User:CESchreyer/Broken Slavey

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Slavey Jargon (also Broken Slavey, Broken Slavé, Broken Slave, Broken Slavee, and le Jargon esclave) was a trade language used by Indigenous peoples and newcomers in the Yukon area (for example, in around Liard River and in the Mackenzie River district) in the 19th century.

Broken Slavey is based primarily on the Slavey language with elements from French, Cree, with minimal aspects of English, however, there is some disagreement among sources. Petitot (1889) states that Broken Slavey lacks English while, Dene Suline (Chipewyan), or Gwich'in (Kutchin) elements in contrast to the neighbouring Loucheux Pidgin (or Loucheux Jargon). As well as Dall (1870) states that it includes English elements and McClellan (1981) states that it contained Dene Suline influences. Later sources have ignored the earlier statements and assumed that "Broken Slavey" is merely French vocabulary (loanwords) used in northern Athabascan languages. Michael Krauss has suggested that French loanwords in Athabascan languages may have been borrowed via Broken Slavey.

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A further difference among sources is that Petitot distinguishes the Broken Slavey trade language spoken along the Mackenzie River from a different trade language called Loucheux Pidgin that was spoken along the Peel (a tributary of the Mackenzie) and Yukon rivers. Other contemporary sources as well as later sources do not make a distinction between Broken Slavey and Loucheux Pidgin, which may explain their inclusion of English, Dene Suline, and Gwich'in as influences on Broken Slavey.

Group: Robyn, Sierra, Sarah, Sophia F, Sydnie editing the following section:

The nouns in the language generally consist of English, Chipewyan, and Slavey, whereas the verbs and pronouns are derived from French. Adverbs are typically pulled from Chipewyan and Gwich’in. There is, however, a lot of variation in Slavey Jargon. Gwich’in verbs can be mixed with French nouns, or; phonemically modified French sentences exist. (NOT DONE)

Broken Slavey has recently been documented with a few vocabulary items and phrases (collected in Petitot's work) and only a little of its grammar and lexicon. However, more information may yet be discovered in archives through missionary records and traders' journals.

Group: In class
Broken Slavey (also Broken Slavé, Broken Slave, Slavey Jargon, Broken Slavee, and le Jargon esclave) was a trade language used between First Nations people and white settlers within the Yukon and Alaska (for example, in around Liard River and in the Mackenzie River district, as well as Circle, Alaska) in the 19th century.

Mishler believed that the massive influx of English, brought in by the gold rush, was a "deathblow" for the language. However, there was one man within Circle, Alaska who spoke the language until his death in 1983

Historical documentation of Slavey jargon shows its was used for preaching the gospel and for teasing and harassing clergymen, and for interpersonal relationships. Due to this, strictly calling it a trade jargon limits the scope of the language.

Broken Slavey has recently been documented with a few vocabulary items and phrases and only a little of its grammar and lexicon.

In class group oct 14:

Antoine Hoole is a very important character in the history of the area. His capacity to speak Kutcha Kutchin allowed him to single-handedly choose the dominant religion in the area.

Prisha, Payton, Priya, Mercedes and Ken
The best written historical documentation of Slavey jargon shows its actual use was for preaching the gospel and for teasing and harassing clergymen, and for interpersonal relationships. The use of Slavey Jargon can be characterized as an innovation employed by Métis and Indigenous wives of fur traders in order to meet several linguistic goals, such as introductions, advice, and disputes. Mishler specified' "For all these reasons, Slavey Jargon seems inaccurate to characterize it strictly as a trade jargon".

Broken Slavey has recently been documented with a few vocabulary items and phrases (collected in Petitot's work) and only a little of its grammar and lexicon. However, more information may yet be discovered in archives through missionary records and traders' journals.

Hannah Burnett, Kaitlin Hetland, Katie Brand

The native languages of speakers who used Broken Slavey (known in Alaska as 'Slavey') were Dene Suline, French, Gwich'in, Inuktitut, Slavey. One notable speaker of Slavey Jargon was Antoine Hoole, whom along with Metis women the language most likely originated, the Hudson's Bay Company translator at Fort Yukon. The Gwich'in apparently stopped speaking the jargon in the early 20th century. The gold rush, with its massive influx of English speakers into the region beginning in 1886, probably provided a death blow. One speaker, Malcolm Sandy Roberts of Circle, Alaska, continued to use it in a diminished form until his death in 1983.