The Intersection of Algonkian Language and Culture
My next OLLI course is now open for registration
I am very pleased to announce that my Spring Semester OLLI course on Zoom, which begins on April 10, is now available for sign-ups.
Berkshire OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) is the adult education arm of Berkshire Community College. This course is suitable for learners of all ages, and provides learning for the joy of learning. There are no entrance requirements, no tests, and no homework. Suggested readings will be given for those who wish to learn more on their own, but they are not required.
The language we use reveals our values, and the words we hear help to shape our beliefs. This course will examine the Algonkian language, which provides a window into the mindset of the people indigenous to the Berkshires.
A full description of the course appears on the webpage linked above, and is also given below.
Please rest assured that I will not be teaching the language; I will be talking about the language. You might pick up a few words along the way, nidôba (my friend), but the purpose of the course is to use the language to delve into other aspects of the culture.
You might be surprised at how many Algonkian words you already know.
ôhô (uh-huh) = yes
moz = moose
makezen = moccasin
Masajosek = Massachusetts (the place of the big hill)
Kwenitekok = Connecticut (the place of the long river)
skôkw or segôgw = skunk (sometimes pronounced seekonk)
and many, many more, such as racoon and tomahawk
we will also explore the meanings of other place names
If you wish to sign up, use the link above. If you would like more information, use one or more of the following links. Berkshire OLLI is a fully inclusive organization, and students of all ages are welcome. If you or someone you know finds the cost to be a barrier, let me know: scholarships are available.
And, just to be clear: as you may already know — I have no financial interest in my work with OLLI. Like all the other course instructors, I offer my time as an unpaid volunteer.
General information about OLLI and the Spring schedule is here: https://berkshireolli.org/event-5162792
You can sign up for the Open House (via Zoom) on March 16 to learn more about all the Spring Offerings: https://berkshireolli.org/event-5159888
A list of all the Spring courses is here: https://berkshireolli.org/Spring23
The language we use reveals our values, and the words we hear help to shape our beliefs. This Berkshire OLLI course will examine the Algonkian language, which provides a window into the mindset of the people indigenous to this area.
The language reveals a worldview that is very different from that of the dominant Colonial culture; it co-evolved with the internal structure and cultural practices of a vibrant and sophisticated social system. Its many dialects reflect the diversity as well as the connectivity of the people of our region (and beyond).
We will also discuss the history of language suppression by the Colonial powers; a policy that ended only recently. Despite efforts to eradicate it, Native culture has endured as a sophisticated and complex alternative way of understanding and relating to the world.
The newly vibrant revitalization movement is opening our eyes to the richness of Native culture, and revealing the wisdom of a way of being that held sway in this area since time immemorial.
A Sample of Topics to be Discussed
The Algonkian language belongs to the Algic language group. The languages in this group can be mutually unintelligible because their vocabularies have evolved separately over thousands of years, but they all share the same structural elements, and account for 70% to 80% of all the languages in North America.
Examples will be given in the Western Abenaki dialect (spoken in Vermont and surrounding areas).
Rich vocabularies reveal the traditional importance of such things as kinship ties, beavers, and snowshoes.
We encounter values of cooperation and responsibility, in contrast with Colonial values of competition and ownership.
This Native American language reveals a dynamic view of the world not found in Indo-European languages
The word for “chair” literally means “a stiff thing you sit on”
One word for “beaver” means “the cutter”
English nouns are simply labels; in Algonkian, such words reflect dynamism and purpose.