Customer Reviews

Western Apache-English Dictionary: A Community-Generated Bilingual Dictionary

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was created as a way to help save the Apache language. "The primary audience for this book is the Apaches who are learning to read and write their own language." (From the Preface and Acknowledgements Western Apache-English Dictionary.)

The goal was to standardize the language so that all Apaches keep their rich heritage in today's bilingual, bicultural society. This version contains over 10,500 Apache / English word and over 4,400 dialect versions.

For me the Western Apache-English Dictionary is much more. I was born on the White Mountain Apache Reservation when the Apaches allowed peoples other than the Mountain Tribe to live there. My inability to live in the small town where I was born is reasonable -- it is due to combating simple attrition that has caused many native cultures to merge into others and disappear.

However, my heart and soul are linked to the blood of the land. When I discovered this book, which was compiled by Editor Dorothy Bray in collaboration with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, I felt as if I had found the manna in the desert.

Not only does this book contain the cross-reference between English and Apache words, it has the grammar, verb construction, changes in writing conventions, the Apache alphabet, and how to pronounce the words using the unique Apache marks.

The book format has sufficient white space to make it easy to associate the words, and to study the grammar rules. After these rules are meticulously detailed the next section is the Apache word translated to the English equivalent; the second is reversed. All of this care makes it easier to research or enhance linguistic skills.

For the Writer:

Most writers love dictionaries, reference books, and the etymology of words. Why would a writer want one more dictionary?

One answer is that we writers can "only cure" our addictions to books, words, and diverse languages by getting every book in the universe -- it is a long, constant quest. However, we do this to increase the veracity of researched details within the plot that allows readers to suspend disbelief making the story more than entertaining.

My word processor will not place the correct markings in the Apache words, but I will provide a few of the Apache words and English associations. If you intend to write a story set in Fort Apache or the surrounding area then you should purchase this book for reference. These genres include: S/F time travel, histories of the old West, historical romances, fantasies such as "A Connecticut Yankee in King Author's Court" except the hero finds he is facing Geronimo.

This section includes some of the words; please note the slashes between meanings because they indicate different dialects:

Five examples of case changes:

* iich'igo'aahi -- a teacher or he is teaching

* iich'igon'aa -- he taught

* iich'igon'aah -- you teach or you have taught * iich'igot'aah -- he will be taught

* iicg'igot'aahgo na'godi'i -- parable / story that teaches

Similar in meaning:

* kude -- here

* ku'de -- right here

* kudé' -- from here

* ku'dahyu' -- up here

* kude'yogo -- if it were here

English to Apache:

* evil -- ch'lin biyi' golinthi

* do evil or witchcraft -- da'ohni' or da'oi'di'

This five star book is rich and rewarding.

Victoria Tarrani

My copy of this excellent book is very well-thumbed by now, and it continues to fascinate me. It begins with a pronunciation guide which I found easy to understand, although a little more explanation of the silent "l" sound would have been useful. This is followed by a description of the Apache verb complex. "Complex" is the word! - but it gradually became more understandable after I had been using the dictionary for a little while. The verb-forms of "to handle" come next; this is a crucial aspect of the language, and is simply and intelligently presented here. Prefixes, suffixes and affixes follow - again, very useful information.

The layout of the dictionary is logical and serves to illustrate the kinds of linguistic connections which the Apache make - connections which are as different as possible from the ones which English speakers make. For this reason, I suggest that some knowledge or investigation of Native American culture would be a great help to users of this dictionary. It has certainly inspired me to seek out such information.

In sum, this is a work of great scholarship, and has been compiled with real love of the Apache language. It's a treasure to own.

Living out here in California, I appreciate the time and effort that went into the writing of this book. I must say while being fluent in Western Apache, there are many vital words that have been ommitted...flora and fauna, for starters. Listening to the 'elders' speak is a lot different than what is written in this book. Three stars for effort...

This dictionary is relatively small (only 2000 entries). However, the entries are very well-done with different verb forms, dialect variations, and sample phrases. There is also a good grammatical overview and pronunciation guide. Please note that this is the Western Apache language, which is significantly different from the Chiricahua Apache language--the two languages are related, but no more so than French and Spanish are, so don't buy this dictionary hoping to read or learn Chiricahua Apache!

This dictionary has errors (in spelling of words and in sketch of sounds & grammar). It is essentially a revised version of a dictionary published in the early 1970s. Of course, some words have been added.

It is useful to compare this dictionary to the dictionaries published on Navajo. As is easily seen, this dictionary lacks much explanational content. This dictionary may be more useful for native speakers, but for non-speakers it will be hard to look up Apache verbs (and there are thousands of words not listed in the dictionary). The Navajo Analytic Lexicon has a better layout for language learners since it orders verbs by verb stem.

However, there is, unfortunately, no other dictionary in print. So, this dictionary will have to do for now.

There is also good news to report: An advanced pedagogical grammar Western Apache has just been published (in 2006). This is Willem de Reuse & Phillip Goode's "A Practical Grammar of the San Carlos Apache Language" published by LINCOM. (ISBN: 3895868612). What is useful is the Western Apache-English & English-Western Apache glossary, which lists nouns by noun stem, and the appendix of verb paradigms. Having this grammar may help language learners in getting more out of the Bray dictionary. (By the way, San Carlos Apache is the variety of Western Apache spoken in San Carlos and in other areas. White Moutain Apache is the variety of Western Apache spoken on the White Mountain Reservation and in other places).

My son thanks me for sending him this book. This is what he says:

"It is really well written and has many world/phrases that are helpful. It covers the Western Apache's Dialect from the Arizona and White Mountan Areas.

It has some differences from other bands of Apaches. LIke 'nnee' --people/apache and 'indoa' white people/whiteman in the Chirichawa dialect."

He goes on to say that the book does touch on verbs and alphabet but explains that a lot of words are full sentences. That he spent so much time to write details and share what he was learning through this dictionary shows that the gift was really appreciated.

Very well done product!

Pat Krenik

It is true that there are too many words missing, I suppose this is just a vocabulary to an unknown corpus of texts; it will help the Apache to learn how to spell, but a non-Apache won't learn much from it.