Grand Ronde spellings and others for CJ

[David Robertson]

Klahowyam, Robin,

Many thanks for your message!  By way of reply,
Hayash masi khapa uk-ma-c'em-pipa!  Pus na-wawa k'ilapay,

the different ways people spell Chinook Jargon are like
xluwima tilxem munk-c'em Chxi Chinuk xluwima, pi ukuk kakwa

the 'dialects' (may I say that?*) of CJ spoken in various
xluwima tilxem wawa ukuk lalang xluwima khapa yawa pi yakwa

places in the Northwest.
khapa nsayka ili'i.

Here's what I mean:  Not everyone's going to easily understand someone
Nanich, kakwa ukuk:  Wik kanawi-lhaksta ayaq kemteks xluwima man

else's CJ, and not everyone's going to easily understand someone
ya-wawa Chinuk, pi wik kanawi-lhaksta ayaq kemteks xluwima man ya-munk -

else's writing of it.
c'em Chinuk.

But, what is CJ if not a means of attempting to understand
Pi pus-ikta tilxem wawa uk Chxi Chinuk?  Pus lhas-kemteks

each other?
xluwima man, wigna?

(*Maybe "accents" would be more appropriate.  However, I consistently
(*Tl'unes ilip lhush uk basten wa "accents".  Qhanchi...kwanesem na-

notice that there were formerly say three major regional variants
k'welan pi nanich khapa c'em-pipa, anqeti nawitka lhun Chinuk ili'i,

[Southern ca. Oregon,
[qha uk san milhet pus sitkem san, khapa Oregon pi wik-saya yawa;

Northern ca. Puget Sound and coastal BC,
qha uk kol chaku, khapa salt-c'eq ili'i;

and Interior ca. BC and Washington State.]
pi inatay uk lamotey, khapa dlai ili'i.]

each with its own characteristic features.)
pi khapa kanawi ukuk ili'i tilxem wawa Chinuk dret xluwima.)

What say you, friend?
Qhata ma-temtem, sixs?

Warm regards from Dave
Nika wawa klahowya.  Dave

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On Wed, 6 Jan 1999, R K Henderson wrote:

> Let's not forget, while discussing spelling, that Jargon varies widely in
> pronunciation from place to place. I doubt Alaska speakers could
> understand a word Siskiyou speakers pronounced. Therefore, before we can
> develop a scientific writing system, we have to decide whose Jargon is
> the 'real' one. (Or, stated another way, who will be in the vast majority
> of "incorrect" speakers.)
>
> As those involved with Native languages will tell you, the issue of how
> to write an unwritten language is not trivial. I know Navajo linguists
> who rue the day their language was alphabetised. I myself find much of
> the Jargon in this group incomprehensible. Part of this is because many
> members have chosen transcriptions that vary widely from those I'm used
> to. But a lot of it is because I can't even figure out what they're
> saying when I read their messages out loud to myself. Their Jargon is too
> "weird."
>
> At base, the problem is that Jargon was never intended to be written, and
> doing so changes it in some dramatic ways. In real life, we're supposed
> to have eye contact with each other, to subtitle our words simultaneously
> in Native sign, and to use exaggerated vocal and facial expressions to
> convey degree.
>
> All of which is to say, let's be careful of being good little 21st
> century eggheads and get all wrapped up in spelling, pronunciation, and
> grammar. (Not that there's anything wrong with light discussion of these
> topics.) For Jargon scholars, this is a little like boring a hole in the
> bottom of a swamped boat to let the water out.
>
> Mahsie naika kumtukh (Mahsie nika kumtux, massie niga komtuch, etc.)
>
>
>
> Robin Henderson
> Writer and Photographer
>
> Check out my biweekly column on world languages:
> http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/world_languages
>
>