Documentation:RelLex/Comanche Dictionary and Grammar
Comanche Dictionary and Grammar
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Language Name
Comanche.
Alternate Language Names
Nʉmʉ Tekwapʉ̲.
Region
Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado, United States.
Who
Lila Wistrand-Robinson and James Armagost.
Others Involved
Elliot Conange (author of source work); Felix Kowena, Mary Redbird, Daisy Waters, Ned Timbo, Mary Wahkinney, Eva Tooahnipah, Watchetaker, and Maude Blevins (language consultants); National Endowment for the Humanities (funding); Iris Wares (editorial assistance); Weckeah Bradley and Ron Burgess (Comanche artists).
Publishing Information
The first edition of this dictionary was published in 1990 by SIL International Publications in Linguistics. The second edition was published in 2012.
How People are Cited
Speakers and contributors are cited under Acknowledgements.
How Information is Cited
Speakers and previous fieldwork are cited under Acknowledgements. Sources referenced in the Grammar are cited in the Bibliography.
Where is Information Coming from
This dictionary is based on previous work by Elliot Canonge during the 1940's and expanded with help from speakers who worked with Dr. Robinson and Dr. Armagost.
Tools and Framework used
This dictionary is available as a physical book.
Access
This dictionary is available through libraries.
Included Languages and Directionality
English to Comanche; Comanche to English.
Dialects Included
Most of the forms collected by Elliot Canonge come from the Wiaʔnʉʉ dialect. Forms from the Nookoni dialect, the Ohnono dialect, the Pehnanʉʉ dialect, the Kwahare dialect, and the Yapaiʔnʉʉ dialect are marked.
Type of Dictionary
This is a bilingual, bidirectional dictionary.
How are Entries Organised
Entries in the Comanche-English Dictionary are organised alphabetically by Comanche headword. Each entry includes the part of speech, variants in pronunciation or meaning, dialect, case and number, the English definition, etymologies if known, example sentences when possible, and comparative forms. Sketches by two Comanche artists are included for objects and plants of cultural significance.
Five appendices follow the dictionary, each presented as wordlists in two columns. Appendix A: Fauna is organised alphabetically by Comanche within each category of fauna: Animals, Birds, Reptiles, Fish, and Insects. Appendix B: Flora is separated into Trees and Plants, listed alphabetically by Comanche. Appendix C: Body Parts is listed alphabetically by Comanche with no sub-sections. Appendix D: Months of the Year is listed chronologically. Each month in English is a sub-section, with Comanche terms and their English definition listed below. Many English months have many Comanche equivalents. Appendix E: Personal Names is an alphabetized list of Comanche names and their meanings in English.
Entries in the English-Comanche Lexicon are organised alphabetically by English word or phrase, followed by the Comanche equivalent.
An extensive Comanche Grammar section is also included as part of the work. This section is intended for linguists, although explanations are provided for interested non-linguists.
Other Features
| Feature | Included | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Guide to use and understand | ✅ | Guide to understanding entries, pronunciation, and spelling are included in the Introduction |
| Audio | ❌ | |
| Images | ✅ | Sketches included for cultural objects and specific flora and fauna |
| Example phrases | ✅ | Not included in every entry |
| Speakers marked | ❌ | |
| Dialects marked | ✅ | All dialects (other than Wiaʔnʉʉ) are marked in entries |
Other Notes
Example sentences, both simple and complex, are included as part of the Grammar. Many of these sentences are taken from the dictionary entries.
External Links
Reference on WorldCat: https://search.worldcat.org/title/819379503
A description of the dictionary is available from the publisher (SIL): https://www.sil.org/resources/publications/entry/51252