Since time immemorial, the SEN膯O纽EN language has carried the stories and values of the W瘫S脕NE膯 people. Now, for the first time, a 1,500-page dictionary containing over 12,000 words will ensure the language lives on.
Timothy Montler, a linguist and Distinguished Research Professor University of North Texas, has worked for 40 years with SEN膯O纽EN speakers to record and define the language. The effort to create a SEN膯O纽EN dictionary began in 2012, after Montler worked with elders, educators and tribal councils to create a Klallam dictionary.
Though there have been online resources like FirstVoices that feature recordings and definitions, Belinda Claxton said the process was more personal because Montler worked 香蕉视频直播渉and-in-hand香蕉视频直播� with the community for so long.
香蕉视频直播淗e actually got sentences from the elders. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have just words, it香蕉视频直播檚 got teachings and values.香蕉视频直播�
The front of the dictionary features the names and photos of the 26 SEN膯O纽EN-speaking elders that contributed to the dictionary.
Montler compiled recordings made by himself, Claxton, and others, and built a database of words and definitions, as well as information about grammar. Each entry has an example sentence to accompany it, as well as pronunciations using the International Phonetic Alphabet.
The words are recorded in the SEN膯O纽EN alphabet, created by Dave Elliott Sr. in 1978, who turned an oral language into a written one by overstriking the 26 English letters on a standard typewriter with hyphens, slashes, underscores, and accents so no expensive, specialized equipment was required.
香蕉视频直播淥nce it香蕉视频直播檚 here, it香蕉视频直播檚 like it香蕉视频直播檚 saved,香蕉视频直播� said Lou Claxton, Belinda香蕉视频直播檚 brother. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of words I forgot myself. And my mother spoke nothing but SEN膯O纽EN to me when I was a kid,香蕉视频直播� adding that when he was a child, he said to his mother, 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 rather learn English.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淣ow some of the language that we might have forgotten, it香蕉视频直播檚 down here [in this book],香蕉视频直播� said Lou.
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Lou and Belinda香蕉视频直播檚香蕉视频直播� mother Elsie was the last monolingual speaker of SEN膯O纽EN, but she could comprehend English fairly well. Before she died in 2000 at the age of around 93, she contributed to many recordings of SEN膯O纽EN words and phrases.
香蕉视频直播淚t wasn香蕉视频直播檛 very long ago when everybody on this whole Peninsula, and on the Gulf Islands, spoke only SEN膯O纽EN香蕉视频直播efore the big invasion of English speakers came in,香蕉视频直播� said Montler.
However, many children lost their language at residential schools, where their language was forbidden.
Montler said the language contains 香蕉视频直播渟tories for all the places, every little spring and bay and inlet.香蕉视频直播� S染脕赂EU赂TW瘫 , or Tsawout, means 香蕉视频直播渉igher up,香蕉视频直播� said Lou.
冉EL赂TOS, or James Island, means 香蕉视频直播渟plashed in the face,香蕉视频直播� said Montler, who also said the island was home to a rare breed of white deer.
香蕉视频直播淔or the longest time, nobody had any evidence of our language on paper like it is now. The teachers can hardly wait to get their hands on that,香蕉视频直播� said Lou.
Every word has been extensively checked for accuracy, with their definitions and example sentences attributed to the elders who told Montler.
Belinda hopes the language will be taught more in public schools, but it will be first used at the tribal school.
香蕉视频直播淎t one time or another, we thought the fire was going to go out. But it survived, our language survived, and I香蕉视频直播檓 so happy,香蕉视频直播� said Belinda.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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