Indian Languages Database
Record Details
The history of the Caribby-Islands... With a Caribbian-vocabulary. Rendered into English by John Davies of Kidwelly.
London: J. M., for Thomas Dring & John Starkey, 1666
Physical Description: [8], 351, [17] p., [9] leaves of plates : ill. ; 29 cm. (fol.)
Call number: E666/ R674h / 1-SIZE
Accession number: 67-408 , 01514
Notes: Includes "A Caribbian vocabulary" by Raymond Breton (p. 1-10 at end), listing several hundred terms in English with Carib equivalents, grouped in 10 thematic categories: The parts of man’s bodie; Kindred and alliance; Conditions and qualities; Actions and passions; Things relating to house-keeping and trade; Ornaments and armes; Living creatures; Trees and plants; Things elementary and inanimate; Things relating to religion. Book II, chapter 10 consists of “Certain remarks upon the Caribbian Language” (p. 259-265), addressing mainly vocabulary (descriptive glosses in French with few Carib terms), with some notes on pronunciation, intonation, grammar, and registers of speech. Book II, chapter 8 contains text relating to Apalachee language (p. 236) that is closer to 1658 edition in content and placement than to other editions listed in the present bibliography.
A free translation by John Davies of author's Histoire naturelle et morale des iles Antilles de L'Amerique, first published, Rotterdam, 1658. “Davies added material not found in the French edition and left out material, as well.” --Echeverria & Wilkie. Authorship from Echeverria & Wilkie. Has also been attributed to Louis de Poincy and to César de Rochefort.
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Languages: Apalachee / Carib
Genre: Grammar / Vocabulary
Region: Caribbean Islands
