First Klallam language dictionary revives ancient Native American tongue (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

*First Klallam language dictionary revives ancient Native American tongue*

By Arwyn Rice
Peninsula Daily News

Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES — The next time someone tries to figure out the unfamiliar
alphabet and language of a sign printed in Klallam, such as the arched
entrance to the Peninsula College Longhouse in Port Angeles, they can look
it up in a dictionary.

A 1,008-page bound dictionary has put the language of the original North
Olympic Peninsula people into print.

Port Angeles High School Klallam language teacher Jamie Valadez was one of
the first to receive a set of the dictionaries, each about 4 inches thick.

The delivery was fitting: Klallam is one of four languages offered to Port
Angeles High School students to meet graduation and college entrance
requirements.

“Just before Thanksgiving, we had it in our hands,” Valadez said, proudly
displaying one of the library-quality volumes.

Access full article below:
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20121214/NEWS/312149988/first-klallam-language-dictionary-revives-ancient-native-american

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Saving the language

The Klallam Dictionary includes:

■ The Klallam alphabet and pronunciation guide.

■ A list of Klallam words with a description of English meanings and a
sentence that uses the word.

■ A list of English words with their Klallam equivalent.

■ The history of the how the dictionary was produced, including the names
and a brief biography of each contributor.

The initials of the elders who helped with the dictionary are listed next
to their contributions.

In addition to the dictionary, an audible pronunciation guide is available
at http://tinyurl.com/hearklallam.

A “word of the day” with an audio pronunciation is available online at
Twitter or Facebook under the group name KlallamWOTD.

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ILAT note: KlallamWOTD on Twitter/Facebook is awesome!
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