1884, WA: Chinook dictionary, racism, misogyny, bad grammar, the usual
A well-known Chinuk Wawa dictionary in the frontier era gets a reception that typifies Settlers’ privileged attitudes.
The edition in question (image credit: HathiTrust)
Here’s a paragraph that veers real fast from facts to a dense jumble of stereotypes:
CHINOOK DICTIONARY. — We acknowl-
edge the receipt of a complete dictionary
of the chinook jargon, with the compli-
ments of Messrs. J. K. Gill & Co., the
enterprising paper dealers of Portland.
Gentlemen, our thanks. And when the
gentle “Forest maiden” meanders in the
direction of rag alley, we will delve into
the depths of the tenas lexicon and softly [little]
breathe into her unwilling ear, “Klatawa [Go away,]
kloshe klutchman; elip nika kokshut me- [good woman, before I bust you.folks’]
sika latate.” [heads]
— from the Dayton (WA) Columbia Daily Chronicle of May 24, 1884, page 3, column 1
For an ethnic/cultural group who clung to Chinook Jargon as their private property for decades after it declined, Pacific NW White society showed little shame in using it against Indigenous folks.
