Oneida-English/English-Oneida Dictionary (Hardcover)

~ E. Kain Michelson (Author), Mercy A. Doxtator (Author)

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Product Description

Oneida is an endangered Iroquoian language spoken fluently by fewer than 250 people. This is the first comprehensive dictionary of the Oneida language as used in Ontario, where most of the surviving speakers reside.

The dictionary contains both Oneida-English and English-Oneida sections. The Oneida-English portion includes some 6000 entries, presenting lexical bases, particles and grammatical morphemes. Each entry for a base shows several forms; illustrates inflection, meaning and use; and gives details regarding pronunciation and cultural significance. The English-Oneida entries direct the reader to the relevant base in the Oneida-English section, where technical information is provided. Completing the volume is a set of appendices that organizes Oneida words into thematic categories.

The Iroquoian languages have an unusually complex word structure, in which lexical bases are surrounded by layers of prefixes and suffixes. This dictionary presents and explains that structure in the clearest possible terms. A work of enormous precision and care, it incorporates many innovative ideas and shows a deep understanding of the nature of the Oneida language.

Language Notes

Text: English

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1200 pages
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press; 1 edition (May 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802035906
• ISBN-13: 978-0802035905
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.9 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #778,993 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An expansive, thorough, scholarly reference, July 11, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Compiled by Karin E. Michelson (Associate Professor of Linguistics, State University of New York at Buffalo) and Mercy A. Doxtator (former Oneida-language teacher at the Standing Stone School at Oneida-of-the-Thames, and Director of the Oneida Language Center, 1993-1997), Oneida-English English-Oneida Dictionary is an expansive, thorough, scholarly reference for the Iroquoian Native American language, which is currently at risk of extinction and spoken fluently by fewer than 250 people. The Oneida-English portion features approximately 6000 entries, offering lexical bases, particles, and grammatical morphemes to round out its solid information. A brief yet thorough and competent guide to the essential basics of the Oneida language, its grammar and pronunciation prefaces the extensive list of dictionary entries. Oneida-English English-Oneida Dictionary is an impressive, scholarly, and thoroughly professional reference, and a welcome presentation and preservation of a rich cultural and traditional Native American language.