Massachusett language
The
Massachusett language was a
Native American language, a member of the
Algonquian language family. It is also known as the
Wampanoag,
Natick, or
Pokanoket language. The
Narragansett language, also extinct and only slightly attested, was probably a dialect of Massachusett.
It was spoken by the
Wampanoag nation of
Native Americans, who lived in the area now occupied by
Boston, Massachusetts, on
Cape Cod,
Martha's Vineyard, and
Nantucket. As such, Massachusett was one of the first Native American languages encountered and learned by English settlers. The first
Bible translation published in
North America was a translation of the entire Bible into Massachusett, which was published by
John Eliot in
1663, who followed with a
primer in
1669. Eliot's missionary work made the Wampanoags
literate, and wills, deeds, and other documents survive that were written in Massachusett using the orthography he introduced. This tradition of literacy has given Massachusett a much richer documentation than other
extinct Native American languages, and members of the Wampanoag nation are attempting to revive the study of the language.
The
Lord's Prayer in Massachusett goes:
Nooshun kesukqut, wunneetupantamuch koowesuounk. Peyamooutch kukkeitasootamounk. Toh anantaman ne n-naj okheit, neane kesukqut. Asekesukokish petukqunnegash assaminnean yeu kesukok. Ahquontamaiinnean nummatcheseongatch, neane matchenehikqueagig nutahquontamanóunonog. Ahque sagkompaguninnean en qutchhuaonganit, webe pohquohwussinnan wutch matchitut. Newutche keitassootamoonk, kutahtauun, menuhkesuonk, sohsumoonk micheme kah micheme. Amen. *
Goddard, Ives and Kathleen J. Bragdon (eds.) (1989) Native Writings in Massachusett. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society. ISBN 087169185X
*
Wampanoag Language and the Wampanoag Indian Tribe
