Reading Guide For Chippewa Number Words Activities

Original Source Text: “A Theoretical and Practical Grammar of the Otchipwe Language” by R.R. Bishop Baraga 1878

As you read over pages 306 to 330 please take special note of the following items:

  1. What is a Number? ______
  2. What are the 5 “sorts” of number and how are they used?

1)Cardinal numbers:______

2)Distributive numbers:______

3)Multiplying numbers:______

4)Multiplying-distributive numbers:______

5)Ordinal numbers:______

  1. What are the Chippewa words for the following numbers?

1)______

2)______

3)______

4)______

5)______

6)______

7)______

8)______

9)______

10) ______

11) ______

12) ______

  1. How do some of the number words change in daily use?
  2. What changes occur when number is used as a measure?
  3. What word is used when the measure is a rounded number?
  4. From remark 4, what are the different words suffixed onto numbers to describe the following?

a)Days: ______

b)Wooden Vessels:______

c)Clothing materials:______

d) Wood or lumber: ______

e)Metal, stone, or glass: ______

f)Globular objects: ______

g)A pair: ______

h)Bag or sack: ______

i)Canoe, boat, vessel: ______

j)Outstretched arms of a man measuring a fthom: ______

k)Measurement by the foot: ______

l)Measurement by the span: ______

m)Measurement by the inch:______

  1. Page 317 – What word is used for measurement of the hours and what does this tell you about the Chippewa view of daily time?
  1. Distributive Numbers: how are these spoken differently than Cardinal Numbers?

  1. Multiplying Numbers: how are these spoken differently than Cardinal Numbers?
  1. Multiplying-Distributive Numbers: how are these spoken differently than numbers that are only multiplying?

  1. Ordinal Numbers: List the following Chippewa words for ordinal numbers

1)First: ______

2)Second: ______

3)Third: ______

4)Fourth:______

5)Fifth:______

6)Sixth:______

7)Seventh:______

8)Eighth:______

9)Nineth:______

10)Tenth:______

  1. How are numeral verbs used for Animate substantives:
  1. How are numeral verbs used for inanimate substantives.

Article “Native Numbers”

  1. How would you characterize the difference between Native American views of number and that of the European colonizers?
  1. What do we learn about Native American concepts of number by the words used for numbers in native languages?
  1. What cultural conflict of views is revealed by the lawyer’s reaction to the testimony of the Cree hunter in the James Bayvs. Hydro-Quebec court case?
  1. What were some of the purposes of notched sticks for the Powhatan and Chippewa peoples?

  1. What method of keeping information did the Inca use and how efficient of a system was it?
  1. Are there examples within European culture of individuals who held a similar view of number as Native Americans?

Matching Assessment (Answer Key)

1) F / A) naanan
2) G / B) zhaangaswi
3) D / C) ningodwaaswi
4) J / D) niswi
5) A / E) niizhwaaswi
6) C / F) bezhig
7) E / G) niizh
8) H / H) nishwaaswi
9) B / I) midaaswi
10) I / J) niiwin

Place the following Ordinal number in correct order

Eko-naananing / First: Netamising
Eko-niizhing / Second: Eko-niizhing
Netamising / Third: Eko-nising
Eko-niiwing / Fourth: Eko-niiwing
Eko-nising / Fifth: Eko-naananing