Documentation:RelLex/A Dictionary of the Kalispel or Flat-Head Indian Language
A Dictionary of the Kalispel or Flat-Head Indian Language
| Relational Lexicography Knowledgebase | |
|---|---|
| |
| About RelLex | |
| An index of under-resourced North American language references, including print and digital dictionaries. | |
| Browse by | |
| About the Knowledgebase | |
| Find our filterable Knowledgebase of dictionaries and lexicography technology at https://knowledgebase.arts.ubc.ca/. | |
Language Name
Salish.
Alternate Language Names
Séliš, Salish-Spokane-Kalispel, Kalispel-Pend d'oreille, Kalispel-Spokane-Flathead, spoqín, Montana Salish.
Region
Montana and Washington, United States.
Who
Rev. Joseph Giorda (Missionaries of the Society of Jesus).
Others Involved
There is no information included in this resource about others involved.
This dictionary was analyzed by Steven M. Egesdal in 2004. In his analysis, Egesdal suspects that this dictionary "almost certainly reflects the work of several priests who gathered material over three decades in the mid to late 1800s, including at least Fathers Joseph Bandini, Gregory Mengarini, Joseph Guidi, and Leopold van Gorp" (1).
Publishing Information
Published 1879, St. Ignatius Print, Montana.
How People are Cited
This dictionary does not cite any speakers or contributors.
How Information is Cited
This dictionary does not cite the source of its information.
Where is Information Coming from
This dictionary does not indicate where its information is coming from or what sources are used.
According to Egesdal (2004), there are several short Salish manuscripts of lexical material in the Jesuit Archives which Giorda could have used to build this dictionary. There are no manuscripts in the Jesuit Archives which correspond exactly, but there is a manuscript dated 1871 by Giorda which was largely based on a dictionary manuscript dated 1866 by Mengarini. Bandini also has an early manuscript in the Jesuit Archives. Egesdal clarifies "The published Dictionary contains a great amount of material not in any known or extant earlier manuscript" (1), implying information in this dictionary may not only come from previous written work, but also from speakers.
Tools and Framework used
This dictionary is available as a physical book and a digital book.
Access
The physical book is available through libraries. The digital book is open access through Canadiana and the Plateau Peoples' Web Portal.
Included Languages and Directionality
Salish to English (Volume 1); English to Salish (Volume 2).
Dialects Included
This dictionary contains information from the Kalispel (nqlispélišcn) and Flathead (nsélišcn) dialects.
Type of Dictionary
This is a bilingual, bidirectional dictionary.
How are Entries Organised
Entries are organized alphabetically by Salish in Volume 1 (Salish–English) "according to the initial letter of what the authors perceived as the 'root' of the word" (Egesdal, 2004, 3). Entries are organized alphabetically by English in Volume 2 (English–Salish).
A guide to pronunciation of the Salish alphabet is included at the beginning of Volume 2 (English–Salish). There is an appendix at the end of Volume 1 (Salish–English) which conjugates verbs, discusses the grammatical function of reduplication within words, and describes suffixes not previously covered.
Other Features
| Feature | Included | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Guide to use and understand | ✅ | In Key to Both Parts at the beginning of Volume 2 (English–Salish) |
| Audio | ❌ | |
| Images | ❌ | |
| Example phrases | ✅ | More consistently in Volume 1 (Salish–English) |
| Speakers marked | ❌ | |
| Dialects marked | ✅ | Identified differences within entries in Volume 1 (Salish–English) |
Other Notes
This dictionary contains offensive and problematic language and depiction of the Salish people throughout the Preface of Volume 1 (Salish–English).
According to Egesdal (2004), "There are numerous inconsistencies...so practically every word needs to be checked with a native speaker" (4).
External Links
Reference on WorldCat: https://www.worldcat.org/title/1083716224
Open access scan from Canadiana:
Volume 1 (Salish–English): https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.35614/1
Volume 2 (English–Salish): https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.35615/1
Open access scan available through the Plateau People's web portal (can be difficult to read due to scan quality)
Volume 1 (Salish–English): https://plateauportal.libraries.wsu.edu/digital-heritage/dictionary-kalispel-or-flat-head-indian-language-volume-1
Volume 2 (English–Salish): https://plateauportal.libraries.wsu.edu/digital-heritage/dictionary-kalispel-or-flat-head-indian-language-volume-2
An analysis of the dictionary by Steven M. Egesdal (2004): http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/kalispel/dictionary.pdf