Slavey Jargon facts for kids

Slavey Jargon, also known as Broken Slavey, was a special language used for trade and communication. It helped different groups of people talk to each other in the Yukon area during the 1800s. Imagine it like a common language that everyone could understand, even if their main languages were different.

History of Broken Slavey

What Languages Made Up Broken Slavey?

Broken Slavey was mostly based on the Slavey language. But it also borrowed words and ideas from French and Cree. Some people think it had a few words from English too.

Experts don't fully agree on all the languages that influenced it. Some early records say it didn't have English words. Other records suggest it did. It's like trying to figure out all the ingredients in a very old recipe!

Where Was Broken Slavey Spoken?

This trade language was used along big rivers like the Athabasca River, Mackenzie River, and parts of the Yukon River. It was important for people living and trading in these areas.

There was another similar trade language in the region called Loucheux Pidgin. That one was spoken near the Peel River and other parts of the Yukon River. Sometimes, people mixed up Broken Slavey and Loucheux Pidgin. This might be why some sources say Broken Slavey had English or other influences.

How Do We Know About Broken Slavey?

We don't have a lot of information about Broken Slavey today. Only a few words and phrases have been written down. We also know a little about its grammar.

However, there might be more to discover! Researchers hope to find more details in old missionary records and traders' journals. These old papers could tell us more about how people used this unique language.

Who Spoke Broken Slavey?

Many different people used Slavey Jargon. Their native languages included Dene Suline, French, Gwich'in, Inuktitut, and Slavey. It was a language that helped many cultures connect.

One famous speaker was Antoine Hoole. He worked as a translator for the Hudson's Bay Company. This company was very important in the fur trade. Other people who spoke it included fur traders, postmasters, and their families. Many of these families were Métis, meaning they had both Indigenous and European heritage.

The Gwich'in people stopped using this language in the early 1900s. A big reason for this was the gold rush in 1886. Many English speakers came to the area. This led to English becoming more common. By the 1930s, Broken Slavey was not used much anymore. One person, Malcolm Sandy Roberts, continued to use it until he passed away in 1983.

How Was Broken Slavey Used?

Historical records show that Broken Slavey was used for many things. People used it to share religious messages. They also used it for joking around or even for arguments. It helped people introduce themselves and give advice.

One expert, Mishler, said that it wasn't just a "trade jargon." It was a flexible language that speakers used to meet many different communication needs. It helped people build relationships and solve problems.

How Was Broken Slavey Structured?

The way Broken Slavey was put together is interesting. Most of its nouns (words for people, places, things) came from English, Chipewyan, and Slavey. But the verbs (action words) and pronouns (like "he" or "she") often came from French.

Words that describe actions or other words, called adverbs, usually came from Chipewyan and Gwich'in. There was a lot of variety in how people spoke it. Sometimes, Gwich'in verbs were mixed with French nouns. This shows how creative and adaptable the speakers were!