Tweets & Rahne,

Actually, a linguist I know, Bill Bright of U. of Colorado, is preparing an
analysis of "squaw" and other English corruptions. I will post a copy of an
introductory commentary he posted last year on the issue as soon as I can
get it off my office computer. Briefly, it is derived from an Algonquian
Indian language from a term meaning nothing more derogatory than "woman." It
is attested as early as 1620 at Jamestown Colony. The rumor that it
originally referred to female genitalia in some Indian language is
apparently not true. Subsequently it has acquired negative connotations. As
for "Oldsquaw," I still believe it may be onomatopoetic, that is, imitative
of the calls of the species. Compare the following Eskimo names cited in
Gabrielson's _Birds of Alaska_, pg. 200: A'hadlin, a'dyigia, arangurat,
a-hong'-yirihk, ang-lach, a-lang-ach, algnach, a-houg-ik, ahl-kiach,
ah-a-nuk, ah-a-luk, etc. Perhaps, like "bob-white", an imitative name was
subsequently interpreted as an "English" word.

Gene Hunn.

At 06:46 PM 11/11/99 -0800, you wrote:
>Ed, do we actually know that the name oldsquaw is actually intended to refer
>to an elderly native American woman (though squaw means something worse than
>that). Has anyone done research on the origin of the name? I mean, a
>siberian tit was not named after a inuit woman's mammary gland. Who knows? I
>don't.
>Don't get me wrong. I think being politically correct without carrying it to
>ridiculous extremes is only good manners.
>Rahne Kirkham
>Federal Way, Washington
>rahne at mindspring.com
>"Joy is the serious business of Heaven"
>C.S.Lewis
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Ed Newbold <newboldwildlife at netscape.net>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 10:50 PM
>Subject: Oldsquaw
>
>
>Dear Tweeters, The fact that somebody isn't bothered by the name Oldsquaw
>might have had more impact on me if they'd identified themself as an elderly
>Native American woman. Otherwise, it's not news.
>--Ed Newbold, urban-residential Beacon Hill, Seattle (an overflight of
>Yellow
>rumps this morning!) newboldwildlife at netscape.net
>
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