Audio: Early Ellensburg settlers talking Chinook
I’m excited to post this link to a LONG audio recording of Jargon right away.
I expect I’ll say more about it & transcribe it later. — Dave
“CWU Library Lectures:
In this interview, Eva Shaw and Arthur J. Damman—early settlers in Washington state—speak about Chinook jargon, or the language used by white and indigenous residents of the Pacific Northwest to trade and interact in the 19th century. Shaw and Damman hold a conversation in Chinook jargon to demonstrate.”
(The recording must have been made in the 1950’s; the audio quality is good.)
Very interesting to hear some of the words spoken. Also interesting that the Kititas had their own “dialect” of the language incorporating some Yakima words. Thanks for posting this!
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I loved hearing the pioneers talk, too, it’s a very rare document. And the part about local mixes involving Chinook is something we hear about in other places, so it seems quite accurate.
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Eva Shaw was especially wonderful, helping him to use Chinook Wawa words. What a treasure. Thanks for sharing this.
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I have the feeling Eva’s memory was clearer 🙂 And his fantasy about Indians knowing numbers only up to five is belied by his own use of the Chinook word for “seven”, eh?
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The link for this recording is dead. You wouldn’t happen to know if we can get it anywhere else would you?
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Try <a href="https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/html5/html5lib/v2.86/mwEmbedFrame.php/p/2540751/uiconf_id/44260982/entry_id/1_zjn3l1ks?wid=_2540751&iframeembed=true&playerId=kaltura_player_1563990247&entry_id=1_zjn3l1ks"this.
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Here’s an updated link to this fine recording. — Dave
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