Chapter XX: Introduction: Salient Features (19)

After a careful examination of the collated lists of names purporting to signify “tongue” in the Serian and Yuman languages it will be seen that the relationship conjectured to exist between the two groups is fortuitous or coincidental rather than real. The guttural rough breathing χ preceding the _l_ sound in M Pinart’s record, and indicated by an apostrophe in Mr Bartlett’s spelling and by an _s_ in Professor McGee’s orthography, is clearly wanting in all the Yuman terms cited. Were there linguistic relationship between the two groups of terms here compared it would seem that this sound should find a place in one or another of the long list of Yuman terms, notably divergent among themselves. It is possible, if not probable, that the final _l_, _la_, or _ra_ of the Yuman terms is not a part of the stem; but this would not affect the want of accordance noted above.

An analytic investigation of the comparative list of vocables purporting to signify “tooth” in the Serian and the Yuman languages discloses no evidence of genetic relationship between them. Those who classify the Serian speech as a dialect of the Yuman cite the Yuman _ido_, _hidhó_ (the _eh-doh_ of Lieutenant Bergland), signifying “tooth”, as one of the vocables indicating a genetic relationship between the two groups of languages. The comparison is made between the _ido_, _hidhó_, and _eh-doh_ cited above and the close variants of the Serian _ata`st_. An inspection of the comparative list of names for “tooth” shows that this particular Yuman form is confined to the Mohave, Maricopa, and Kutchan dialects (for the _M’mat_, which also employs this term, is nearly identical with the Kutchan), and that the remainder of the Yuman list of dialects has, with a single exception, an entirely different word; this exception being the Cochimi, which independently has another. The Yuman group, then, has three radically different words purporting to signify “tooth”.

The Serian vocable for “tooth” is a compound term, being composed of elements denoting “mouth” and “stone”. In the Seri word-collection of Professor McGee _attě´nn_ signifies “mouth”; _atta-moχ_, “lower lip”, possibly “down about the mouth”; _attahk_, “saliva” (“water of the mouth”); _attahkt_, “the chin”; _takōps_, “upper lip”; _attěms_, “beard”; _ata`st_, “tooth”; and _a`st_, “rock, stone”. Mr Bartlett, in his vocabulary, recorded _îten_, “mouth”; _ita-mocken_, “beard”; and _hast_, “stone”. M Pinart, in his Seri word list, wrote _hiten_, “mouth”; _hita-mokken_, “beard”; and _hast_, “stone”. Lastly, Sr Tenochio wrote _iten_, “mouth”, and _ahste_, “stone”, in _ahsteka_ “large, high stone, rock”. Sr Tenochio also recorded _obeke_, “hair, down (pelo)”. One of the peculiarities of the sounds represented by the letters _m_ and _b_ is that in many instances they grade one into the other. There is here, seemingly, a case in point. The _moχ_ of Professor McGee, the _mocken_ of Mr Bartlett, the _mokken_ of M. Pinart, and the _obeke_ of Sr Tenochio appear to be cognates. Substituting _m_ for the _b_ in _obeke_, _omeke_ results, which is approximately the _moχ_, _mocken_, _mokken_ cited above. Hence, _hita-mokken_ and its congeners, it seems, signify “down of the mouth”. In _attahk_, “saliva”, the element combining with _attě_ (for it is plain that the final _-n_ is dropped in compounding) is _`ahk_ or _`akh_, “water”, so that this compound signifies, literally, “water of the mouth”. These analyses show that _attě´nn_, _iten_, and _hiten_, dropping the final _n_-sound, unite with other elements in the form _attě_, _ite_, and _hite_, respectively. Now, these, in combination with _a`st_ or _ast_, “stone”, become, respectively, _atta`st_, _itast_, and _hitast_, the forms of the word for “tooth” recorded by Professor McGee, Mr Bartlett, and M Pinart, in the order given. The Seri name for “tooth” signifies, then, literally “stone of the mouth” or “stones of the mouth”. This analysis demonstrates the lack of relationship between the Serian and Yuman names for tooth.

The comparative schedules of names for “foot” in the Serian and the Yuman languages show no accordances of a phonetic character tending to show any genetic relationship between the two groups compared.

SERIAN

_Arm_ _Hand_ _Finger(s)_ _Thumb_ _Fingernail(s)_

A. mĭ`noŭlˡt` A. {ŭnolˡk, A. ŭnut- A. ŭnultekōk A. ŭnosk
{ŭnlŭhss`
{unlă’hss`
B. inoyl B. inosiskersk B. inosshack B. B. inósk’l
C. innolχ´ C. intl̃ash C. inol’tis C. inol’vekoχ C. inoskl̃χ´
D. inls D. D. D. D.

YUMAN

2_b_. sote 10. sal 3. ainchaho 1. sal-kövatéa 6. salgolyoho
(White) (Heintzelman)
1. t’hótii 11. sal 6. salgoharaba 10. sal-guvetee 23. salẖow
10. thutii 21. sál 21. salsělawhó= 11.{săl-qovutéh 21. sál saleehó
“fingernail” {sal-guviteye
11. thutiya 18. säl 23. salchepa 18. säl-kuběté 7. saltilyoho
(Gilbert) (Gibbs)
18. thudí 22. sále 11.{săltiqĭ 21. sal-kŭbité 9. hisalyekěl-
{saltida yěhó
13. mevee 1. sálle 10. saltídya 9. hisalye- 8. isalculyiho
kûbûtá
4. mibiísch 23. esal 15. selchkasow 19. shál-gubdé 16. asshatlkay-
show (o as
in bough)

7. {meebeenya 24. esalch 23. sal-kootai
{(Mowry)
{hibí
(Gibbs)
12. eesálche 2. shal-kóta
7. eesarlya
(Mowry)
9. hivipúk 15. selchpayén 12. esalche serap 13. shal-kserap 12. eesalche calla
hotche
2_a._ vuyeboka 7. hisála 24. esalchqualy- 5. hisháltye- 13. meshalkleho
umas watásh
21. sál 9. hisalkothar- 8. isalcusirape 20. ishallchevetá 7. meesarlquil-
̃ápa yoho

11. (sál)hănōvă 14. isalgh 9. hisalkothar I. ginyakyuqui 15. selchkawaoh
=“right ̃ápa
hand”
(Renshawe)

26. satl` 8. isalsicon 17. shaẖ (ẖ=χ) 25. hasuth- 14. selkeshau
kapatai
15. selch 17. shaẖ 3. shawas 26. sakl-pĭtai 18. sělěhó
(Peabody)
24. esalch 19. shál 4. eshaki- 19. shělahó
sharábish
12. {eeseth´l, 2. shala 19. shál 20. shallglojó
{èsee´l

23. esílmok 5. shalkeseráps 5. shalkeseráps 1. siluw`or
shèndish
6. isálya 4. eshalish 13. shalkesera 2. shalahuó
8. isale 20. eshallchag- 2. shalagaite= 25. silyawhó
hpeyén “thumb”
14. isalgh 13. meshal 20. eshallque- 17. shaẖnepool
sharáp
17. shaẖ (ẖ=χ) 16. asshatl 16 .asshalscarap 10. setehóa
19. shál 25. h`asătlkwia- 25. hasuthkwaii- 11. sĭtăhwóû
yěl mut
20. eshall 6. hathbink 7. {meesarlqui- 5. keshliwoχósh
thahrapa
(Mowry)
{sequaharapa
(Gibbs)
5. ishalísh I. ginyak I. ginyakyuqui 3. elcawho´p (Peabody)
16. asshat lII. naganná II. ignimbal 4. eshekiohoósh
25 .h`asath` III. naganná III. ignimbal 24. esalchqualyu-
how
I. ginyakpak IV. naganná IV. ìñimbal I. ginyakka
II.guenebí 14. enepul II. geneka
3. {shawarra
(Peabody)
{arowhur

Prominent among the data set forth to establish an alleged genetic linguistic relationship between the Serian and the Yuman tongues has been the word “hand” as represented in the languages in question.

A discriminating examination, however, of the accompanying comparative schedules, comprising the words “arm, hand, finger, thumb, and fingernail,” fails to reveal any evidence that any genetic relationship exists between the languages here subjected to comparison.

It has been suggested that the relationship is established through the Yuman _sal_ (_shala_, _isalgh=isalχ_), “hand”, etc., and the Serian name for “wing” as recorded by M. Pinart, namely, _isselka_; but Mr. Bartlett wrote this word _iseka_ without the _l_, so this sound may or may not be genetic. But it has not been shown that _isselka_ or _iseka_ ever signified “hand, arm, finger, thumb, fingernail”, to a Seri, or that it is a component element in any one of these five terms in the Serian tongue; and so it is apparently futile, in the absence of historical evidence, to attempt to employ this term _iseka_ or _isselka_, “wing”, as an assumed cognate of the Yuman _sal_, to establish linguistic relationship between the languages.

COMPARATIVE LIST OF SERIAN FINGER-NAMES

_McGee_ _Pinart_ _Bartlett_

_Thumb_ ŭnŭltékok inol´vekoχ
_Forefinger_ ŭnŭ´ˡstess inol´tis
_Middle finger_ ŭnŭltemŭ´ka`p inol´l´emakkap
_Ring finger_ ŭnŭlteépa inol´tip
_Little finger_ ŭnŭlschálk inol´shak
_Arm_ {mĭ´noŭlˡt innolχ´ i-noyl
{mĭnoŭlˡd
_Wrist_ ŭnuhpkĭht inoliavap´χ´a
_Hand_ {ŭnolˡk intl̃ash i-nos-is-kersk
{ŭnlŭ´hss`, ŭunlă´hss`
_Fingers_ inol´tis {i-nos-shack
{i-nos-shack-
itova= “toes”
_Right hand_ inol´l´apa
_Left Hand_ istl̃ik
_Finger nails_ ŭnosk` inoskl̃χ´ i-nósk´l

It would seem, that the term given by M Pinart for “fingers” is not accurate, since he has previously recorded it for “forefinger”, in which he is confirmed by Professor McGee. It seems probable that the literal signification of the term for “little finger” is “son (or offspring) of the hand.” Professor McGee writes _i-sahk_ for “son” as said by the father, and M Pinart writes _isaak_ for the same idea.

SERIAN

_Wing(s)_ _Feather(s)_ _Bird_

A. A. A.
B. iséka B. hrekina,=“bird B. schaîk; (schek-)[337]
feather”
C. isselka C. inna C. shek; (shiik-)
D. D. D.

[337] Mr Bartlett wrote _schek-aipch_, “bird’s egg”, and _ahano-hraîk_, “a duck”, literally, “water bird”, thus showing that _hrek_ in the term “feather” signifies “bird”. M Pinart wrote _shiik-immen_, “bird’s nest”, and _ipχ´`_, “egg”. In both, the spellings here differ somewhat from the terms in the list. In the term for “duck” and “feather”, Mr Bartlett substitutes _hr_ for the _sch_ in his spelling of the name for a “bird”.

YUMAN

2. sha 4. shabílsh 2.tishá
13. eeshalk´sab̲i̲llus 5. shawílsh 17_a_. tăchā (San Tomas)
7. ibīlya (Gibbs) 7. seebeelya (Mowry) 19. itisha; tyesha
eebeelya (Mowry) siviya (Gibbs)
9. hivílyě 6. sivílya 22. tesya
11. wă´lă 9. sivílya 21. tcĭsá
18. wálle 8. sewailye I. ic̲h̲a
23. oowaloo 17. shawalh 14. asha
4. melahótch 12. sahwith´l 15. asa
20. -millajo, 13. sab̲il; 18. isá=“eagle”
(etsiyerre-)[338] (sawillch[339])
21. wĭrawídă 10. seguala 11. {issā,=“raven”
{ŭsă=“eagle”
(Gilbert)
24. wirrawir 19. wála 13_a_. shuh
17. wurawir; 23. tewalooeme 6. atsiyéra
(whīrrawhiuh[340])
16. erwirry 15. hewirwírr 7.{cheeyura
{achiéra (Gibbs)
15. -awirr 24. wirrawir 9. achiyěra =
(hewichitt-) “small birds”
8. eyerk 21. apa-quirrh= 17_b_. cheeyara
“tail feather”
I. ic̲h̲quan 18.{wálle 20. etsiyerre
{mûséma=“quills”
II. goumó 20. -ěěmist 5. teseyérekopaí
(etsiyerre-)
26. wŭrrawŭrra 2. mata 23. kewalo
I. ic̲h̲quan 4. e-yê´rk
II. nhamba 8. noosquivira
16. sohmay 10. kipay sharwattěl[341]
26. limith II. kabto
13_b_. ahermá
16. sohquiah (i in like)
24. sepa

[338] In 20 _etsiyerre_ signifies “bird”.

[339] From Bartlett’s Kutchan or Yuma Vocabulary, MS.

[340] From Parker’s San Tomas Mission Vocabulary, MS. 1876.

[341] This was rendered, “A white feather worn in the scalp”; in Parker’s San Tomas record _tŭschalaiemiss_ is given for “feather”, but it is literally, “bird’s hair”.

The comparative list of names for “wing” in the Serian and the Yuman languages exhibits no satisfactory evidence of a genetic relationship between the collated vocables; in like manner there is no phonetic accordance whatever between the terms denoting “feather” in the two groups of words. It seems evident, however, that several of the Yuman words for “wing” and “feather” are phonetically mimetic onomatopes; compare _whirrawhiuh_ (17) from Mr Parker’s San Tomas Mission Vocabulary, which is evidently an imitative word for the sound made by the wings of a bird (for example, of the California quail) in rapid motion.

In the collated schedule of names for “bird” there is lacking any phonetic accordances indicative of linguistic relationship between the languages compared.

SERIAN

Bone Leg

A. míttag (like German “mittag”) A. attân attâqklem=“thigh”
B. hrehiták B. itahom
C. ittak C. {hitaχom=“thigh”
{hippeχl=“leg”
D. D.

YUMAN

15. âk 2. uata (Loew)
impadi (White)
24. ak 1. mópada
24_a_. ák 11. mupata (Renshawe)
25. āk 19. mpáda
26_a_. ak 6. methílya
I. hak 7. {methilya (Gibbs)=“thigh”
{meemay meethilya (?)=“upper
{ leg”
23. ẖak 10. methil
27. hăk 20. emé
17. ok 23. eme
26_b_. n’yak 21. emmí
18. chiyä´ka
21. tciáka
4. escháques
7. n’eahsárk (Mowry) 17. mee
5. shaaks 13. memae
13. yoosak 12. meesith’l
8. inyesake 15. emílye
20. ndchashácq’ 4. emistilísh
10. tiága 3. imyliwhy
19. tiága 16. ewhitl
6. uániga 14. iuilgh
3. namsail 24. enyi-wílch
2. kuévata 18. thimuwála
7. esal-hiwa (Gibbs) 5. eskarowísh
II. acheso (Spanish?) 8. enesaquiwere
16. micashsho 9. himetca-áma=“upper legs”
11. siminoho (Gilbert)
I. ma-nyak
II. gelelepi
IV. agannapaho (cf. “foot”)

An examination of the several names for “bone” in the two groups of terms from the Seri and the Yuman tongues in the comparative list above reveals no trustworthy evidence of linguistic relationship between the two groups.

The same want of agreement between the two groups of terms purporting to denote “leg” in the Serian and the Yuman languages is manifest in the foregoing comparative list.

SERIAN

_Blood_ _Red_

A. á-it A. ka-ailqt
B. âv’t B. ke-vilch
C. av̌at C. kēveχ´l
D. D. kebls

YUMAN

9. ahwátam 22. guate
16. ahwhat 9. awhát
21. awhát 16. h’what
12. awhút (Comoyei) 21. awhátěk
25. ă-whŭt 12. achawhut
26. a-whăt 25. whŭt
14. akhoat 26. whŭt
6. neghoata 14. khoat
10. tigval 6. aghóathum
23. t-quat 10. kokhoát
15. h’wat 23. oo-qual
13. ẖwat (ẖ=χ) 15. h’wát
17. ẖwat 13. ẖwat
18. hwat 17. ẖwat
19. hwát 18. chěhwáta
11. hwă´tigă 19. ahuáti
2_a_. hŭata 27. ěwhŭt
3. inuwhal 2_a_. awáti
8. nichwarte 8. awhát
7. n’yawhart (Mowry) 7. itchahhoata (Mowry)
20. niejuít (j=χ´) 20. cuicávojuít
7. yahwata (Gibbs) 7. echahuáta (Gibbs)
2_b_. kŭalayŭ 2_b_. kalyo
4. ehivetch 4. hivet
5. hiχwítsh 5. χwíttcem; gwíttem
I. huat I. mac̲h̲c̲h̲uang (=maχχuang)
IV. jueta II. mocao
II. jued IV. mokó

At first glance there seems to be some degree of relationship between the groups of terms signifying “blood” and “red” in the Serian and the Yuman tongues. But a discriminating examination of the words of the two collated lists seems to lead to the contrary conclusion.

It may be well to note that the difference between the Serian vocables denoting “blood” and those signifying “red” is that the latter have a prefixed _kă-_ or _kě-_ sound, in this resembling most other attributive terms in the language. This _kă_ or _kě_ is probably a pronominative element. The Seri forms of the name for “blood,” however, have no initial guttural prefix, and, owing to the lack of historical evidence, it is not possible to declare that the Seri word, as compared with the Yuman terms, has lost an initial guttural aspirate, which is apparently genetic in the Yuman words, as it is present in 27 of the 28 variants of the Diegueño (14) _khoat_ and Mohave (9) _ahwat_ cited in the list. This is emphasized by the fact that the guttural aspirate remains unchanged whether the term denotes “blood” or, metaphorically, “red”. The Yuman word apparently has no distinctively adjective or attributive form. This is evidently in direct contrast with the Seri word, in which the attributive form is initially and terminally different from the form of the word employed as the name for “blood”. These considerations strongly militate against the assumed linguistic relationship between the Serian terms denoting, concretely, “blood”, and, metaphorically, “red”, on the one hand, and the Yuman vocables of like signification on the other.

SERIAN

_Yellow_
(_brown_) _Green_ _Black_ _Blue_

A. {móssol^{qt} kóil^{qlh} kópolt kóil^{qlh}
{komassolt
(brown)
B. k´másol kovilch kopolcht válch-kopolch
C. kmassol̃χ´ kovül̃χ´; kopoχ´l (dark) kovül̃χ´
χpanams
D. kmozol kobslh jikopohl
(darkness)
(j=χ)

YUMAN

_Yellow_
(_brown_) _Green_ _Black_ _Blue_

I. simarai manac̲h̲ui ic̲h̲c̲h̲ara c̲h̲angmangc̲h̲uiai
II. yembil mosoo akal
2. kŭase ilvi nya aveshŭve
4. aques hashamelavî´k mîlk habashû´ck
5. kwíssem verrevèrs nyílk χaweshúk
6. agoathum havesug vanilgh havasug
7. {okwarthi {havasook {whenyaeelkh {havasook
(Mowry)
{akwátha {amatk {hwainyēlk {havasóke
(Gibbs)
8. akwahum timahóchi naailk avisuk
9. akwátha habasó hwanyilý habasó
10. agoathega nyágh ashuuga
12. aquesque atsowoo surche quimele; hawoo surche
13. quas h̲b̲soo nyil h̲b̲soo
14. akhoas kaposhu nilgh kaposhu
15. quas h’pashu qu’n’ylch h’pashu
17. quos ẖpshoo ny̲il h’pashoo
16. quass quass netl hupshu
18. akwátha haběsúwi nyä´chi; nyä haběsúwi
19. kuáthi kuáthi iniä´ havěshúvi
20. accuésque jabashúc ñiellgue m’mai; m’mai
cojoshuñiá
21. aquássŭk aquás hapíli habĭshú
22. akwátha gawesúwe nyátie gavesúwe
23. koosai emelsoo nyeg emelsoo
24. ahapeshu qu’nilch ahapeshú

These comparative schedules of color-names denoting “yellow or brown”, “green”, “black, darkness”, and “blue”, collated from the Serian and the Yuman languages, exhibit no phonetic accordances which would be indicative of linguistic kinship between the two groups of languages compared.

It may be of some interest to remark here that the only dialect among the large number compared above that employs the term “sky” for blue is the M’mat (20); in this dialect _m’mái_ signifies “sky”, while _m’mái_ or _m´mai-cojoshuñiá_ (literally, “sky color”) denotes “blue”.

SERIAN

_White_ _Old_ _Young_

A. kó`poˡ kma`kōk (man) sepía` (man)
kŭnkai´e (woman)
B. kôpcht ikomákolch siip
C. kohoχp
D. {kmakoj (man) sip; psip=“boy”
{konkabre (woman)

YUMAN

I. tipyc̲h̲e oosing wanju
(tipyχ´e)
II. calá acusó
{whanu=“child,
young one”
IV. gala {wakna, misprint for
{wáhna (Laymon)
2. n’shava velhé (Laymon) ba (Laymon)
4. hemaál kuraácks homarsh
{kureáks (man)
5. χemálye {akoís (woman) meχaís
6. nimesam kvoraaga ipa
7.{n’ymahsava (Mowry) {kwirirark (Mowry) {mess-ser-haik (Mowry)
{n’yamasába (Gibbs) {kwarraák (Gibbs) {messerháik (Gibbs)
8. yimeusava quaráki issintaie=“one”
{kwadaä´k (man)
9. nyamasába {kwakuyá (woman) maháia (man)
{atatayútca=“ancestors”
10. nimesav patáiga heméiga
11. {pagataíya (Gilbert)= {hamě´ (Gilbert)=
{ “young man” { “young man, boy”
{kamûdûmû (Gilbert)= {mŭmsĭ (Gilbert)=
{ “young woman” { “young woman, girl”
12. hamarlk
13. hmal koorchak amahai
14. nomosháb umáu itmam
15. yem’súp quirruck ikutkuspírr
16. nemschap qurruk quomiek
17. eemschap koorak quel
18. nyuměsábi {bělhéi (man)
{kûmûhwĭ´dûmûr (woman)
19. niměsáva
20. jamallgue curaácca (man) iepac
21. ĭmĭcápa {pělhé (man) pahŭrmŭ´rrě
{pakí (woman) hatcě´n (woman)
22. nyemesáwe
23. umesap pahtai pakookeechap
24. ném’shap querak quenacui (woman)
24_a_. nĭr-mishăh korák {hequál (man)
{hatcĭ´n (woman)

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. LXXIX

THE DO-GÍÄGYÄ-GÚĂT OR TIPI OF BATTLE PICTURES]

The group of Serian names for the color “white” have no phonetic accordances with the collated Yuman terms of like meaning.

Of the compared groups of Serian and Yuman names for “old” and “young” it may be well to remark that in both some of the terms recorded mean simply “man”, “woman”, without regard to age, or “large, great man” (Seri A, B, D, and Yuman 6, 9, 10, 21, 23, 24. In number 21 _paki_ signifies simply “woman”, regardless of age. Yuman number 8 signifies “one”, not “young”). This cursory comment shows how untrustworthy much of this material is. It is evident that there is here no proof of genetic linguistic relationship between the Seri and the Yuman languages.

SERIAN

_Great, large_ _Small_ _Good_ _Bad, ill_

A. -gehkpa
B. kakkolch kipk’ha kîpi homîip; miph’la
C. kakkoχ´ {kip’χχa;
{kissilχ´ χeppe χ’omipla (kmipl̃a,
“bitter”)
D. kakoj

YUMAN

I. c̲h̲ai,(=χ´ai) ac̲h̲tawan taip taipena
(=aχá´tawan),
“young”
II. cáokoo cánil ahámi aminllí
(=amiñyi)
IV. ká (Laymon) {ami
{tahipo}(Laymon) {ambiñyi
{tahipe} {may (Laymon)
2. {vete (Laymon); {khane
{ bite gatye {ahónni kalyeve
4. otía n’yokek hoátk’ nyoymik
5. wetáym nokík χotk nyomík
6. vataim itáuk akhotk alaik
{veltakík
{ (Mowry) {anchoik {ahhoteka {munnaik
7. {meltaim (Gibbs) { { {
{hōmmék=“tall” {hitáuk {ahōt’k {elhōtmuk; elláik
8. h’watai echitawa epache-hoti= pipach-ilhotim=
“good men” “bad men”
9. veltáia; ohumik hitchaúwa ahót alai
=“tall”
10. vatega ketiga akhánega hianomaga
12. oteique onoc oque ahotekah; ahotk haloolk
13. btek qunnuk ẖanna enoimi
14. igu iltik khan ikútsikhlitch
15. aquacktàiye el mâam h’hun w’hlitch
17. quotai leepist mooẖoi oorap
16. attih el marm k’hun witlitch
18. taya; ta; kě´chi háni, hánikûm kalěpi
hěmí
19. táyake; věté kitie háne χ´ělé´pě
20. bettáic n’noc ajótk l’láic
22. weté kétye hané helépe
23. etai mootit mgai hoogloi
24. ecúy halyemuck quahan qual-hitch

In the comparison of the adjectives “great, large” there is a single apparent accordance between the two groups, and that is between the Cochimi _cáokoo_ and the several Serian terms. The Laymon form indicates that the stem is _ka_ or _cá_; but an analysis of the Serian words shows that _kolch_, _koχ´_ or _koj_ (for _koχ´_) is their base, the initial _ka_ being merely a pronominative, as may be seen from an inspection of the compared lists of attributives or adjective elements in the Seri groups, including the color-names. Now, Mr Bartlett writes in the same list with _cáokoo_, _calka_, “a lake” = “water, large”, accenting the _cá_, “great, large”; and his “small” is _cá-ñil_=“great not”.

Comparing Dr Gabb’s _χai_, “great, large”, and _ka_ or _cá_, on the one hand, with the Kiliwee ko_otai_ and _kute_ in _sal-kootai_ and _pah-kute_, “thumb” or “large finger”, and “chief” or “large, great man”, and with the Kiliwee _etai_, “great, large” on the other, it becomes evident that _cá_ is a curtailed form of _kootai_ (_kute_), as _etai_ is. The _cáokoo_ of Mr Bartlett evidently signifies something more than “large, great”; it may possibly mean “large house”—i. e., _cáuaka_, or “large earth, ground”—i. e., _cáakug_, or it may be a cognate of Gabb’s _eχkaikang_, “high mountain”. But nevertheless its derivation has been demonstrated so as to show that it has nothing in common with Serian terms.

There is likewise no phonetic relationship between the Serian and the Yuman words denoting “small”, and this is also true of those signifying “good”, “bad”, and “ill”. These four comparative lists then show no genetic relationship.

SERIAN

_Water_ _Die, dead_ _Wood, tree_
A. ak`, hak` -amŭkŭk ahká-uhkă=“firewood”
B. ache (=aχ´`) kochhe {akáhoke=“wood”
{eaomtkite
C. aχ´ (aχ´) {ikoχχe=“die” {akaχχ´ŭkŭă=“wood”
{χuaχχ´e=“dead” {ehe=“a stock, palo”
D. ahj (ahχ´) ehe=“arbol”

YUMAN

I.{kaχ´- (in {wac̲h̲e=“tree”
{ kac̲h̲para, epè {aput=“wood”
{ “sea”)
{tasi; desi=
“to drink”
II. cal ybitá allegcó=“wood”
IV. kahal; kalal (?) ibi; yibi
(Laymon)

1. ahá, aháa epíga
2. aha nevaye; bi=“dead” i-i=“tree, wood”
{ihu=“tree”
3. niluwhet; hahaw’l {inalch=“shrub”
{iya=“wood”
4. háche epúik (ipáik=“alive”) {emabatách=“tree”
{eeêche=“wood”
5. χá epúïk {teísh=“tree”
{iísh=“wood”
6. akha ipuik aí=“tree”
7. {ahá {hippooik=“dead” {ahah=“cottonwood”
{ákhha (Gibbs) {hippóik (Gibbs) {ahee; a-í=“wood” (Gibbs)
8. ahá ichichiwoche=“tree”
a-í=“wood”
9. aha hipúik ahaá=“tree”; aí=“wood”
10. aháa apíge iíe=“tree”
11. ha haigopiga (Gilbert)
12. ahá éeesh=“tree”
e-ee; e-eetch=“wood”
13. ẖa (=χa) puik eekwsen; ee=“wood”
14. akha meley akhakunau; il=“wood”
15. h’ha mispà ilye; sin’yauquatài=“tree”
16. ahah mispah e-ee; e-ee=“wood”
17. ha (=χa) m’s’pa oochoẖ; ee=“wood, pine”
18. ahá, ha pih iíh
19. áha, há bihi; bi; pi ivi; i-i=“wood”
20. já (χ´a) opúic eí=“wood” and “tree”
21. ahá ipapí ii, akiŭl; iiruba=“wood”
22. aha hepi
23. aẖa (=aχa) paspi ẖaipak
24. ah’há mesapá ily=“tree”

All the Serian words denoting “water” are monosyllabic and terminate with the k-sound or aspirated guttural χ, followed by the breath instant (to which the final e of Mr Bartlett’s orthography is equivalent). On the other hand, the vocables of the Yuman group of dialects invariably end in a vowel or a double vowel, and, in 24 out of 31 given forms, they are dissyllabic, several being trisyllabic. The Laymon form of the term is evidently the least affected by use, and jointly with the words numbered 5, 6, 7 (Gibbs), 13, 14, 17, and 23, shows the genetic character of the terminal vowel in the given words. These considerations render it probable that the apparently radical resemblance of the collated words is fortuitous and not at all genetic.

In the Serian list of names for “wood” two different words are given, and a third occurs meaning “tree”, perhaps “shrub”. This third word, _ehe_, is very probably an exotic in the list, and is seemingly of Yuman origin, through its substitution by a Yuman-speaking interpreter for the proper Seri word. The correct term is probably contained in the other word given, _ahkáuhkă_, “firewood” (McGee); _a-ká-hoke_, “wood” (Bartlett); _akaχχ´ŭkŭŭ_, “wood”, Spanish “leña” (Pinart). The base of the word is evidently _ahka_, _a-ka_, or _aka_, signifying “wood”, while _uhka_, _hoke_, or _χχ´ŭkŭě_, is the attributive, meaning “dead” (compare _ikoχχe_, “to die”, _χuaχχ´e_, “dead”, _kochhe_, “dead”). Hence, the compound signifies “dead wood” or “dead timber”, and the correct Seri word for “wood” is very probably _ahka_, or _aka_. In giving the names of the time periods M Pinart records an expression that confirms the foregoing analysis. The word in question _koneheχkŭě ishshaχ´_, which signifies the month in which “se seca el pasto”—i. e., the month “the grass dries, becomes sere”. Now, the element, _heχkŭě_ is evidently identical with _χχ´ŭkŭă_ above, and this rendering should be “the month the grass dies”. Thus it would seem that the term _ehe_, not being a native Seri word, does not serve to establish relationship with the Yuman.

The compared list of the Serian and the Yuman vocables purporting to denote “die, dead”, show no tokens of relationship.

SERIAN

_Sky_ (_the heavens_) _Rain_ (_cloud_)

A. {a-mě´m-ma {khópka=“rain”; oká^{lt}ta=“cloud”
{a-měm-ma kwŭ-ĭ´k-pok
{a-měm-ma kŭm-ŭn-kewt-na= {kŭthla=“fog”
“horizon”
B. a-mî-me ip´kakaokuk=“heavy rain” (?)
C. amimme=“sky, heaven” {hipka=“rain, shower”
{χoopka=“it is raining”
{okala kχuauom=“it is cloudy”
D. ammime {ipka=“rain”
{okaxla=“cloud”

YUMAN

21. akwarra bóka
8. iqui kowawakochain
2. o´kve okenedia kivo; kiva, kiwa
3. ama haishunat
24. amâi equi
13. amai k´wus
9. amáia kubaúk; kubaugě=“it is raining”
12. ammai muhheé; ikwi=“cloud”
10. amayaá kivvoga
6. amaya kovauk
1. hámasia=“heavens” ékwi mädshiga
23. emmai quicha
I. embai
15. mâi paou
16. mai (i in like) pow
17. mai qui
4. mâiche oaûk
5. maish
14. may ikvny
11. maya (Renshawe) kw´voga
20. mmái obáuc
22. meya
11. miyá (Gilbert)
7. {ummmayya {coolowwa; hobauk (Yuma)
{ummáia {kobauk
18. ûmiyä´ ikwiwó=“rain”; ikwí=“clouds”
19. ěkwi=“clouds”; tíwo=“rain”;
ekwariga=“the sky is cloudy”

While the seeming resemblance between the Yuman terms for “sky, heaven”, and the Serian vocables of the same meaning is more apparent than real, yet the kinship of the Seri with the Yuman group of languages has been conjectured upon data of which this merely fortuitous similarity was made a factor.

The derivation of the characteristic Yuman term _amai_, the variants of which constitute, with the exception of three vocables, the entire list here compared, is evidently from the stem of the Mohave _amail_, “above, on top”, _amaile_, “higher”, the Yavapai _miävi_, “up”, and also the Yuma (Bennett’s MS.), _amiki_, “over”. In the number-names, such as those for “eleven” and “twelve”, this vocable becomes _maik_ and _maga_ in Maricopa, in Bartlett’s Coco-Maricopa, and in Cochimi, and _maike_ in Hummockhave, _amike_ in Yuma (Bennett’s MS.), _umaiga_ and _umai_ in M’mat, _amaik_ in Mohave (Gibbs), _mae_ in Kutchan, _amaik_ in Kutchan (Englehardt), _emmia_ in Santa Catalina; in all the number-names in which these variants occur they have a single meaning, namely, “above, over, on top, added to, plus”. Thus it is evident that the Yuman variants of _amai_, “sky, the heavens”, are cognate with the auxiliaries or flexions of number-names cited above. Hence, originally the Yuman concept of the “sky” was “the place above, the higher place, or the place on top”.

The derivation of the Seri vocable _amime_ or _aměmma_, “sky, the heavens”, while bearing only a fortuitous resemblance to the Yuman terms noted above, is not traceable from the meager material at present accessible. Strictly speaking, the extent of the phonetic similarity between the Yuman and the Seri vocable is the possession of an _m-_sound in the first syllable, which is evidently the dominant one in the Yuman terms. On the other hand, the Serian vocable has two syllables dominated by the _m-_sound, and the foregoing explanation of the derivation of the Yuman vocable, if correct, as it seems to be, does not supply any means for explaining this duality of syllables dominated by an _m-_sound in the Serian term. For unlike the Yuman dialects of the present the Seri tongue does not duplicate the stem of a word or any part thereof for any purpose whatsoever (though in the past the Seri may or may not have had the duplicative process, for a language can not only do what it is accustomed to do, but may at all times acquire new habits). So it would seem that without historical evidence to support it this comparison is invalid as an indication of linguistic kinship between the vocables compared, and its evidence regarding the conjectured relationship of the two groups of languages is negative.

SERIAN

_Sun_ _Moon_ _Fire_ _Earth_
A. sěáh^k esschah^k a`má`kă ŭmmt; e`k=“dust”
B. schra isah amakinoch am’t
C. shaa ishshaχ´ amak {ashamt=“clay, adobe”
{hamt=“the earth”
D. rahj; tahj amak ampte

YUMAN

_Sun_ _Moon_ _Fire_ _Earth_

I. epan̲g̲ konga maahra ēmat
II. ybo kaglimbák usi akug
III. ibo
IV. ibo; ibunga gamma; usi amet; ammet
(Laymon) ganehmajen
1. inyáa häláa oóo
2. nyá h´lá; hallá hoo; weya mata
(White) (White)
3. inugh hailiyugh eya; ahi muat
4. enn´yache halyáche n´yakiém máche
5. nyas χilás; χalásh ahaus mát
6. anyá halyá aáua amata
7.{unya {huala {ahowwa {amata
{u̲nyá (Gibbs) {hálla (Gibbs) {aáuwa {am-má-ta (Gibbs)
(Gibbs)
8. anya halya chiwaswe á-i
9. anyá hálya aáuwa amat; tciáma
10. inyaá halá a tuga mat
11. nya (Gilbert) hla (Gilbert) otoga
(Gilbert)
12. m’yatche huth’lya; hullyar aáwo ōmut
amáth (Bennett)
13. ẖuya; hnya? ẖalla ow a-má-ta
14. inyá khilshiá áua mat
15. n’ya hulchyá aáou mut
16. enyah hutl’yah quu mut
17. nya h’kla matuanap mot
18. nyä halá oóh mat; amát; máte
19. nyávi; nyá ’láwe; ’lá óo amat; mata
20. nyá jellá aáu h’mát
21. n’ya hŭllá âá; itshi= mät
“coals”
22. enya halá ohó
23. eñai ẖala aau omot
24. enn’yachipáp helchhyá aáou umát

The comparative schedules of the Serian names for “sun” and “moon” exhibit no phonetic evidence of genetic relationship with the collated lists of Yuman vocables of like import.

Between the Serian names for “fire” and the Yuman terms of like import there is no phonetic accordance indicative of glottologic kinship.

It has been supposed, and not without a measure of possibility, that a radical relationship exists between the Serian and the Yuman words denoting “earth”. The supposition rests on the approximate phonetic accordance of two consonants occurring in these terms, quite regardless of the vowel sounds that render them intelligible. The four Seri authorities are in close accord in not hearing and recording a vowel sound between the _m_ and the following _t_. This final _t_ is apparently explosive, indicated by Mr Bartlett with a prefixed apostrophe and by Sr Tenochio with an _e_, whose final position would make it faint. The initial _h_ of the record of M Pinart is very probably due to the Yuman-speaking interpreter. Now, in the 26 forms of the Yuman word here collated the vowel intervening between the _m_ and _t_ of the Yuman vocable is strong and characteristic, and in 11 instances it is accented. While the Seri forms are monosyllables, 17 of the 28 Yuman examples are dissyllabic and 3 are trisyllables. The Cocopa _muat_ indicates the persistency of the medial vowel. These differences, admittedly but poorly indicated by the faulty alphabets employed by the several word collectors, are important and significant; were the several terms here compared faithfully recorded as spoken, by means of a discriminative phonetic alphabet, it seems probable that these literal accordances, in view of the marked differences noted above, would disappear. So in the absence of historical evidence of the genetic relationship of the Serian and the Yuman words denoting “earth”, it seems best to regard this literal accordance as fortuitous rather than real or genetic.

SERIAN

_Dog_ _Coyote_ _Wolf_
A.
B. achks hashokévlch.=“red hasho”
C. aχ´sh vootth χ´ekkos
D. boot

PIMAN

_Dog_ _Coyote_ _Wolf_

a. cox (Pima, White) serr
b. yocsi (Nevome) vana suhi
c. koks (Pima) pan
d. kocks (Opata) guo

YUMAN

I. ethatta etadwachetibawaha (etadwachetibawaha)
II. masa
1. uhát kathâ´t
2. tsata kethuda mbá
3. cowwaick
4. hatch hatakúltis
5. χát χatelwís; χatelwísh χattekúltis
6. akhatchora kuksara
7.{hotchóuk hooktharu
{hatchóka (Gibbs) hūkthara (Gibbs)
8. hachochoke hookhare
9. hattcâka (pl. hukçára
hattcâktca)
10. akhat gesat
11. hot; aha (Renshawe) kthat; cathă´t (Renshawe)
12. hoowée
13. aẖatchookachook aẖateleeway
14. khat
15. h’hút hutch’kôlk
16. hotchukchuk hutchpah
17. aẖot aẖotoopai
18. kuthá’rt kuthá’rt hána
19. katháta nimmîta (nimiwi)
20. jatsocsóc jatelué
21. a`hat; ahŭt
22. kehér
23. itat milti latkil
24. h’hut h’takulch
huwi. (Kutchan,
Bartlett)

The comparative list of names for “dog” shows that the Seri term was very probably adopted from the Piman group of tongues, and there is therefore no apparent relation between the Serian and the Yuman terms.

The Serian name for “coyote” shows no kinship with the Yuman names for this animal.

The Serian names for “wolf”, _χ´ekkos_ and _hasho-kévlch_ (=“red hasho”), show no apparent linguistic relationship to the Yuman names for this animal. It is possible that the Serian terms have some affinity to the Piman terms for “dog” and “wolf”.

Notwithstanding the unqualified conclusion of Herr J. C. E. Buschmann as to the separateness of the Waïcuri (Guaicuri), the late Dr Daniel G. Brinton, in positive terms, though from adverse evidence deduced from precarious data, included this and the Seri tongue in the Yuman stock of languages. Speaking of a comparative list of words specially selected from the Cochimi, Waïcuri, Seri, and Yuma, he says: “The above vocabularies illustrate the extension of the Yuman stock to the southward. The Cochimi and Waïcuri are remote dialects, but of positive affinities.”[342] Yet of seven terms selected by him from the Waïcuri to prove these “positive affinities” not one has any phonetic accordance with the term with which it is compared. This, it would seem, should have sufficed to eliminate the Waīcuri from the Yuman stock. Pending further research, this language should stand independently.

[342] The American Race, p. 335.

Of the conjectured glottologic kinship of the Seri to the Yuman stock Dr Brinton says:[343] “The relationship of the dialect to the Yuman stock is evident.” Yet out of twenty-one terms which he chose to exhibit the grounds of his faith only six (those for “tongue”, “eye”, “head”, “water”, “man”, and “teeth”) show any definite phonetic resemblance. This number, however, can certainly be reduced by careful scrutiny. Thus, he cites the Laymon and Cochimi _tamá_ as a cognate of the Seri _eketam_. The Laymon and Cochimi term, it must be remembered, does not occur in this form in a single other tongue admittedly Yuman. Now, before this vague resemblance can establish relationship it must first be shown that the terms compared have a common linguistic tradition and that a form of _tamá_ is or has been an element common to the other dialects of the Yuman group. But an analysis of the Cochimi term shows no trustworthy ground for considering these terms related. So this certainly reduces the number of conjectured accordances to five.

[343] Loc. cit.

Comparison is made by Dr Brinton between the Serian _ata´st_ (_îtast_, _hitast_), “tooth” and “teeth” (collectively), and the vocable _ehdoh_ (Lieutenant Bergland’s), “tooth”, variants of which are common to only three of the twenty-odd Yuman dialects. He made this comparison evidently under the impression that the first part of the Seri term _ata´st_ (_itast_, _hitast_) signifies “tooth”. But such is not the fact. The first part of this Seri vocable signifies “mouth” (as may be seen in the discussion of the comparative list of names for “tooth”) and the latter part “stone”. The term _îtast_, “tooth”, is, therefore, literally “stone of the mouth”. This is certainly not the signification of the Yuman terms, and so the comparison is invalid, and the number of apparent accordances is reduced to four. By some oversight it seems Dr Brinton omitted from this comparison the Cochimi _hastaá_, “tooth”; but this collocation has been made by others. Now, this term _hastaá_ belongs exclusively to the Cochimi dialect, and before becoming a means of comparison would have to be shown to be a vocable common to the body of Yuman terms having a common linguistic tradition, which has not been done. Moreover, the phonetic obstacles barring a way to a fruitful comparison of this term with the Serian are quite insuperable—the assumed loss of the first half of the Seri term, the acquirement by the Cochimi of the initial _h_ sound and of the final accented syllables _-aá_, or the converse process. This, it seems safe to say, renders this comparison likewise invalid.

The Seri term _in[=tl]ash_, “hand”, has certainly no phonetic accordance with the peculiar Yuman _israhl_, which is from the Yuma or Kutchan record of Lieutenant Eric Bergland, nor, indeed, has it any accordance with any other Yuman term for hand. The presence of the _r_ sound in it supplies the peculiar feature of the term; but it may be used only to lengthen the following vowel (though this is only an assumption). This form is peculiar because there is none like it in about thirty Yuma vocabularies, representing about twenty dialects, in the archives of the Bureau of American Ethnology. A careful inspection of the comparative list of the Seri and the Yuman names for “arm”, “hand”, “finger”, “thumb”, and “fingernail” will demonstrate the utter futility of the comparison under consideration, for there is no accordance between the Seri and the Yuman terms.

Elsewhere herein, in discussing the terms for “head” and “hair”, “eye”, “tongue”, and “water”, it is shown that there is no apparent linguistic relationship between the Serian terms on the one hand and the Yuman on the other, and those explanations dissipate entirely the suspected accordances of Dr Brinton.

Index

A

Adelphiarchy, characters of, 276*
Adelphogamy, traces of, among Seri, 281*, 283*
Adoption among Seri, 277*-279*
African archery posture, 201*, 202*
Agave fiber, Seri use of, in making rope, 228*-230*
Ahst, definition of, 234*-235*
, specimens of, 235*-238*
Alarcon, Hernando de, explorations by, 53
Alcaraz, Diego de, attack on Seri (?) by, 54-55
Alegre, F. J., on Escalante's expedition, 61
, on Parilla's "extermination", 73-74
, on Seri habitat and tribal divisions, 78
, on Seri navigation, 61
Aliens, Seri antipathy for, 131*-132*, 154*-155*
Alvarez, Ruperto, aid rendered by, 14
Alvemar-Leon, Asturo, acknowledgments to, 13
, portrait of, 13
Andrade, Francisco, campaign against Seri by, 88-93
Angeles, location, duration, and size of, 69-71
Animals of Seriland, 36-39
Anton, aid rendered by, 14
Aquarian devices, Seri, 182*-186*
Aquatic life of Seriland, 38-39
Araiza, Victor, attack on Seri by, 88
Archery, Seri, 197*, 255*-256*
Archery implements, Seri, 198*-200*
Archery posture, African, 201*, 202*
, Seri, 200*-201*
, Von Bayer's photograph of, 106
Arellano, Tristan de, foundation of Corazones by, 53
Arm, Serian and Yuman names for, 330-332*
Arricivita, J. D., on Bernabe mission, 80, 81
, on Seri tribal relations, 82
Arrow, Seri, construction of, 197*-198*
, Seri, decoration of, 175*
, Seri, genesis of, 198*-199*
, Seri, relation to harpoon and fire-drill of, 198*-199*
, use of, 255*-256*
Arrowpoints, iron, of Seri, 247*-248*
, Seri, construction and attachment of, 198*
, stone, of Seri, 198*, 246*-247*
Arrowpoison, Seri, character of, 256*-259*
, travelers' accounts of, 54, 78, 87, 97, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105
Artifacts of Seri, classes of, 248*-249*
Asuncion, Juan de la, explorations by, 51
Autochthony of Seri, 12, 268*
Awls, Seri, 230*

B

Bad, Serian and Yuman words meaning, 337*-338*
Baegert, Jacob, map by, 66
on Californian food habits, 209*-212*
Balsa, Seri, characters and construction of, 10, 216*-221*
, Seri, decoration of, 173*
, Seri, methods of propulsion of, 219*
, Seri, Von Bayer's drawings of, 106
Bancroft, H. H., notes on Seri by, 104-105
on Escalante expedition, 61
Bandelier, Adolf, classification of Seri by, 108
, identifications by, 51, 52, 55, 56
Bartiromo, Melchor, mission work of, 61, 67
Bartlett, J. R. on Opata running, 125
on the Seri, 96-97
, Seri vocabulary collected by, 97-99, 296*, 299*
Basketry, Seri, characters of, 10, 208*-209*
, Seri, decoration of, 175*
Beacon-markings, definition of, 168*
Berger, aid rendered by, 13
Bernabe, Crisóstomo Gil de, establishment of mission by, 80-82
Biotic characters of Seri, 133*
Bird, Serian and Tuman names for, 332*-333*
Birds of Seriland, 37, 38
Black, Serian and Yuman words meaning, 335*-336*
Blood, Serian and Yuman names for, 297*, 334*-335*
Blood-craze, Seri, 188*, 203*-204*, 262*-263*, 265*
Blue, Serian and Yuman words meaning, 335*-336*
Boca Infierno, tides and currents in, 46-47
Body, responsivity of, 268*-269*
Bone, Serian and Yuman names for, 333*-334*
Bow, Seri, decoration of, 175*
, Seri, genesis and construction of, 199*, 200*
Brinton, D. G., classification of Seri and Waïkuri by, 108, 343*-344*
Brobdingnagians, possible originals of, 53-54
Brown, Serian and Yuman words meaning, 335*-336*
Buena y Alcalde, Mariano Antonio, plan for Seri mission by, 80
Building-chant, Seri, 223*-224*
Burden-bearing by Seri, 149*
Burros, Seri method of hunting, 204*-205*
Buschmann, J. C. E., classification of Seri by, 300*
, notes on Seri by, 99