Glynn-Ward on BC Indian English & CJ

[David Robertson]

Hello, Klahowyam,

Glynn-Ward, H.  "The glamour of British Columbia."  New York:  Century,
1926.

* page 37:  '..."Johnny the Baptist", an Indian from the rancheree ten
miles off...'

* page 148:  '[Chief Wemun-Osak of Blackwater Lake area was] specially
dressed for the occasion in a rain-coat with a blue Masonic riboon over it
and a tall hat, that he found Heaven knows where, with a crown painted on
the front of it, "all same King George".'

* page 149:  '[Two Indians from the "Sicanee" country] knew only two or
three words, picked up from the fur-traders, that were comprehensible to
her, and nothing of the Chinook lingo known to their brothers farther
south...'

* page 156:  'He ran there to see what it was, only to run away again
still quicker and waken them all with a shout:  "Hyu skookum bear eat up
alla bacon!"'

Notes:  I'm beginning to wonder if there was a definite early stage of
"Red English" in BC, as elsewhere, which was a sort of pidgin.  This is a
very intriguing notion in the light of the presence of Chinook Jargon in
this region.  The chief's phrasing on page 148 is essentially identical to
the pigin Englishes of the Pacific Ocean, and you students of pidgins and
creoles might be interested in pursuing this matter farther.  (Is that a
note to myself or what?)

Also, note the consistent testimony of northern BC, Yukon and
Alaska witnesses, to the effect that Chinook Jargon was not as well known
in those regions.  It also looks as though there may have been a distinct
and perhaps simplified variety of CJ in the north, perhaps containing
additional vocabulary items coming from local sources, e.g.
"hootch(enoo)".

Finally, I can't help but wonder if there were several distinctively
"Indian English" words in BC around the turn of the century.  "Rancheree"
is one word I suspect of being in that set.  "Grease trail" might well be
another item of this description; and a possible calque from CJ and/or the
indigenous languages to boot.

More soon, if you can stand it!

Best wishes from Dave
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