Plains Cree notebook collection

Mss.497.3.B62c

Date: 1925-1926 | Size: 11 volume(s)
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Abstract

Plains Cree language field notebooks and loose notes from Sweetgrass Reserve and Starblanket Reserve (or Ahtahkakoop), Saskatchewan. The first 10 notebooks (approximately 160 pages each) appear to be in Bloomfield's hand primarily contain texts, with some word lists, in romanized Plains Cree orthography, almost entirely untranslated. A final notebook and loose notes contain 26 texts (numbered 83-108) written in Cree syllabic script by Harry Achenam, with one (#108) written or dictated by Maggie Achenam. The loose notes also contain at least 1 brief text (5 p.) in Cree syllabic script written by "Askiy-kā-pimuhtātahk (Pimutat)" of Starblanket Reserve. These texts were intended as part of a sequel to Bloomfield's Plains Cree Texts (1934), but were never published.

Background note

American linguist Leonard Bloomfield pioneered the development of structural linguistics in the United States during the 1930s and the 1940s. He wrote extensively and his renowned mid-career textbook, Language, presented a comprehensive description of American structural linguistics. He made significant contributions to Indo-European historical linguistics, the description of Austronesian languages, and description of languages of the Algonquian family.

Digital objects note

This collection contains digital materials that are available in the APS Digital Library. Links to these materials are provided with context in the inventory of this finding aid. A general listing of digital objects may also be found here.

Collection Information

Physical description

11 notebooks

Provenance

Gift of Charles F. Hockett.

Indexing Terms


Genre(s)

  • Field notes.

Subject(s)

  • Cree language
  • Linguistics