Tracks That Speak: A Legacy of Native American Words in North American Culture.CHARLES L. CUTLER This dictionary of Native American words, mostly nouns, that permeate American English reveals not only the etymology etymology (ĕtĭmŏl`əjē), branch of linguistics that investigates the history, development, and origin of words. It was this study that chiefly revealed the regular relations of sounds in the Indo-European languages (as described , but also details how each word was used in traditional American Indian society. For instance, the entry on parkas explains how the coats were originally fashioned of seabird feathers and marmot marmot, ground-living rodent of the genus Marmota, of the squirrel family, closely related to the ground squirrel, prairie dog, and chipmunk. Marmots are found in Eurasia and North America; the best-known North American marmot is the woodchuck, M. pelts--even salmon skins, in a pinch. For lovers of precision, the difference between a parka and an anorak is also defined. Readers learn that Native Americans revered the terrapin terrapin (tĕr`əpĭn), name for several edible turtles of fresh or brackish water. terrapin Any omnivorous aquatic turtle of the family Emydidae, especially the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). and considered raccoons intelligent and crafty. Words loaned to English from Native Americans include powwow powwow American Indian ceremony or gathering of various kinds. Powwows originally were healing ceremonies, but the word could also refer to exuberant celebrations, with dancing and singing, of success in hunting or victory in battle. , kayak, bayou, and toboggan. Many entries in this book consist of words so common in everyday language today that people don't usually recognize their Native American origin. HM, 2002, 255 p., b&w illus., paperback, $14.00. |
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