A Dictionary of Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) with Connections to the Past

By: Gunther Michelson and Karin Michelson and Glenda Canadian Deer

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Synopsis: This dictionary provides a record of the Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) language as spoken by fluent first- and second-language speakers at the Kanien’kéha Mohawk Territory outside of Montréal, Canada. The Kanien’kéha language has been written since the 1600s, and these dictionary entries include citations from published, archival, and informal writings from the seventeenth century onwards. These citations are a legacy of the substantial documents of missionary scholars and several informal vocabulary lists written by Kanien’kéha speakers, among others. The introduction to the dictionary provides a description of the organization and orthography of the historical works so that they can be used in the future by those studying and learning the language. A Dictionary of Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) with Connections to the Past allows scholars and students to learn the meaning, composition, and etymology of words in a language known for its particularly complex word structure. The organization of the entries, according to noun and verb roots, highlights the remarkable potential and adaptability of the language to express traditional concepts, as well as innovations that have resulted from contact with other customs and languages that have become part of the contemporary culture of the Kanien’kehá:ka.