Eastern Ojibwa-Chippewa-Ottawa Dictionary (Paperback)

~ R. A. W. Rhodes (Author)
Key Phrases: Walpole Island, Higher Power, Manitoulin Island (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Chicago (see Zhgaagong, which may mean "Place of the Skunk"). Kemo Sabe (see Giimoozaabi, which may mean "he looks out in secret"), and Giche-gumi (from Longfellow’s poem, see gchigami) are all words that came originally from algonquian languages and can be found in this dictionary. These languages have also given English such words as "moccasin" and "wigwam". In addition, words such as "fire water" (for hard liquor or whiskey) are direct translations from Algonquian languages.

This 9,000 word dictionary gives information on the Ojibwa language, which is still spoken by over 45,000 people in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. In Canada, the Ojibwa people live in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba. This work contains data from Eastern Ojibwa and Ottawa, two distinct dialects of the Ojibwa language. (Ottawa is known locally as Chippewa in Michigan and Southern Ontario.)

In addition to the English-Ojibwa and Ojibwa-English dictionaries, information on dialects, variation, and borrowing is given, and a lengthy guide to pronunciation is included.

The author, Richard A. Thodes, is a professor of linguistics. Formerly at the University of Michigan, he is now at the University of California at Berkeley.

Language Notes

Text: English

Product Details

• Paperback: 623 pages
• Publisher: Mouton de Gruyter (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3110137496
• ISBN-13: 978-3110137491
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,155,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars from a 'dip-in only' user, February 22, 2009

By	George H. Nilsen "novelist" (Eustis, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As the title of my review suggests, as a novelist wanting to provide a sense of the L'Anse Ojibwe language, this book is designed for linguists, it seems. I realize the need for the additional indications of some of the different senses of the same word, depending on the user and the situation, but it was iritating to have to memorize those abbreviations.
Instead of having to remember, for example, how to pronounce a double vowel (e.g.,'aa') I wish each word had pronunciation in terms of English sounds as do most other foreign language dictionaries.
In general, though,I found it useful. I don't know how long I'll keep it, since I doubt I'll be writing more novels re Ojibwe!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ojibwa Dictionary, August 13, 2004

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

This dictionary does an excellent job of presenting words from the different dialects of Ojibwa. Multiple verb forms are presented for each entry, as well as occasional sample sentences to clarify usage. Includes a long, thorough pronunciation section, but no grammar.