Was Jargon the original language of humans?

[David Robertson]

An interesting question.  That's what Chief Leo of Hlawt (Hallout, a 
Shuswap village) asked in the middle of a letter to a priest, circa 1892:

Ilip kopa ukuk,
(BEFORE FROM THAT)
'Before that,

kopit iht mitlait kopa ukuk tilikom.  Klunas
(ONLY 1 EXIST TO THESE PEOPLE         DUNNO)
there was only one language for the people.  Who knows

ikta ukuk wawa?  O, tlus, naika papa liplit,
(WHAT THIS LANGUAGE  OH PLEASE MY FATHER PRIEST)
what that language was?  Oh, please, my father priest, 

mamuk hilp kopa naika.  Naika tiki
(MAKE HELP TO ME        I WANT)
help me out.  I want

pus maika wawa, ikta ukuk wawa,
(FOR YOU SAY    WHAT THIS LANGUAGE)
you to tell what that language was,
 
pus Shinuk, pus Wait man wawa, Shainaman
(IF CHINOOK IF WHITE MAN LANGUAGE CHINESE)
whether it was Chinook, whether it was White man talk, Chinese

wawa, pus Sawash wawa.
(LANGUAGE IF INDIAN LANGUAGE)
language, or if it was Indian.'

--Dave R

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