Talk:Penn Treaty Park

Dubious
It is asserted here that Penn addressed the Lenape Indians in "the Algonquian language."

Really? The first problem is that there is no single "Algonquian language"; Algonquian is a family of languages, the largest in North America. So this is like saying that William of Orange came to England and addressed the people in Germanic. Second, it seems unlikely that Penn picked up fluent Delaware in his spare time during his first year in North America. More likely, there was a translator.

This article needs reliably sourced historical information. — ℜob C. alias &Agrave;LAROB  23:21, 28 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Actually this is no more dubious than most of what you read about most events from 1683. The New York Times wasn't around back then of course, so you'll have to accept the usual combination of "facts" and "legend" that go by the name of history. To Pennsylvanians this story is as well-known and more trusted that the usual stuff you read about the Mayflower or about Jamestown.  They did use different terminology back then, so "Algonquian language" is what you're likely to see in the sources.  I have little doubt that Penn did learn to speak the language to some degree BEFORE he came to Pennsylvania.  There had been European contact with this Lenni-Lenape group (or nearby groups) for at least 50 years before 1683.  So this does need sources, I'll get around to including them when I have the time.  In the meantime, feel free to find some sources on your own.


 * A very quick search gives this book - there are other books linked to it. Also look at our articles on the History of Pennsylvania for some leads. Have a go at it!  Smallbones (talk) 04:53, 29 June 2012 (UTC)