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Algonquian–Basque pidgin facts for kids

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Algonquian–Basque pidgin
Region Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Era 16th to 18th century
Language family
Basque-based pidgin
Basques Newfoundland.gif
Basque (both French and Spanish) and Breton fishing sites in 16th and 17th centuries.

Algonquian–Basque pidgin, also known as Souriquois, was a Basque-based pidgin spoken by Basque whalers and various Algonquian peoples. It was spoken around the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It was in use from at least 1580 until 1635, and was last attested in 1711.

There were three groups of First Nations that the Basque people distinguished. The ones with which they had good relations were the Montagnais and the St. Lawrence Iroquoians. They also knew of the Inuit, whom they considered hostile. The Basque people referred to them as the Montaneses, the Canaleses, and the Esquimoas, respectively.

Vocabulary

Pidgin Original language English translation
Normandia Normandia (Basque), 'Normandy' French
kir kir (Mi'kmaq) you
ania anaia (Basque) brother
capitana capitaina (Basque), kapitaina in Standard Basque captain
endia andia (Basque), handia in Standard Basque large
chave chave (Romance) know
ouias wiya:s (Innu-aimun) meat
amiscou amisku (Innu-aimun) beaver

Sample phrases

Algonquian–Basque pidgin Basque English
Ania, kir capitana? Anaia, capitana al zara? Brother, are you a captain?
Ania capitana ouias amiscou. Anaia capitana kastor haragia. Brother captain beaver's meat.
Endia chave Normandia. Frantsesek gauza asko dakite. The French know a lot of things.
Gara gara ender-quir gara gara. Guda izango dugu. There will be war if we continue like this.
Maloes mercatora. Malo Deunakoak merkatari bidegabekoak dira. Those of Saint-Malo are unfair traders.
Nola zaude? Apezak obeto. Nola zaude? Apaizak hobeto. How are you? The priests are better.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pidgin vasco-algonquino para niños

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