"Cat" word w/French definite article [fwd from D Hymes]

[David Robertson]

[forwarded from Dell Hymes:]


Dear David,

What you propose is certainly likely. Especially
given the glottalization of p, which would give the word
a diminutive character, as you say.
The absence of glottalization in the form from Johnson and Lionnet,
with the meaning of 'jaguar', fits
into this.
The e in 'lepish' might reflect a French pronunciation
[le], but that seems doubtful. Probably schwa, from [la].
As to lishat, presumably that would come from [le]
and "shirt', the [r] dropping out (no r, as you know, in
either Chinookan or Jargon).
I'm no doubt repeating your own interpretation. but
it seems the obviously correct one.
It would seem that French speakers (perhaps
speakers with mixed languages) might be used to maintaining French
beginnings (le, la) along with some
noun stems that came into use from English (shirt).
The short stem preferable to chemise d'homme.
Again, all this is no doubt what you have
already traced. What other basis could there be?

With best wishes,

Dell

PS. Thanks for indicating the presence of Jargon in
Boas' Chinook sketch. I should have know that, but
had forgotten it.

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