Chinook Jargon: Encyclopedia II - Chinook Jargon - Usage

Chinook Jargon - Usage

Pacific Northwest Coast historians are well acquainted with the Chinook Jargon, in name if not in the ability to understand it as mention of it, and sometimes phrases of it, turn in in nearly every piece of historical source material before 1900. For everyone else, the fact that Chinook Jargon ever existed is relatively unknown, perhaps due to the great influx of newcomers into the influential urban areas. However, the memory of this language is not likely to fade entirely. Many words are still used and enjoyed throughout Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. Oldtimers still dimly remember it, although in their youth, speaking this language was discouraged as slang. Nonetheless, it was the working language in many towns and workplaces, notably in ranching country and in canneries on the British Columbia Coast where it was necessary in the strongly multiethnic workforce. Place names throughout this region bear Jargon names and words are preserved in various rural industries such as logging and fishing.

The Chinook Jargon was multicultural and functional. There was no Official Chinook Jargon, although the past (and present) publishers of dictionaries would have had you believe otherwise. To those familiar with it, Chinook Jargon is often considered a wonderful cultural inheritance. For this reason, and because Jargon has not quite died, enthusiasts actively promote the revival of the language in everyday western speech.

An art installation featuring Chinook Jargon can be viewed on the Seawall inr Yaletown, in Vancouver, British Columbia (at the foot of Davie Street).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Usage", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki