vocab word

[shannon west]

----- Original Message -----
From: rwd0002 at unt.edu
Date: Monday, November 15, 2004 10:41 am
Subject: Re: vocab word

> Quoting shannon west <shanwest at shaw.ca>:
>
> > I was wondering if any of you recognise the word 'suyapi' as a
> Siouan word.
> > It sure looks like something Dakotan, but I can't place it. Ideas?
> >
> A common word for "white man" in Interior Salish and Sahaptin,
> right?

Yep. Didn't want to poison the question though. :)

> I don't
> think it is Dakotan.

It sure looks like it though! Not that that means it is, but I figured this was a good place to ask.

> I would ask the Sahaptianists or
> Salishanists, or maybe
> even northernmost Numicists.

Well, it was a Salishanist who had me ask here. He says there is no known etymology for the word in Salish. I know someone in Sahaptin studies, so I'll give him a try next. Thanks for the idea.