Documentation:RelLex/Wukchumni Dictionary (Marie’s Dictionary)
Wukchumni Dictionary (Marie’s Dictionary)
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Language Name
Tule-Kaweah.
Alternate Language Names
Wikchamni/Wukchumni, Yawdanchi/Nutaa, Bokninuwad.
Region
California, United States.
Who
Marie Wilcox (a Wukchumni speaking elder from San Joaquin Valley in California) compiled this dictionary over twenty-plus years.
Others Involved
Marie’s daughter Jennifer Malone, grandson Donovan, and other family helped her to compile the dictionary.
Marie's obituary in the New York Times also identifies that Nicholas Luna helped with the dictionary (in particular he helped her with the computer).
Publishing Information
As of 2023, it is unclear if the dictionary has been formally published.
In 2014 a short documentary about Marie and her dictionary was created by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee. At the time of filming the documentary, titled Marie’s Dictionary, the dictionary was nearly completed and Marie and her family were working on editing, archiving, and creating audio recordings of the dictionary. The film features a shot of the dictionary which shows the title Wukchumni Dictionary (Revised 2014).
Marie's obituary, published by the New York Times in October 2021, features an image of the cover of the dictionary with the caption "Ms. Wilcox’s dictionary was copyrighted in 2019 but has yet to be published".
How People are Cited
We are unable to access the dictionary to determine how people, such as speakers and contributors, are cited. The information we do have about contributors to this dictionary comes from the documentary and the articles written about Marie and her work.
How Information is Cited
We are unable to access this dictionary to determine how, or where source materials are cited.
Where is Information Coming from
Information in this dictionary comes from a single speaker, Marie Wilcox.
Tools and Framework used
As of 2023 it is unclear if this dictionary has been published and we are unable to determine what formats it will be published in.
Based on the 2014 documentary Marie’s Dictionary, Marie compiled the dictionary herself, starting by writing down words on scrap pieces of paper, and then moved to entering words in a word processor on her computer.
Access
As of 2023 this dictionary does not seem to be generally available. Before her passing Marie and her daughter Jennifer Malone began teaching language classes in the community, and seems as if Jennifer has continued teaching. The dictionary may be accesible and used within those classes and in the community.
Included Languages and Directionality
We are unable to access this dictionary to determine the included languages and directionality. Based on the 2014 documentary Marie’s Dictionary it seems like the dictionary was compiled using English headwords, followed by their Wukchumni translations. We are unable to determine if this format will be kept in the final publication.
Dialects Included
This dictionary is of the Wukchumni dialect of Tule-Kaweah (a Yokustan language). It is specifically of the dialect spoken by Marie Wilcox.
Type of Dictionary
We are unable to access this dictionary to determine what type of dictionary it is. Based on available information it is likely a bilingual dictionary.
How are Entries Organised
We are unable to access this dictionary to determine how entries are organised.
Other Features
| Feature | Included | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Guide to use and understand | Unknown | |
| Audio | ✅ | Marie was able to record audio for the entire dictionary. It is unknown if this will be published with the dictionary |
| Images | Unknown | |
| Example phrases | Unknown | |
| Speakers marked | ❌ | Marie is the only speaker included in this dictionary |
| Dialects marked | ❌ | This dictionary is only of the Wukchumni dialect |
External Links
The 2014 documentary Marie’s Dictionary Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee can be found here: https://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/films/maries-dictionary
In 2019 a follow-up to the 2014 documentary which documents Wukchumni language revitalization was filmed. It can be found here: https://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/films/wukchumni
A podcast about Marie’s dictionary: https://lithub.com/language-keepers-compiling-the-first-ever-wukchumni-dictionary/
The New York Times Obituary for Marie Wilcox: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/us/marie-wilcox-dead.html