(Part 1.) How old is the famous “Boston men” versus “King George men” distinction in Chinuk Wawa? Countless history books refer to the verbal difference as a fundamental one on the early Pacific Northwest… Continue reading →

I amused my daughter by pointing out the absurdity of telling Google to “translate dandelion into French” 🙂

My critical arguments about the origin of Chinook Jargon’s Boston man / bástən mán for ‘American/white people’ have gotten rehashed lately. The long-accepted story has been that this expression has to do with the early… Continue reading →

(Here is Bostonais part 1.) Yesterday I showed you my idea that Chinuk Wawa boston “American; white person” originates, not straightforwardly in English, but instead in Canadian (Métis) French bostonais. I don’t take as extreme a… Continue reading →