Natives & Newcomers Ch. 2 notes

Communication Breakdown

Whites needed to communicate
For trade
To find gold
To find land routes
To hunt wild animals
To convert natives to Christianity
“We come in peace”

Over 200 Indian languages
Many were similar, but with widely varied dialects
European languages were similarly related
How could Indians/Europeans recognize singular or different languages?
Related ideas using:
--Imitation
--Music
--Symbols
--Gifts/food
--Facial expressions/body language
--Sign language

Thinking they thought that . . .

Early European explorers impressed their own ideas of what they wanted the Indians to say over what they actually said
The Europeans are gods (p. 50)
The Europeans are in Asia
The natives will show them where gold is
The Indians have no religion or laws (p. 51)
The Europeans are free to take all the land they want (p. 52)

First words
“I don't understand”
“Friend”
“Chief”
Jargon: specific words used for specific purposes.
Pidgin: simplified words put together for basic communication.
Simplified words from Indian and European languages were used together for trading and politics