There was (and is) no (Chinook) Bible (yet); here’s proof (if you’re paying attention)
If you can read between lines and supply stuff in virtual quotation marks, you’re my kinda person, internet reader!
You’re gonna like this:
Image credit: LorneBair.com
There was (and is) no (Chinook) Bible (yet); today, here’s proof (if you’re paying attention).
{If you want there to be a Chinook Jargon Bible, I can do that for you.
HIRE A LINGUIST!™
Obviously it’s a multi-year contract big job.
I gotta feed my kids.}
Proof that the Bible doesn’t exist (in Chinuk Wawa) —
Pus liplit iaka kopit wawa, kanawi
‘When the priest was done talking, all of the’taii klaska mit.hwit iht pi iht,
‘chiefs stood one by one,’pi klaska wawa pus klaska drit tomtom
‘and said how they were definitely mindful’kopa ukuk mamuk, pus klaska kwanisim
‘of these things and would always’tlus nanich ukuk mamuk kopa klaska
‘take care of these tasks in their’ilihi. Taii Lui kopa Kamlups ilip wawa,
‘communities. Chief Louis from Kamloops spoke first,’pi Andri kopa SShB, pi Lio kopa Hlawt,
‘and Andrew from St John the Baptist (Chu Chua), and Leon from Hallout (Neskonlith),’Silista kopa Nikola, Pol Sacha kopa Kol Watir
‘Celestin (Johnny Chillihitza) from the Nicola, Paul Sacha from Coldwater,’Inas kopa Hid Lik, wiht kaptin Birshami* kopa
‘Ignace from Head (of the) Lake, also Captain Berjamin* from’Kamlups, pi Saforia Tahwalsht kopa ShKH,
‘Kamloops, and Symphorien Tahwalsht from Sexqeltqin,’Antwan Iarpskint kopa Kol Watir, pi Aliksandir kopa
‘Antoine Yarpskint from Coldwater, and Alexander from’Hid Lik.
‘Head (of the) Lake.’Kimta klaska ashnu, klaska iskom
‘After this, they kneeled, they picked up’klaska flags, pi klaska kis lakrwa
‘their flags, and they kissed the cross’pi [mamuk] mitlait klaska lima kopa styuil buk,
‘and touching the prayer book, klaska wawa: ‘they said:’“Naika skukum tomtom pus mamuk hilp
‘ “I resolve to help out in’ukuk mamuk kopa tilikom: ST hilp
‘this work with the people; the Creator will’naika.”
‘help me.”
— from “Celebration at Kamloops” in Kamloops Wawa #198 (September 1901), pages 57 & 59
You see, the chiefs swore on the nearest thing to a Bible that was available: the “prayer book” (presumably the “Chinook Manual”, “Shushwap Manual”, “Polyglott [SIC] Manual”, etc.).
Also file this under “swearing oaths in Chinook Jargon“, in court & otherwise.
