pentl'ach motion auxilaries: From legacy materials to a preliminary analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to develop a preliminary understanding of Pentlatch motion auxiliary verb forms, functions, and constructions for the contemporary, community-led Pentlatch language reclamation.[1] The project began by creating a format of the stories that is searchable, editable, and sortable from existing digital Boas legacy materials (Boas, ca. 1910) which revealed two motion verbs/auxiliaries: çō/çū meaning ‘go’ and mē meaning ‘come’. A comparative approach was also incorporated to determine these verbs’ possible functions in an auxiliary position. Additional examination of the contexts and translations in the stories was used to develop an idea of the grammatical information motion auxiliaries might contribute in Pentlatch, and to survey how other information might be included within, or in co-occurrence with, auxiliary constructions.

Keywords: Central Salish; language reclamation; motion; auxiliary verb