Textual Analysis of Discourse Patterns in Salish (fla)

FAIN: FN-266277-19

Rebecca Wood
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3733)

Fieldwork to record and analyze conversations in Salish by elders from the Native American Pend d'Oreille community in western Montana.

Salish (also known as Flathead Salish, Montana Salish, or more specifically by the dialects Bitteroot Salish-Seliš and Pend d’Oreille-Qlispé), is the traditional language of the Salish-Pend d’Oreille community of western Montana. The extremely endangered language belongs to the dialect continuum of Spokane-Kalispel-Pend d’Oreille(s)-Flathead within the Southern Interior branch of the Salishan language family. There are fewer than 20 fluent speakers remaining, the majority of whom are elders over the age of 70. This proposed project will analyze ten previously recorded narratives, chosen by the tribe, and will document and analyze approximately four additional stories from different speakers. Through the analysis of oral storytelling, this project seeks to accomplish the following goals: (1) determine the linguistic features that enact these oral dialogues as narratives or traditional stories through the interlinearization process; (2) determine how these narratives further perpetuate cultural knowledge, understanding, and identity; and (3) contribute to the efforts of the Salish- Pend d’Oreille in the documentation and understanding of their traditional language. (Edited by staff)