Description Background Chinook, or Chinuk, was a language spoken in the Columbia River area by the ...

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Description Background Chinook, or Chinuk, was a language spoken in the Columbia River area by the indigenous tribe of that name. However, Chinook jargon derived from a pidgin trade language, using words from several indigenous groups of the Pacific Northwest. From about 1790 to 1850, following contact with the English and French, Chinook jargon dramatically evolved. Although dominated by Chinook and other indigenous words, French, English, Asian, and Hawaiian words were adopted. At its high point, 1850-1900, Chinook jargon was used by approximately 100,000 speakers, both Native and white, in an area stretching from the Yukon and Alaska south to northern California and west to Idaho. Speakers of the language did not refer to it as Chinook, rather they used its indigenous name, "Wawa," or its French name "Lelang (La Langue)." For a time in the 20th century, children were discouraged from speaking the jargon. But learning it has now become popular among Pacific Northwesterners because of the way the language is tied to the history and heritage of the multicultural Northwest. Chinook and Other Indigenous Languages Representative Sample of 200 Chinook Jargon Words in Three Categories: Chinook/Indigenous, French, and English. Chinook: Ah­ha~ Yes Ah'n­kut­te or Ahn­kot­tie~ Formerly; before now. Al­áh~ Expression of surprise. Al­kie~ In a little while. Al'­ta~ Now. A­yáh­whul~ To lend; borrow. Ca­nim~ A canoe. Ca­po'~ A coat. Chik'­a­min~ Iron; metal; metallic. Chitsh~ A grandmother. Chope~ A grandfather. Chuck~ Water; a river or stream. Salt chuck, the sea; Skookum chuck~ a rapid; Solleks chuck~ a rough sea; Chuck chahko or kalipi~ the tide rises or falls; Saghilli and keekwillie chuck~ high and low tide. Coop'­coop~ The smaller sized dentalium or shell money. Cul'­tus~ Worthless; good for nothing; without purpose; bad or taboo. Cultus man~ a worthless fellow; Cultus potlatch~ a present or free gift; Cultus heehee~ a jest. E'­la­han~ Aid; assistance; alms. Mamook elann~ to help. E­li'­te~ A slave. E­sált'h~ Indian corn or maize. Ha'­lo~, None; absent. Hee'­hee~ Laughter, amusement. Howh~ Turn to; hurry. How'­kwutl~ An expression of inability. Hy'­kwa~ The shell money or wampum of the Pacific coast. These shells were formerly obtained by the Indians of the west coast of Vancouver Island, and passed in barter as far down as California, and eastward to the Blackfoot country. Ik'­kik~ A fish­hook. Ik'­tah~ A thing; goods; merchandise; clothing. Iktus~ Stuff, junk. Il'­la­hie~ The ground; the earth; dirt. Kal­a­kwáh­tie~ The petticoat, or skirt, formerly worn by women, and often made of strands of bark. Kalakwahtie stick, the cedar­tree. Ka­li'­tan~ An arrow; shot; a bullet. Kal­lak'­a­la~ A bird. Kám­ass~ A bulbous root used for food by the Indians. Kám­ooks~ A dog. Ka­mo'­suk~ Beads. Kil­it'­sut~ Flint; a bottle; glass. Ki'­nootl~ Tobacco. Kish­kish~ To drive, as cattle or horses. Kiu'­a­tan~ A race­horse. Kla'­how­ya~ How do you do? Good­bye. Kla­hów­yum~ Poor; miserable; wretched; compassion. Klik'­a­muks~ Blackberries, or more properly dewberries. Klik'­wal­lie~ Brass wire; an armlet. Klógh­klogh~ Oysters. Ko'­ko~ To knock. Kul­lagh'~ A fence; a corral, or inclosure. Kum'­tuks~ To know; understand; be acquainted with; imagine; believe. Kun'­a­moxt~ Both; together. Kun'­sih~ How many; when. Kwish~ Refusing anything contemptuously. Kwit'­shad­ie~ The hare or rabbit. Kwo­lann'~ The ear. Kwulh~ To hit; to wound with an arrow or gun; to strike with a slick or stone. Ló­lo~ To carry; to load. Lo­lo'~ Round; whole; the entire of any thing. Máh­kook~ To buy or sell; trade or exchange; a bargain. Máh­kook­house~ A trading­house or a store. Mamook memaloost~ To kill. Mem'­a­loost~ To die; dead. Me­sáh­chie~ Bad; wicked. Me­si'­ka~ You; your; yours. Mi'­ka~ Thou; thy; thine. Mi'­mie~ Down stream. Moo'­lock~ An elk. Moos'­moos~ Buffalo; horned cattle. Nau'­its~ On the stream. Máht­lin­nie~ Off shore; towards the water. Máht­wil­lie~ In shore; shoreward. Mów­itsh~ A deer. Moowatsh~ A bear. Múck­a­muck~ To eat; to bite; food. Hyas muck­a­muck~ banquet or boss or chief. Na­áh~ A mother. O'­lil­lie or O'­lal­lie~ Berries. O'­luk~ A snake. O'­pitl­kegh~ A bow. O'­pit­sah~ A knife. Opitsah yakka sikhs~ the knife's friend, a fork. Pahtl~ Full. Pahtl lum or paht­lum~ drunk. Pahtl chuck~ Wet. Pahtl illahie~ Dirty. Pa'see­sie~ A blanket; woolen cloth. Poo~ The sound of a gun; Mamook poo~ to shoot. Pot'­latch~ A gift; to give, a ceremony in which food and gifts are given away. Pow'­itsh~ A crab­apple. Ságh­a­lie~ Up; above; high. Saghalie tyee~ God. A term invented by the missionaries for want of a Native one. Sap'­o­lill~ Wheat, flour, or meal. Piah sapolill~ baked bread. Shwáh­kuk~ A frog. Skoo'­kum~ A ghost; an evil spirit or demon; strong. Skookum tumtum~ Brave. Si­am~ The grizzly bear. Tál­a­pus~ The coyote or prairie wolf. Ta­máh­no­us~ A sort of guardian or familiar spirit; magic; luck; fortune; any thing supernatural. Mamook tamahnou~ To conjure. Til'­i­kum~ People; those who are not chiefs. To'­lo~ To earn; to win at a game; to gain. To­toosh'~ The breasts of a female; milk. Totoosh lakles~ butter. Tsi­át­ko~ A nocturnal demon much feared by the Indians. Tsik'­tsik~ A wagon; a cart; a wheel. Túp­so~ Grass; leaves, fringe; feathers; fur. Tum'­tum~ The heart; the will; opinion; Mahsh tumtum~ to give orders. Mamook tumtum~ to make up one's mind; Mamook closhe tumtum~ to make friends or peace; Sick tumtum~ grief; jealousy; Moxt tumtum nika~ I am undecided. Tzum~, n., adj. Chinook, idem. Mixed colors; spots or stripes; a mark or figure; writing; paint; painted. Tzum sill~ printed calico; Tzum pehpa~ writing; Mamook tzum~ to write; Tzum illahie~ blazed or surveyed land. Way'­hut~ A road. Tsiktsik wayhut~ A wagon­road. French: Co'­sho~ COCHON. A hog; pork. Huy­huy~ OUI-OUI. A quick bargain or exchange. (Actually, yes-yes.) La­bleed'~ LA BRIDE. A bridle. La­boos'~ LA BOUCHE. The mouth; mouth of a river. La­boo­ti'~ LA BOUTEILLE. A bottle. La­ca­lat'~ LA CAROTTE. A carrot. La­ca­set'~ LA CASETTE. A box, trunk, or chest. La­clo­a~ LA CROIX. A cross. Lahb~ L'HERBE. The arbutus uva ursi, the leaves of which are used in smoking, alone or mixed with tobacco. La­hásh~ LA HACHE. An axe or hatchet. La­peep'~ LA PIPE. A tobacco ­pipe. La­péhsh~ LA PERCHE. A pole; the setting­pole of a boat or canoe. La­pel­láh~ LE FOYER. To roast before the fire. La­pelle'~ LA PELLE. A shovel or spade. La­pe­osh'~ LA PIOCHE. A mattock; a hoe. La­piége~ LA PIÉGE.A trap. La­plash~ LA PLANCHE. A board. La­po­el'~ LE PRÊTRE. A frying ­pan. La­póme~ LA POMME. An apple. La­pool'~ LA POULE. A fowl; poultry. La­poo­shet'~ LA FOURCHETTE. A fork. La­póte~ LA PORTE. A door. La­sánjel~ LA CINGLE. A girth; a sash; a belt.La­sée~ La scie~ A saw. La­sell'~ LA SELLE. A saddle. La­shán­del~ LA CHARRUE. A plough. La­shán­del~ LA CHANDELLE. A candle. La­sháse~ LA CHAISE. A chair. La­shen'~ LA CHAINE. A chain. Las­siet'~ L'ASSIETTE. A plate. La­swáy~ LA SOIE. Silk; silken. La­wen'~ L'AVOINE. Oats. Le­bal'~ A ball; bullet. Le­bis'­kwie~ LE BISCUIT. Biscuit; crackers; hard bread. Le­blau'­ LE BLOND. A sorrel horse; chestnut colored. Le­clem'~ LE CRÊME. Cream­-colored; a cream­-colored or light dun horse. Le­kléh~ LE CLEF. A key. Le­kloo'~ LE CLOU. A nail; nails. Le­lo'­ba~ LE RUBAN. A ribbon. Le­máh­to~ LE MARTEAU. A hammer. Le­mel'~ LE MULET. A mule. Le­mo'­lo~ LE MORON; corruption of MARRON, a runaway African slave. Wild; untamed. Le­moo'­to~ LES MOUTONS. Sheep. Le­pan'~ LE PAIN. Bread; raised or light bread. Le­plét~ LE PRÊTRE. A priest. Le­pwau'~ LES POIS. Peas. Le­sak'~ LE SAC. A bag; a pocket. Le­sap'~ LES OEUFS. An egg; eggs. Le­sée­zo~ LE CISEAU. Scissors. Le­sóok~ LE SUCRE. Sugar. English: Bed~ A bed. Bos'­ton~ An American; American. Boat~ A boat, as distinguished from a canoe. Doc'­tin~ A doctor. Dol'­la~ A dollar; money. Kau'­py~ Coffee. Ket'­ling~ A kettle. King Chautsh~ KING GEORGE. An Englishman. Kwáhta~ The quarter of a dollar. House~ House Lice~ Rice. Lope~ A rope. Lum~ Rum or spirits. Moon~ The moon. Ikt moon~ A month. Sick moon~ The wane or old moon. Mus'­ket~ A gun or musket. Stick musket~ a bow. Papa~ A father. Peh'­pah~ Paper; a letter; any writing. Pi'­ah~ Fire; ripe. Pish~ Fish. Puss'­puss~ A cat. O'­le­man~ An old man; old; worn out. Sail~ A sail; any cotton or linen goods. Salmon~ The salmon; fish generally. Tyee salmon~ chief salmon, the spring salmon (salmo kwinnat, Rich.); Masahchie salmon~ a winter species (salmo canis, Suckley); Tzum salmon~ salmon trout. Salt~ Salt, or a salt taste. Salt chuck~ the sea. Shame~ Shame. Ship~ A ship or vessel. Stick ship~ a sailing vessel; Piah ship~ a steamer; ship­man, a sailor. Shoes~ Shoes; skin shoes; moccasins. Stick shoes~ boots or shoes made of leather. Shot~ Shot; lead. Shu'­gah~ Sugar. Shut~ A shirt. Sick~ Sick. Sick tum­tum~ grieved; sorry; jealous; unhappy. Smoke~ Smoke; clouds; fog; steam. Snow~ Snow. Soap~ Soap. Stone~ A rock or stone; bone; horn; the testicles. Stick~ A stick; a tree; wood; wooden. Stick skin~ bark; Ship stick~ a mast; Mitwhit stick~ a standing tree. Sun'­day~ Sunday. Icht Sunday~ a week. Tea~ Tea. Wind~ Wind. The winds are often known by the country from which they blow; as, for instance, on the Columbia, an easterly is a Walla ­Walla wind; at the mouth of the river, a southerly is a Tilamooks wind. Analyze the Evidence Question What are 5 categories of function or activity that Chinook jargon serves? View the background video and study the Chinook Jargon List. Look for patterns among the words and list 5 categories in the Word Category Chart under which you can place at least 15 words in each category. For example, trade may be one of your categories. Make sure that you have at least one English, French, and Native word in each category. (Note: The vocabulary above came from a study done for the Smithsonian Museum. You may wish to consult this source for more information: Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon, or Trade Language of Oregon by George Gibbs.)