Western Abenaki Dictionary, Volume 1: Abenaki-English (Mercury Series) (Paperback)

by Gordon M. Day (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This dictionary is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in the Algonquin family of languages. Written for non-linguists, it was prepared over a period of 40 years by Gordon Day to record and preserve Western Abenakis, a nearly extinct language that is spoken only by the Abenakis Algonquins who live in in eastern Canada. This volume is the first in a two volume set.

Language Notes
Text: English
Introduction: French

Product Details

• Paperback: 616 pages
• Publisher: Canadian Museum Of Civilization (August 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0660140241
• ISBN-13: 978-0660140247
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,899 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > English (Canadian)
  #28 in	Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Native American
  #34 in	Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Native American

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning and Important Work, September 11, 2003

By	S. Stroshane (Brighton, Massachusetts United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Through Hollywood and TV, people have become familiar with the western Indian tribes such as the Lakota and Cheyenne. But in the East, the Wabanaki-Abenaki peoples have had a tremendous influence on American history as well.

This Abenaki-English dictionary captures an extremely difficult language and fosters cross-cultural understanding. Although it's a bit awkward to look up specific terms because the Abenaki terms are listed first, not the English ones, this is a valuable treasure to writers, scholars and anyone seeking to gain greater knowledge of the Abenaki people.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource, December 25, 2003

By	Laura Redish (Twin Cities, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This thorough dictionary includes more than 13,000 Abenaki words, including many related word forms illustrating the complexity of Abenaki verbs. There's also a glossary of word roots and sections on pronunciation, orthography, and grammar, as well as some comments on dialects and loanwords. The main drawback to this book is that it is volume 1 of a two-volume set, presenting an Abenaki-English dictionary only. For some reason the second volume, an English-Abenaki dictionary, is not carried by amazon.com, even though it would probably be of more interest to the general readership.