Indian Languages Database
Record Details
A grammar of the Massachusetts Indian language... A new edition with notes and observatins by Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL.D. and an introduction an supplementary observations, by John Pickering. As published in the Massachusetts historical collections.
Boston: Printed by Phelps and Farnham, 1822
Physical Description: 28, 3-66, lvi p. ; 22 cm.
Call number: D822/ E42g
Accession number: 06575
Notes: Eliot’s “The Indian grammar begun”, originally published Cambridge, Mass., 1666, is here reprinted with extensive additional material. Eliot’s text (p. [23]-28, 1st count and p. 3-66, 2nd count) begins with general remarks on alphabet, pronunciation, and grammar (p. 1-7, 2nd count); seven chapters address pronouns, nouns, adnouns, verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, and interjections (p. 7-24), and the rest consists primarily of verb paradigms for various tenses, moods, and voices (p. 24-65). Preceding Eliot’s text is “The Massachusetts language: introductory observations”, by John Pickering (p. 3-22, 1st count). Eliot’s text is followed by: “Notes and observations on Eliot’s Indian grammar. Addressed to John Pickering, Esq.” by Peter S. Du Ponceau (p. i-xxix); “Supplementary observations. By the Editor” (p. xxx-xlvii), with detailed remarks on the verbs “to be” and “to become” and extensive discussion of Du Ponceau’s and Heckewelder’s work as well as Eliot’s; an “Index of Indian words in Eliot’s grammar; including select words from his translation of the Bible” (p. xlviii-liv), in effect a vocabulary listing Massachuset terms with English equivalents as well as page references; and a postscript consisting of an extract of a letter from Mr. Du Ponceau intended as an addendum to the Pickering’s notes on Eliot’s grammar (p. [lv]-lvi), rejecting Barton’s theory of Nanticoke numerals as derived from those of the Bambara Africans.
Original dated title page reprinted on p. [23], 1st group.
Pickering’s “Massachusetts language” first published as “A new grammar of the Massachusetts Indian language” by John Pickering, originally printed in Massachusetts Historical Society Collection, 2nd ser., vol. 9, p. 213-312, p. i-liv.
To access digital facsimile copy of book, click here.
Languages: Massachuset
Genre: Grammar / Vocabulary
Region: North America
