Linguist

[Furbee, Louanna]

Hi Mr. Batson,
Lots of native american languages have sound distinctions that are hard to represent using just the ordinary alphabet that works more or less ok for European languages like English.  So the dots and squiggles are taken (as needed) from the international phonetic alphabet (with which any language sound can be represented - it is a BIG bunch of symbols and modifications of those symbols) for each native american language's alphabet.  It is always a struggle to select a sort of minimum set to represent the sounds properly, and at the same time, not be overwhelming.
So, about learning linguistics:  One of the nicest introductions I know of (it is not complete but a great start) is a little book called LANGUAGE: THE BASICS  by R. L. Trask.  You can order it from Amazon, they have new and used copies available starting at $1.98 (of course shipping will be more than that).  If you get into this field,you could later get a textbook for "doing" linguistics, and a favorite is one by Victoria Fromkin, Robert Rodman, and Nina Hyams, the title of which is AN INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE.  It is $85 new from Amazon and there are used copies of it from $55.  
Now I have to tell you, it is best to learn the "doing" of linguistics in consultation with a linguist, so I suggest you try to locate a linguist who does research on your language.  I don't know wazhazhe, or who might work on it, but if you will write to Victor Golla (vkg1 at humboldt.edu), the editor of the newsletter of the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas, he can look up in the society's data base who might be working on it, or put your request in the Newsletter. 
I'm copying in Golla with this message.
Much good fortune in pursuing knowledge of your heritage language.
Louanna Furbee


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-siouan at lists.colorado.edu on behalf of Clark Batson
Sent: Mon 3/5/2007 6:27 PM
To: siouan at lists.colorado.edu
Subject: Linguist
 
As a native person learning his native language,  wazhazhe, that knows 
nothing about linguistics and is totally confused by all the "dots and 
squiggles" linguists seem to love so much.  If some of you could offer 
suggestions about how a native person would go about learning the basics of 
linguistic theory and practice and all the symbols and technical jargon that 
goes along with it or a good book to read about it  it would be appreciated.

Clark Batson

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