Fact check: Does "Latah" (Idaho) really mean "teeth"?

[Dave Robertson]

We've discussed "Latah" on this list before; I carry the assumption that
it's Lewis & Clark's "Lar-tie-lo", said to be their name for the Spokane
Indians.  Their spelling with an "r" suggests to me a pronunciation distinct
from the Jargon word for "tooth".  So "Latah" as a CJ word = a linguistic myth?

--Dave


On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:17:34 -0800, Scott Tyler <s.tylermd at COMCAST.NET> wrote:

>Good question.
>Most locals pronounce this lay tah.
>This is close to the Nez Perce Reservation.
>It may be a Nez Perce word.
>Scott
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dave Robertson" <ddr11 at UVIC.CA>
>To: <CHINOOK at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>
>Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 5:56 PM
>Subject: Fact check: Does "Latah" (Idaho) really mean "teeth"?
>
>
>> http://www.sangres.com/idaho/places/latah/
>>
>> To respond to the CHINOOK list, click 'REPLY ALL'.  To respond privately
>> to the sender of a message, click 'REPLY'.  Hayu masi!
>
>To respond to the CHINOOK list, click 'REPLY ALL'.  To respond privately to
the sender of a message, click 'REPLY'.  Hayu masi!

To respond to the CHINOOK list, click 'REPLY ALL'.  To respond privately to the sender of a message, click 'REPLY'.  Hayu masi!