadya | maujebathook | ||||
| break a stick | pugenon | pugenon | |||||
| break wind | tediddle | tediddle | |||||
| breast | bemoot (cf. bosom); bogomot | bemoot (cf. bosom) | bogomot | ||||
| breath | gaboweete | gaboweete | |||||
| bushes | maudeweech | maudeweech | |||||
| buttons | aegumet; agamet buttons or money | aegumet | agamet buttons or money | ||||
| candle | shapoth; shaboth | shapoth | shaboth | ||||
| canoe | thubathew boat or canoe; dapathook; tapathook | dapathook | thubathew boat or canoe | tapathook | |||
| cap | eeseeboon (cf. bonnet) | eeseeboon (cf. bonnet) | |||||
| capelin | shamook; shaamoo; shamooth | shamook; shaamoo | shamooth | ||||
| cat | obodish; abidesoot; abideeshook | abidesoot | abideeshook | obodish | |||
| cat (marten) | abidish | abidish | abidish | ||||
| catching fish | eshbauth | eshbauth | |||||
| cattle | methabeet; nethabete | methabeet | nethabete | ||||
| cheek | weenoun | weenoun | |||||
| chin | keoun; geoun; goun | geoun | keoun | goun | |||
| clothes | dhingyam; thingyam | dhingyam | thingyam | ||||
| clouds | berroick | berroick | |||||
| coal | methie; methie dirt | methie | methie dirt | ||||
| cockle | sheedeneesheet | sheedeneesheet | |||||
| codfish | bobboosoret (cf. fish) | bobboosoret (cf. fish) | bobboosoret (cf. fish) | ||||
| cold | eenodsha; moidewsee | eenodsha | moidewsee | ||||
| comb | edrathin | edrathin | |||||
| come | touet; deiood | touet; deiood | |||||
| come back again | nadyed | nadyed | |||||
| come hither | dyoot thouret; dyoom; thooret | dyoom | dyoot thouret | thooret | |||
| comet | anin | anin | |||||
| cream jug | nadalahet; motheryet | nadalahet | motheryet | ||||
| cry | mautheauthaw; matheothuc | mautheauthaw | matheothuc | ||||
| currants | shamye | shamye | shamye | ||||
| cut | hadyusum; odishuik or odishuite | hadyusum | odishuik or odishuite | ||||
| dancing | thubwedgie; badiseet | thubwedgie | badiseet | ||||
| dead | gosset; gausep (cf. asleep) | gosset; gausep (cf. asleep) | |||||
| deer | osweet; cosweet | cosweet | osweet | osweet | |||
| deer's horns | megorum; megorun | megorum | megorun | ||||
| devil | ashmudyim; haoot | haoot | ashmudyim | ||||
| dirt | yew-why | yew-why | |||||
| dog | mammasamit; mammasameet | mammasameet | mammasameet | mammasamit | |||
| dogberries | menome | menome | |||||
| dogwood, mountain ash | emoethook | emoethook | emoethook | ||||
| drawing knife | moheshaudet; moeshwadet | moheshaudet | moeshwadet | ||||
| drink | ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water) | ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water) | |||||
| drinking cup | shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.) | shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.) | |||||
| dry | gasook | gasook | |||||
| duck | eesheet; boodowit | eesheet | boodowit | ||||
| ducks and drakes | mameshet; howmeshet | mameshet | howmeshet | ||||
| eagle | gobidin | gobidin | |||||
| ear | mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman | mootchiman | mismuth | mooshaman | |||
| eat | pugazoa; bocootyone; pokoodsoont; odoit | bocootyone; pokoodsoont | pugazoa | odoit | |||
| egg | deboin; debine | deboin | debine | ||||
| elbow | moocus | moocus | moocus | ||||
| Eskimo | ashwan | ashwan | |||||
| eye | geegnyan; gwinya | geegnyan | gwinya | ||||
| eyebrow | momeaugh; marmeuck | momeaugh | marmeuck | ||||
| fall | koshet | koshet | |||||
| fat | eeg | eeg | |||||
| fear | geswat; cockaboset no fear | geswat; cockaboset no fear | |||||
| feather | evenau; ewinon; abobidress feathers | ewinon | evenau | abobidress feathers | |||
| finger | onnus forefinger; oddesamick little; awadshibik middle; wyabick ring; hanyees | hanyees | onnus forefinger; oddesamick little; awadshibik middle; wyabick ring | ||||
| fire | koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat | oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning) | koorae | woodrat | |||
| fish | poopusrout; baubooshrat (cf. codfish) | baubooshrat (cf. codfish) | poopusrout | ||||
| fish hook | adooch; adothook | adooch | adothook | ||||
| fishing line | disup; edat | disup | edat | ||||
| flea | kessyet | kessyet | |||||
| flesh (meat) | ashauch | ashauch | |||||
| flying | miawoth; miaoth | miawoth | miaoth | ||||
| foot | hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg) | adyouth (cf. leg) | hodwitch | ||||
| forehead | doothun | doothun | |||||
| fork | papade-aden; etheuwit | papade-aden | etheuwit | ||||
| fowl | edgedoweshin | edgedoweshin | |||||
| fox | dogajavick | dogajavick | |||||
| fur, animal hair | peatha | peatha | peatha | ||||
| gaping | abemite | abemite | |||||
| get up | amshut; kinup; ganyess | amshut | ganyess | kinup | |||
| gimlet | quadranuck | quadranuck | quadranuck | ||||
| girl (white) | imamuset; emamooset | emamooset | emamooset | imamuset | |||
| girl (Indian) | woaseesh | woaseesh | |||||
| give me | dayhamin | dayhamin | |||||
| (we) give thee a knife | wawashemet o-owin | wawashemet o-owin | |||||
| glass | hadalahet (cf. cream jug); hadibiet | hadalahet (cf. cream jug) | hadibiet | ||||
| gloves | obsedeek | obsedeek | obsedeek | ||||
| go away | gayzhoot | gayzhoot | |||||
| go home | baetha | baetha | |||||
| go out | baeodut; enano | baeodut | enano | ||||
| good | homedick; oomdzech; betheote good night | homedick; oomdzech | betheote good night | ||||
| goose | yewone; odo-ezheet (cf. duck); odeusook | odo-ezheet (cf. duck) | yewone | odeusook | |||
| gooseberry | jiggamint | jiggamint | |||||
| grass | shisth | shisth | |||||
| grindstone | shewthake; aquathoont | shewthake | aquathoont | ||||
| groaning | cheeashit; cheashit | cheeashit | cheashit | ||||
| gull | asson | asson | asson | ||||
| gun | harreen or huz-seen; adamadret | adamadret | harreen or huz-seen | adamadret | |||
| gun powder | beasothunt | beasothunt | beasothunt | ||||
| hair | donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna | drone-oock | donna | dronna | drummet | ||
| halibut, flatfish | hanawasutt | hanawasutt | |||||
| hammer | iwish; mattuis | iwish | mattuis | ||||
| hand | memen hands or fingers; maelmed; memet | maelmed | memen hands or fingers | memet | |||
| hare | odusweet | odusweet | odusweet | ||||
| (make) haste | ishu; eeshoo | eeshoo | ishu | ||||
| hatchet | nowaut; thinyun; dthoonanyen; thingaya | thinyun; dthoonanyen | nowaut | thingaya | |||
| head | keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun | geothuk | keawthaw | keauthut, gonothun | |||
| hear | noduera | noduera | |||||
| heart | bedoret; bogodoret | bedoret | bogodoret | ||||
| heaven | theehone | theehone | |||||
| herring | washemesh | washemesh | |||||
| hiccups | mudyraw; madyrut | mudyraw | madyrut | ||||
| hill | kaasook; keoosock | kaasook; keoosock | |||||
| hoop | woin | woin | |||||
| house | mae-adthike (cf. hut); mammateek | mae-adthike (cf. hut) | mammateek | ||||
| hungry | dauoosett | dauoosett | |||||
| (not) hurt | aoodrach | aoodrach | |||||
| husband | zathrook (cf. man) | zathrook (cf. man) | |||||
| hut | meothik (cf. house) | meothik (cf. house) | |||||
| ice | ozrook; ozeru | ozrook | ozeru | ||||
| Indian (red) | behathook; beothuck; beathook | behathook; beothuck | beathook | ||||
| Indian cup | shucodidimet; shucodidimit | shucodidimet | shucodidimit | ||||
| iron | mauageene; maudshinuk; mowageenite | mauageene | mowageenite | maudshinuk | |||
| islands | mammasheek | mammasheek | |||||
| kill | whadicheme; bogathoowytch | whadicheme; bogathoowytch | |||||
| (not) kill | datyuns | datyuns | |||||
| kiss | sheboth; widumite | sheboth | widumite | ||||
| knee | hodsmishit; hodamishit | hodsmishit | hodamishit | ||||
| kneeling | abusthibe; abusthibit | abusthibe | abusthibit | ||||
| knife | yewoin; iwo-in; aewaeen; hewhine; uine | aewaeen; hewhine | yewoin | uine | iwo-in | ||
| lamp | mondicuet; bobdiduishemet | mondicuet | bobdiduishemet | ||||
| laugh | whoishme; wyeeth | whoishme | wyeeth | ||||
| lead | goosheben | goosheben | |||||
| lean, thin, sick | ashei | ashei | |||||
| leaves | madyua; madyna | madyua | madyna | ||||
| leg | cogadealla; aduse (cf. foot) | cogadealla | aduse (cf. foot) | ||||
| lie | pisauwau; bituwait (cf. sleep) | pisauwau | bituwait (cf. sleep) | ||||
| life | mamset (cf. alive) | mamset (cf. alive) | |||||
| lightning | koorae; barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder) | koorae | barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder) | ||||
| (I) like | adjeedisk | adjeedisk | |||||
| lip | coosh; ooish | coosh | ooish | ||||
| lobster | odjet | odjet | odjet | ||||
| long | kannabuck | kannabuck | |||||
| lord bird, harlequin duck | mammadrouit | mammadrouit | |||||
| louse | cusebee; kusebeet | cusebee | kusebeet | ||||
| lumpfish | aeshemeet | aeshemeet | |||||
| mainland | gauzewook | gauzewook | |||||
| man (white) | pushaman; buggishaman; bukashaman | buggishaman | pushaman | bukashaman | buggishaman | ||
| man (Indian) | shawdtharut (cf. husband) | shawdtharut (cf. husband) | |||||
| Micmac | shanung | shanung | |||||
| milk | madabooch | madabooch | |||||
| moccasin | moosin; mosen | moosin; mosen | |||||
| money | beodet | beodet | |||||
| moon | kuus; keeose, washageuis; kius, washewiush | keeose, washageuis | kuus | kius, washewiush | |||
| mosquito | shema bogosthuc | shema bogosthuc | |||||
| mouth | mamudthun; mameshook | mamudthun | mameshook | ||||
| muscle (mussel) | owameet | owameet | |||||
| nails | cush; quish | cush | quish | ||||
| neck | tedesheet (cf. throat) | tedesheet (cf. throat) | tedesheet (cf. throat) | ||||
| necklace | zeek (cf. beads); bethec | zeek (cf. beads) | bethec | ||||
| needle | tuzmus; dosomite (cf. pin) | tuzmus | dosomite (cf. pin) | ||||
| net | giggaremanet | giggaremanet | giggaremanet | ||||
| night | washewch; washew | washewch | washew | ||||
| nipper | bebadrook | bebadrook | |||||
| no | newin | newin | |||||
| nose | gheen; geen | gheen | geen | ||||
| oakum | mushabauth | mushabauth | mushabauth | ||||
| oar | poodybeac | poodybeac | poodybeac | ||||
| ochre | odemen; odement | odemen | odement | ||||
| oil | emet | emet | emet | ||||
| otter | edachoom; edru | edachoom | edru | ||||
| partridge | susut; zosoot; zosweet | zosoot | susut | zosweet | |||
| partridgeberries | shaudame | shaudame | |||||
| pigeon (sea), (guillemot) | bobbodish (cf. bird) | bobbodish (cf. bird) | bobbodish (cf. bird) | bobbodish (cf. bird) | |||
| pin | tusmug; dosomite | dosomite | tusmug | dosomite | |||
| pitcher, cup, plate | manume; manune | manume | manune | ||||
| pond | woodum | woodum | |||||
| puffin | gwoshuawit | gwoshuawit | |||||
| puppies | mammasameet (cf. dog) | mammasameet (cf. dog) | |||||
| rain | pedthae; watshoosooch; badoese; bathuc | watshoosooch; badoese | pedthae | bathuc | |||
| raspberries | gauzadun | gauzadun | |||||
| rat | gadgemish | gadgemish | |||||
| red | deedrashow | deedrashow | |||||
| river | shebon; shebin brook | shebon; shebin brook | |||||
| rocks | ahune | ahune | |||||
| rolling | odausot | odausot | |||||
| rowing | huzzagan; osavate | huzzagan | osavate | ||||
| run | wothamashee; ibadinnam; wothamashet | ibadinnam | wothamashee | wothamashet | |||
| sails | ejabathook | ejabathook | ejabathook | ||||
| salmon | wasemook | wasemook | wasemook | ||||
| saw | dedoweet; deddoweet | dedoweet | deddoweet | ||||
| salt water | massoock | massoock | |||||
| scab | pigathee | pigathee | pigathee | ||||
| scallop | gowet | gowet | |||||
| scalping the head | nomushrush keawthaw | nomushrush keawthaw | |||||
| scissors | oseenyet; osegeeu | oseenyet | osegeeu | ||||
| scratch | bashubet | bashubet | |||||
| seal | momau; bidesuk; beedzuk; bidesook | bidesuk; beedzuk | momau | bidesook | |||
| seal sunk | aparet a bidesook | aparet a bidesook | |||||
| seal skin bag | bochmoot seal skin sledge full | bochmoot seal skin sledge full | |||||
| see | ejew | ejew | |||||
| shake hands | meman momasthus; kawinjemeesh; meman monasthus | kawinjemeesh | meman momasthus | meman monasthus | |||
| ship, vessel | mamzhing; mamashee (cf. boat) | mamashee (cf. boat) | mamzhing | ||||
| shoes | moosin (cf. mocassin) | moosin (cf. mocassin) | |||||
| shoot | hodthoo shoot a gun; outhaje-arrathunum shoot an arrow perpendicularly; wadshoodet | wadshoodet | hodthoo shoot a gun; outhaje-arrathunum shoot an arrow perpendicularly | ||||
| short | yeech | yeech | |||||
| shoulder | momezabethon; momegemethon | momezabethon | momegemethon | ||||
| shovel | hadowadet; godawick | hadowadet | godawick | ||||
| silk handkerchief | egibiduish | egibiduish | egibiduish | ||||
| sinew of deer | modthamook | modthamook | |||||
| singing | tuauthaw; awoodet | tuauthaw | awoodet | ||||
| sit | haddosdoding; athep | athep | haddosdoding | athep | |||
| sleep | puthuauth; bootzhawet; aoseedwit I am sleepy (cf. lie, bed); isedoweet | bootzhawet; aoseedwit I am sleepy (cf. lie, bed) | puthuauth | isedoweet | |||
| sleeve | wobesheet | wobesheet | |||||
| smell | marot | marot | |||||
| smoke | possthee; basdiek; besdic | basdiek | possthee | besdic | |||
| snail | aeueece | aeueece | |||||
| sneezing | midyathew; adjith | midyathew | adjith | ||||
| snipe | auojet | auojet | |||||
| snow | (corrasoob); causabow; kaasussabook | causabow; kaasussabook | (corrasoob) | ||||
| song | mamatrabet (a long?) | mamatrabet (a long?) | |||||
| soon | jewmetcheen | jewmetcheen | |||||
| sore throat | anadrick | anadrick | anadrick | ||||
| sorrow | corrasoob (cf. snow) | corrasoob (cf. snow) | corrasoob (cf. snow) | ||||
| speak | carmtack; jeroothack | carmtack; jeroothack | |||||
| spear | anun; aaduth seal spear; amina deer spear; hannan | anun; aaduth seal spear; amina deer spear | hannan | ||||
| spider | woadthoowin | woadthoowin | |||||
| spoon | hanamait; adadiminte, andemin | adadiminte, andemin | hanamait | ||||
| spouse | anwoyding | anwoyding | |||||
| spruce | trawnasoo | trawnasoo | trawnasoo | ||||
| spruce rind | sousot | sousot | |||||
| standing | kingabie; kingiabit | kingabie | kingiabit | ||||
| stars | so-ushzeth; shawwayet; adenishit | shawwayet | so-ushzeth | adenishit | |||
| stinking seal | mattik bidesook | mattik bidesook | mattik bidesook | ||||
| stockings | gassek; gasset | gassek | gasset | ||||
| stones | ougen; oun (cf. rocks) | oun (cf. rocks) | ougen | ||||
| stooping | hedy-yan | hedy-yan | hedy-yan | ||||
| sugar | shedothoon | shedothoon | |||||
| sun, moon | dewis; keeose; keuse; magaragueis sun; washageuis moon; kius; maugerooius sun; washewiush moon | keeose; keuse; magaragueis sun; washageuis moon | dewis | kius; maugerooius sun; washewiush moon | |||
| swimming | tuwedgie; thoowidgee (cf. dancing) | tuwedgie | thoowidgee (cf. dancing) | ||||
| sword | bidisoni | bidisoni | bidisoni | ||||
| tea | butterweye (but probably garbled) | butterweye (but probably garbled) | |||||
| teeth | outhermay; botomet outhermayet | outhermay | botomet outhermayet | ||||
| thank you | thine | thine | |||||
| thigh | ipeween; ipweena | ipeween | ipweena | ||||
| thread | meroopish; meroobish (cf. twine) | meroopish | meroobish (cf. twine) | ||||
| throat | tedesheet (cf. neck) | tedesheet (cf. neck) | |||||
| throw a trap | shaubabuneshaw | shaubabuneshaw | |||||
| throw | pugatho; pugathoite | pugatho | pugathoite | ||||
| thumb | pooith; buit; boad; pooeth | boad | pooith | pooeth | buit | ||
| thunder | petothorish; barodiisick (cf. lightning) | petothorish | barodiisick (cf. lightning) | ||||
| ticklace (kittiwake) | gotheyet | gotheyet | gotheyet | ||||
| tickle (gut, sound, strait) | kaduishuite | kaduishuite | |||||
| tinker (razorbill) | oothook | oothook | |||||
| tobacco | nechwa | nechwa | |||||
| tomorrow | maduck | maduck | |||||
| tongue | memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck | mamadthuk (cf. mouth) | memaza | memasuck | |||
| trap | tibethun; lathun; shebathoont | lathun | tibethun | shebathoont | |||
| tree, woods | annooee | annooee | |||||
| trousers | mowead | mowead | mowead | ||||
| trout | dottomeish | dottomeish | dottomeish | ||||
| turr (murre) | geonet | geonet | geonet | ||||
| twine | meroopish; madobeesh | madobeesh | meroopish | ||||
| walk | woothyan; baysot (cf. run); woothyat | woothyan | woothyat | baysot (cf. run) | |||
| walking stick | cheething | cheething | |||||
| warm | obosheen warming yourself; boobasha | boobasha | obosheen warming yourself | obosheen warming yourself | |||
| watch | dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon); kius | dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon) | kius | ||||
| water | ebauthoo; ebadoe; zebathoong water (drink) | ebadoe; zebathoong water (drink) | ebauthoo | ebauthoo | |||
| water bucket | guinyabutt (with vertical or sloping sides); sunong-guinyabutt (large at bottom, small at top) | guinyabutt (with vertical or sloping sides); sunong-guinyabutt (large at bottom, small at top) | |||||
| wet | wabee (confusion with white) | wabee (confusion with white) | |||||
| whale's tail | owasposhno-un | owasposhno-un | |||||
| where do you go | becket | becket | |||||
| white | wobee | wobee | |||||
| whortle berries | mamoose (cf. berries) | mamoose (cf. berries) | |||||
| wife | oosuck | oosuck | |||||
| wife (white) | adizabad-zea | adizabad-zea | |||||
| wind | tisewthun; gidgeathuc | tisewthun | gidgeathuc | ||||
| wood | adiab | adiab | adiab | ||||
| woodpecker | sheebuint; shebohoweet | shebohoweet | sheebuint | shebohoweet | |||
| wolf | moisamadrook | moisamadrook | |||||
| woman | imamus; emamoose; woass-sut red Indian woman | emamoose; woass-sut red Indian woman | emamoose | imamus | |||
| yawning | tibeath; jibeath | tibeath | jibeath | ||||
| yes | ethath; yeathun | ethath; yeathun |
Numerals
[edit]Numerals in Beothuk:[11]
| Gloss | Cormack | Latham / King (1850) | Leigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| one | yaseek | yazeek | gathet |
| two | adzeich | adzeech | adasic |
| three | shendeek | shendee | shedsic |
| four | dabseek | dabzeek | abodoesic |
| five | ninezeek | nunyetheek | nijeek |
| six | bashedtheek | beshed | bigadosick |
| seven | oodzook | odeozook | oodosook |
| eight | aadazook | adosook | aodoosook |
| nine | yeothoduk | yeothoduck | yeothoduck |
| ten | shansee | shansee | theant |
| eleven | ee-zaziech | ||
| twelve | ee-adzide | ||
| thirteen | ee-shendeek | ||
| fourteen | ee-dabzook | ||
| fifteen | ee-ninezeek | ||
| sixteen | ee-beshedtheek | ||
| seventeen | ee-oodzook | ||
| eighteen | ee-aadazook | ||
| nineteen | ee-yeothoduck | ||
| twenty | adzeich dthoonut | ||
| thirty | shendeek dthoonut |
Months
[edit]Months in Beothuk:[11]
| Gloss | Cormack list (from Shanawdithit) |
|---|---|
| January | cobshuneesamut |
| February | kosthobonong bewajoite |
| March | manamiss |
| April | wasumaweeseek |
| May | bedejamish bewajowite |
| June | wasumaweeseek |
| July | cowazaseek |
| August | wadawhegh |
| September | wasumaweeseek |
| October | godabonyegh |
| November | godabonyeesh |
| December | odasweeteeshamut |
Comparison with Proto-Algonquian
[edit]Below is a comparison of Beothuk words from Hewson (1978) with Proto-Algonquian lexical reconstructions from Hewson (2017).[12]
gloss Proto-Algonquian Beothuk head *wiᐧši (his) keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun hair *wiᐧΘeʔsi donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna eye *neškiᐧnšekwi (my) geegnyan; gwinya ear *nehtaᐧwakaᐧyi (my) mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman nose *nexkiwani (my) g(h)een tooth *niᐧpiči (my) outhermay tongue *wiᐧΘani (his) memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck mouth *wetoᐧni (his) mamudthun; mameshook hand *neΘenčyi (my) memen (hands or fingers); maelmed; memet foot *nesiči (my) hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg) breast *wetoᐧhšali bemoot; bogomot meat *wiᐧyawehsi ashauch blood *meçkwi ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth, iggobauth bone *weΘkani aenameen person *elenyiwa; *naᐧpeᐧwa; *niᐧmaΘawa shawdtharut dog *aΘemwa mammasamit; mammasameet fish *nameᐧwa, *nameᐧʔsa; *mesaya poopusrout; baubooshrat louse *ehkwa cusebee; kusebeet tree *-aᐧhtekw annooee leaf *aniᐧpyi madyua; madyna water *nepyi ebauthoo; ebadoe fire *eškweteᐧwi koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat stone *aʔsenya ou(ge)n; ahune 'rocks'
Legacy
[edit]The prehistoric cnidarian animal Haootia takes its name from the Beothuk word for "demon".[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Hewson, John (1971). "Beothuk Consonant Correspondences". International Journal of American Linguistics. 37 (4): 244–249. doi:10.1086/465172. JSTOR 1264516. S2CID 145190678.
- ^ Voegelin, C.F.; Voegelin, E.W. (1946). "Linguistic considerations of northeastern North America". In Johnson, F. (ed.). Man in Northeastern North America. Andover, MA: Philip's Academy. pp. 178–194.
- ^ Mithun, Marianne (2001). The Languages of Native North America (First paperback ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 368. ISBN 0-521-23228-7.
- ^ Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford University Press. p. 290. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
- ^ Perry, SJ (2008-09-10). "Santu's Song: Memorable day for Beothuk Interpretation Centre". Porte Pilot. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- ^ "View of Santu's Song | Newfoundland and Labrador Studies". journals.lib.unb.ca. 2022-04-26. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ Pulling, George C. 1792. A few facts by G.C. Pulling respecting the Native Indians of the Isle of Newfoundland. Manuscript in British Museum, additional MSS 38352.
- ^ Robinson, Sir Hercules. 1834. "Vocabulary of the Natives of Newfoundland." Royal Geographical Society Journal 4:218-220.
- ^ Latham, Robert G. 1850. Natural History of the Varieties of Man. London: J. Van Voorst.
- ^ Howley, James P. (1915). The Beothucks or Red Indians. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b c d Hewson, John. 1978. Beothuk Vocabularies. (Technical Papers of the Newfoundland Museum, 2.) St. John's: Newfoundland: Newfoundland Museum. 178pp.
- ^ Hewson, John. 2017. Proto-Algonquian online dictionary. Algonquian Dictionaries Project.
- ^ Liu, A. G.; Matthews, J. J.; Menon, L. R.; McIlroy, D.; Brasier, M. D. (2014). "Haootia quadriformis n. gen., n. sp., interpreted as a muscular cnidarian impression from the Late Ediacaran period (approx. 560 Ma)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 281 (1793): 20141202. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1202. PMC 4173675. PMID 25165764.
External links
[edit]
Wiktionary has a word list at Appendix:Beothuk word list