Fw: Omaha language

[R. Rankin]

Folks,

This is a note I received from someone, presumably an
Omaha, who was inquiring or complaining about
someone -- I'm not sure which.  Above the original
message is my reply to her.  Anyone know her or who she
might be talking about?  I thought it was possible she
might be with the group that fellow from NY was
representing at the Siouan Conference in Bloomington.

Bob


----- Original Message -----
From: R. Rankin <rankin at KU.EDU>
To: Colleen Flores <cflores at nuihc.com>
Cc: Bob Rankin <rankin at KU.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: Omaha language


> Hi,
>
> I received your note.  I'm not sure what web site you
> were looking at, nor do I know what Omaha tribal
> members and/or linguists you're troubled by.  My own
> work is mostly with the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma.  The
> Kaws spoke a language very much like Omaha and Ponca,
> so I generally find any publication on Omaha to be
very
> helpful to me in my own work.  As you say, every
little
> bit helps, and having something is better than
nothing
> at all.
>
> All of the linguists studying the Omaha language that
I
> know are very interested in working with the Omaha
> people and would be more than happy to try to help
out
> in any way they could those individuals you describe
> with degrees in education.  I think all you'd have to
> do is contact them.  People who know languages with
> relatively few speakers almost always argue a bit
among
> themselves over the meanings of words and correctness
> of grammar and pronunciation.  It is natural that
each
> of us follows the usage of our own family elders.
> There's nothing wrong with this -- language is always
> changing bit by bit and meanings and usage do vary
from
> family to family and person to person.  This is just
as
> true of English as it is of Omaha actually.  What is
> important is that groups like the Omahas get together
> and work these little problems out in a friendly
> manner.  If they split into factions, it just becomes
> that much harder to preserve the language and teach
it
> successfully.  And as we all know, learning a
language
> isn't all that easy to begin with!
>
> I will pass your message along to Ardis Eschenberg,
> Catherine Rudin and John Koontz, all of whom have
> academic interests in the Omaha language and people.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Bob Rankin
> Linguistics Department
> University of Kansas
> Lawrence, KS 66044
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Colleen Flores <cflores at nuihc.com>
> To: <rankin at lark.cc.ukans.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 9:05 AM
> Subject: Omaha language
>
>
> > I just came across the web.  I am disappointed that
> the real people of
> > the OMAHA have not been included in the credits of
> the Omaha language.
> > We have excellent people who have BS. Degrees in
> Education, whom I know
> > personally that are disappointed in what is being
> written and published
> > without full consent of the real PEOPLE who speak
and
> use the daily in
> > the home.  None of these people have use the
language
> on a daily basis.
> >
> >
> > The dictionary by Swetland is somewhat of a slang
> usage.  Numerous
> > meanings have been omitted.
> > But this is better than not having anything to work
> with.  If sir, you
> > have any material available to share with me I
would
> appreciate it.
> > I do know Mr. Swetland personally, right now he is
> recovering from
> > surgery.  I like to explore any information
> pertaining to the Omaha
> > language.
> > Colleen Flores Omaha
> > cflores at unihc.com <mailto:cflores at unihc.com>
> > fax(402)43-7180
>
>