Algonquian–Basque pidgin

The Algonquian–Basque pidgin was a Basque-based pidgin spoken by Basque whalers and various Algonquian peoples.[1] It was spoken around the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It was last attested in 1710.[1]

Algonquian–Basque pidgin
RegionGulf of Saint Lawrence
Era16th to 18th century[1]
Basque-based pidgin
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
Glottologbasq1252
Basque (both French and Spanish) and Breton fishing sites in 16th and 17th centuries.

There were three groups of First Nations that the Basque people distinguished. The ones with which they had good relations were the Montagnais and the St. Lawrence Iroquoians. They also knew of the Inuit, whom they considered hostile. The Basque people referred to them as the Montaneses, the Canaleses and the Esquimoas, respectively.[2]

Sample words

Pidgin Original language English translation
Normandia Normandia (Basque), 'Normandy' French
kir kir (Mi'kmaq) you
ania anaia (Basque) brother
capitana capitaina (Basque), kapitaina in Standard Basque captain
endia andia (Basque), handia in Standard Basque large
chave chave (roa) know

[3]

See also

References

  1. Bakker, Peter (1989). "'The Language of the Coast Tribes is Half Basque': A Basque-American Indian Pidgin in Use between Europeans and Native Americans in North America, ca. 1540-ca. 1640". Anthropological Linguistics. 31 (3/4): 117–147. JSTOR 30027995.
  2. Echoes from the Past
  3. Gray, Edward (2000). The Language Encounter in the Americas, 1492-1800. Berghahn Books. pp. 342. ISBN 9781571812100. The Language Encounter in the Americas, 1492-1800: A Collection of Essays.

Further reading

  • Koldo Mitxelena (1984): "Lingüística inmanente y lingüística trascendente", "Julio Urquijo" Euskal Filologiaren Seminoarioaren Urtekaria, 18, 251–266. orr, Donostia, Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia.
  • Peter Bakker (1989): "The language of the coast tribes is half basque", Anthropological linguistics 31: 117–147. orr.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.