'Man' Entry From Du Ponceau's Comparative Vocabulary of Algonquian Languages
Abstract: 'Man' entry from Du Ponceau's "Comparative Vocabulary and Discussion of Languages of the Algonquian Family" in Dissertation on the Grammatical System of the Languages of Some Indians of North America, (Paris, 1938) by Peter Stephen Du Ponceau (1760-1844).
XI. MAN

Many of the languages of this family, such as those of the Delaware or Lenni-Lenape have different terms to express this word in the sense of a male and in the sense of humankind. Others, such as the Ottawa, as Mr. Hamelin has verified to us, do not have, like the French and English, but one single means of expressing these two ideas. The vocabularies below do not address all instances. Here are the results of our research:
 
Tribe or Nation
 Expression Source

Illinois Illéni (man as in a male) Hennepin
Algonkin Alisinapé La Hontan
Inini Mackenzie
Chippewa Lennis, alisinapé  Barton
Ninnee (nini)  Long
Inini (male) Dr. James
Inichiti, inichi 
noubé (human), nin (male)		 Ibid.
Menominee Inin (male)  Ibid.
Inishiti (human) Ibid.
Piankashaw, 
Illinois & Miami		 Inim  MS

But see the Miami entry below.
 
Lenape  Lenno (vir) 
lenapé (homo)		 Heckewelder

Barton gives lennowegh for man. In the dialect of the Minsi this is evidently the plural Lennowak, poorly pronounced.
 
Delaware 
  of New Jersey 		 Linnu (linnou) MS

No distinction is made, but this is with a doubt the word male.
 
Delaware
  of Pennsylvania		 Rhénus (male)
renapi (human)		  Campanius

Here the l is changed to an r.
 
Ottawa  Anini

We take this word from the mouth of Mr. Hamelin, who assures us that this language does not make a distinction between male and human. Notice that the l changes to n... It is always illini or alini.
 
Shawnee  Elene (ilini)  Johnston
Illenni, linni  Barton
N'delliniwi (I am a man) Heckewelder
Miami  Elaniah  Volney
Ahlanuah (the first a is pronounced e) Barton
Hlanniah  Thornton
Mississagues  Linneep Barton

This word appears to be a form of the verb which conveys the idea expressed by the French word homme.
 
Sankhicans  Renoes (here again the l is changed to r) Laet
Abenaki  Seenanbé (male)
arenambé (human)		 Rasles

In the last word, one recognizes again the Lenape. This word is pronounced in the Lenni-Lenape language with the l changed to r, the second a becomes nasal, and the p changes to a b. In the languages that follow, this etymology altogether disappears.
 
Unquachog Run MS
Nanticoke  Nââp  Heckewelder

This word appears to be an abridgement of Lénâpé. One manuscript give walacki; but it is not verified by Heckewelder.
 
Powhatan  Némarough
(nimarakh) 		 Capt. Smith
Mahican Némannauw
(nimanaou) 		 Edwards
Penobscot Sanumbee
(senombi) 		 Barton
Penobscot Sannaeba
(sanaïba)		 MS

This resembles the Abenaki. (See below.)
 
Narragansett Nnin  Barton

This word seems to be an abridgement of lenni, and appears to be ninin, or n'nin, to be male; I am a man.
 
Souriquois Kessoua,
metaboviou 		 Laet
Tchinem  P. Maynard
Micmacs Jaeenan (Tchaïnan) Soc. of Mass.
Cree  Ethin Mackenzie
Montagnais Napew ( népiou or napiou) Soc.of Mass.
Skoffies Nabou Ibid.

These last two words seem to have some relationship with lénâpé.
 
Greenland  Innuk Egede

The connection between this word and that which precedes it seems to merit attention.


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Translated by:  Jim Fay, Ph.D.
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