1878, Grand Ronde area humor: Nica cuitan close
Today’s clipping is Chinook Jargon from the Grand Ronde area, in frontier times, so it’s un-translated by the newspaper editor.
Some of us could use a translation of the 1800s US English slang words and long-forgotten political controversy, more than the Chinuk Wawa!
Image credit: Vecteezy
In brief, today’s piece references something we’ve experienced in our modern lifetimes — a bitterly contested US presidential election outcome.
By the way, the Pelton in this piece is apparently unrelated to the Jargon’s word for ‘crazy’. Just a krazy ko-inky-dink!
The Potter investigation in the House
of the Presidential title, is the main
subject of discussion in our Eastern ex-
changes, and our friend [faithless elector E.A.] Cronin, of the
nose, is again brought into notice. The
Chicago Inter-Ocean of a recent date has
the following:“It would seem as if Nephew Pelton, in
the grave condition of affairs, should dis-
patch for Cronin. It might read thus:GRAMERCY PLACE, N. Y., May 30.
DEAR CRONIN, Salem, Oregon :– Potter peter-
ing. Socdolager to your cr[edit]. in bank. Whisky
free. Uncle under the load. Lightning bun-
combe. Hi as. Hi yow. Nica cuitan close,
Quick.The latter clause being Oregon Indian.
Cronin could read without cipher, and
save time.
— from the Oregon City (OR) Enterprise of June 13, 1878, page 2, column 4
It doesn’t help much that the above message is humorous nonsense, but here’s what the Jargon words in it mean:
- Hi as = háyás(h) = ‘big’
- Hi yow = háyú = ‘much. lots of’
- Nica cuitan close = nayka kʰíyutən łúsh = ‘my horse is a good one’
Bonus fact:
We can add this example to our growing file on Chinook Jargon telegrams!
Sure, it’s fictitious, but it’s fun!
