A Key into the Language of America: The Tomaquag Museum Edition

by Roger Williams, Loren Spears (Editor)

A New Edition of One of the Most Important Cultural Artifacts of European and Indigenous American Contact
Roger Williams’s Key into the Language of America, first published in 1643, is one of the most important artifacts of early Indigenous American culture. In it, Williams recorded the day-to-day experience of the Narragansett people of Rhode Island in their own words, the first documentation of an American Indian language in English. Williams’s Key can be read at many levels because of its historical, literary, political, and religious significance. Its greatest value, though, is its intimate portrait of the Narragansett and their linguistic neighbors in the early years of European colonial settlement, before disease, dislocation, warfare—in particular, King Philip’s War—and colonial interference had diminished their population and power in the region. An extraordinary achievement, Williams’s Key gives us a contemporary account of Narragansett family life, of their sociability and skill in business, their dress, foodways, and the farming, fishing, and hunting that formed the basis of their sustenance practices. 
This new Tomaquag Museum edition includes for the first time cultural commentary provided by the Narragansett Tribe as well as modern linguistic information provided by a leading authority in the study of American Indian languages. 
The Tomaquag Museum, located in Exeter, Rhode Island, is an Indigenous nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the culture, arts, and history of the Narragansett and other tribal communities of southern New England.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Linguistics, Native American

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1643

About the author

Roger Williams (c. 1603 – between January and March 1683) was an English Puritan theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. He was expelled by the Puritan Leaders because they thought he was spreading "new and dangerous ideas", so in 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams was a member of the first Baptist church in America, the First Baptist Church of Providence.

Williams was also a student of Native American languages, an early advocate for fair dealings with Native Americans, and arguably the first abolitionist in North America, having organized the first attempt to prohibit slavery in any of the British American colonies.

Reviews

[Alfia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting but often difficult to read, this was a poorly OCRed copy of a book from 1643, before English spelling was standardized. Written by Roger Williams, a well-meaning preacher-mayor of the Rhode Island Colony, it aimed to serve as a guidebook for those who would trade with and attempt to convert the local Narragansett people to Roger's pilgrim-style Christianity. At first I tried to figure out the structure of the language using a spreadsheet, but Williams's transcription (and English orthography!) is so haphazard that it got pretty frustrating. I did figure some stuff out, but finally decided I'd be better off just reading the text and looking elsewhere for an analysis of the language.

The book is organized by topics, and generally has a compassionate and respectful view of the locals, especially in the beginning when he talks about their families and general social relations. He mentions in several places that the locals often behave themselves much more honestly and with more dignity than many self-professed English Christians. Each section ends with a weird little religious poem by Williams summarizing some of the insights he has made on that section's topic. As the book goes on, Williams becomes much preachier, reminding the locals that they will be going to hell, etc. if they don't accept his religion. Unfortunately there were very few records of the Naragansset language before the people died or were assimilated (?) and so this is still an important record of a now extinct Algonquian language.

[Martin Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a description of the language and society of the Narragansett people in the 1600s. This book is also a travesty as a linguistic handbook but fascinates as a cultural artefact. Williams’ Puritan views are palpable throughout—he was clearly fond of the Narragansett yet dismissive of their beliefs unless they appeared ‘Biblical’. Progressive for the time but firmly ‘noble savage’ territory. Through the vignettes I feel I learnt more about Williams than the Narragansett.

The book is delightfully quaint in every way. For Christ’s sake, Williams writes a goddamn poem to summarise at the end of each chapter! I think this may be the primary value of the book—a look into an attempt at linguistics and anthropology centuries before they became academic subjects. Before even the basic nomenclature or ideas were there. Despite this, the book has actually been a primary source for the Narragansett language revitalisation movement. Which I think shows how laypersons’ work can still be a cornerstone of science, in a way.

Anyway, here are some of Williams’ fantastic translations:

Matntiantacómpaw. I am no lying fellow.
Wuttùsh. Hitherward, & give me.
Yo cuppáppoof? Wunnêtu. Is this your Child? It is a fine Child.

[Freya Abbas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very interesting to read as a primary source. Although Williams is generally considered to be progressive for his time and a supporter of Native American rights, reading this makes it seem like he was not really that different from other colonists especially when it came to matters of religion. He desperately wanted to convert them to Christianity. It's also clear that he misunderstands Narragansett religion a lot here. For example, he thinks they have many gods when they only have one Creator.

[Brent Woo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as racist as you might think — well, besides using the term "barbarous Nations". The "Obs[ervations]" are pretty neat little, relatively respectful, anthro notes into the practices and culture of the Narragansett people. Of course you read everything with a heap of salt, including the transcription and translations.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only the sentiment of Williams was shared more widely...how different our national experience would be...

[Anna Pannell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will definitely have to ask friend about the 13 Thanksgivings but otherwise very informative

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t realize RW did language documentation! Cool find.

[J.O. Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dictionary and commentary of Indian language and culture in the early 1600's.

[Alan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 2005 reprint by the Baptist Standard Bearer of volume 1 of the 1963 edition (Russell & Russell) of The Complete Writings of Roger Williams. It includes the following works: Williams's A Key into the Language of America (originally published in 1643), A Letter of Mr. John Cottons . . . in New-England to Mr. Williams (originally published in 1643), and Williams's Mr. Cottons Letter Lately Printed, Examined and Answered (originally published in 1644). The writings in this edition denote the pagination of the seventeenth-century originals in brackets within the texts. Although not facsimiles of the originals, they reproduce the orthography and other features of the originals. Accordingly, the 1963 edition (or a reprint of same) is frequently cited in the scholarly literature. The originals of these publications are now also available on Early English Books Online (EEBO).

I give this edition five stars in view of the accuracy of the reprints of the originals as well as the power and cogency of Roger Williams's writings contained herein. The general 1866 "Biographical Introduction to the Writings of Roger Williams" by Reuben Aldrich Guild (librarian of Brown University from 1848 to 1893) is thorough and helpful, though it contains a few factual errors. Guild's "Introductory Remarks" to A Letter of John Cottons and Williams's Mr. Cottons Letter Lately Printed are adequate. The 1866 editorial commentary by philologist James Hammond Trumbull regarding Williams's Key is remarkable in its attention to linguistic details.

I discuss these writings by Williams and Cotton in depth in my book The First American Founder: Roger Williams and Freedom of Conscience.

(Originally posted 3/29/2014; revised 8/20/15)

[Phyllis Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little historical curiosity, this early "dictionary" is sorted by subject matter. There are a few terms (spelling not consistent but that's all right, it helps with the pronunciation) and then a little commentary, such as this one under Chap.V:

Their Virgins are distinguished by a bashful falling downe of their haire over their eyes.

Roger Williams, as the Editors inform us, wrote this, his first published work, in 1643. As an early Anthropologist and Linguist, he mentions different dialects but does not distinguish greatly between the Algonkian tribes. Some words are similar to those of the Abenaki, one tribe found further to the west, but others are not.

I could do without his three verses of four lines each that are found at the end of each chapter, generally pontificating on the superiority of the Christian faith over the heathen, although Williams gained fame as much, or more, for his independent views on religious tolerance that landed him in hot water (as well as exile) from his fellow "Pilgrims".
Because there were no cameras or recordings at the time, we owe Roger Williams a great debt of gratitude for the little slice of history that he saved for us.

[Alan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edition of Roger Williams's famous work on Native Americans is accessible and relatively easy to read. It modernizes Williams's orthography while retaining the wording, italics, and some other features of the original. The Introduction by Howard M. Chapin provides a succinct summary of the publication history of the work. Scholars will wish to study the original 1643 edition (available on Early English Books Online) or a reprint of the original work (with extensive scholarly annotation) in volume 1 of the 1963 edition of The Complete Writings of Roger Williams. My review of the latter work is posted here.

I discuss this and other writings of Roger Williams, as well as his historical actions, in my book The First American Founder: Roger Williams and Freedom of Conscience.

(Originally posted 3/16/2014; revised 8/21/2015)

[Patricia A. Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mildly interesting book giving some words in the Native American Language, written by Roger Williams himself, but he does not say which one specifically. I'm thinking Narragansetts or maybe Wampanoag, who maybe had a common language. Also gives a little glimpse into things like hunting practices, trading, etc. Not exactly a page turner, but good for someone interested in RI history.

[Jessica]

At the beginning of this "key" or phrasebook guide to the Algonquian language Williams writes, "A little Key may open a Box, where lies a bunch of Keys." Truer words have never been written. The columns of English phrases are akin to postmodern poetry. Take this excerpt, from the section titled "Of their Warre"

Afraid.
Are you afraid?
Why feare you?
I feare none.
They feare you.
They fly from us.
Let us pursue.
I feare him.
He flies, they flie.
I flie for succour.
Save me.
I am shot.
Churlish.
Loving.
Why are you churlish?
A fort.

From these lines we can begin to piece together an incredible narrative of native/European encounter, fear, misunderstanding, and confusion. What emerges is a rich picture of how much the pilgrims relied on native assistance, and yet, how this relationship rested on the most tenuous trust.

[Frank King · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful dive into People before there was a U.S.A. It gives a great understanding of the Narragansett / European-Colonist relationship before King Philip's War. 5 stars because it is the first written form of this Algonquin nation's language. This book is still referred to today for a language reference (even by the Narragansetts).

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a 4 because it has been one of the first early colonial texts I've read that I would consider more than "just interesting." The attempted form was the more engrossing part: a working dictionary with occasional discourse that eventually formed a story and flow of thought just in itself. His general observations at the end of each chapter had some pretty high rhetorical goals; it seemed like he was trying to find the Indians' place in the his anglocentric world, and it revealed great things about how he viewed them.

[J.M. Brister · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read given the historical context that Williams wrote this during. Apparently, he got kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay colony for his ideas. With all of the early-American literature I've read this year in my attempt to find some more interesting materials for my 11th-graders, this one at least gives some support to the Native Americans. My students may not read the entire thing (especially since a lot of it is dictionary), but it may be mentioned at least.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally, I think every Rhode Islander ought to read what our great founder, Roger Williams, wrote concerning the natives of this land. A fascinating look at the Narragansetts of the 17th century.

[Mary Drover · Rating 1 out of 5]

The shit I have to read for this class. This was for my Native American Identities class, and it was so incredibly boring, I’m surprised I managed to finish it. It was a dictionary, and I learned nothing from it.