Language

The Karankawa people speak Karankawan. This language is partially preserved with around 500 known words . Alex Pérez of the Karankawa Kadla is the reigning expert on Karankawan. For a guide to speak this language, purchase his book Karankawa Kadla Mixed Tongue: Medicine for the Land & Our Peoples. 

Our knowledge of Karankawan comes mostly from eight individuals:

Jean Baptiste Talon (1698): Talon lived among the Karankawas as a child in the late seventeenth-century. He provides the most reliable source on the Karankawan language. An interrogator who interviewed Talon in Brest, France listed 29 words.

Jean Béranger (1720): Béranger was a French captain who associated with the Karankawas while repairing his ship in Aransas Bay. Béranger penned 100 words in his journal.

Jean-Louis Berlandier and Rafael Chovell (1828-1829): Berlandier was a young naturalist who encountered the Karankawas while touring Texas with the Mexican Boundary Commission under General Manuel Mier y Téran. Rafael Chovell also accompanied the Mexican Boundary Commission as a mineralogist. Berlandier and Chovell jotted down 158 words. At this point, Karankawa-cultured groups had intermixed with other Native peoples in Texas such as the Akokisas, Aranamas, Coahuiltecans, Mayeyes, and Tonkawas. The Karankawan language, therefore, had shifted and morphed. Even so, this is a phenomenal source of Karankawan.

Old Simon (1884): Simon was a Tonkawa informant for the ethnographer Albert Samuel Gatschet.  Simon knew pieces of Karankawan because he lived among some Karankawas as a child. Gatschet believed Simon was around seventy-five years old, and stated that it “was a difficult matter to obtain any reliable information from him on account of an extreme debility of body and memory.”^[1] Simon fuzzily remembered 17 words.

Sallie Washington (1884): Sallie Washington served as another Tonkawa source on Karankawan. Washington lived with a Karankawa man as a younger woman. Gatschet believed Sallie was around seventy-five years old, too. She recollected 6 words.

Alice W. Oliver (1888): Alice Oliver’s father settled in the Karankawas territory in 1838, and as a girl of around 10 years old, Alice met with Karankawas who seasonally visited her small farm. She learned some Karankawan words over the course of a decade, wrote them down, but lost her notebook. At the age of sixty, she tried to remember as many Karankawan words as possible for ethnographer Albert Gatschet. She recollected 137 words. Oliver is a problematic source. In her “Notes on the Carancahua Indians” at the beginning of Gatschet’s report, which is based off her memory, there are a litany of factual errors. Oliver, for example, states that the Karankawas had 3,000 warriors during the Texas Rebellion when in reality the number was likely around a hundred or two.^[2] Regardless, the Karankawan she remembered is a decent match with the aforementioned sources.

Guy M. Bryan (late 1800s or early 1900s): Galveston physician Joseph Osterman Dyer interviewed Guy M. Bryan who claimed to know 7 words—how Bryan learned these words is unmentioned. This list is untrustworthy. Dyer is infamous for his misinformation. In one instance, he insisted that the Karankawas subsisted only off “roots, beetles, and the dung of deer,” in another he expounded that these peoples had “a mucous membrane unaccustomed to spiced and hot dishes” and therefore could only eat cold and raw fish.^[3] 

Anthony P. Grant, a linguist from the University of Bradford, has written extensively on the Karankawas’ language. His paper serves as the basis for this section.

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[1] Gatschet, The Karankawa Indians, the Coast People of Texas, 79.

[2] Gatschet, The Karankawa Indians, the Coast People of Texas, 15.

[3] Dyer, “Corrected and Epitomized Lessons of Texas History, part 1, period of 1518 to 1807,” and “Reminiscences of Early Galveston,” in Joseph Osterman Dyer Scrapbook 1915-1923, (Rosenberg Library, c. 1920s).

Guide

* – ch = š voiceless postalveolar fricative; for example: ship, push, delicious (for more meaning behind the phonetic symbols click here)

? – source handwriting is ambiguous and educated guesses were made for spelling.

( ) – taken from source

[ ] – my comments

All spelling and accent marks replicated from sources.

An alphabetical list can be downloaded here: Excel | PDF

The categorized list as shown below can be downloaded here: Excel | PDF

I initially believed this to be the first collective list of the Karankawa language ever  published, but after some research I found a similar list published in 1994 which may have a possible seventh source, see Anthony Grant’s.

Compiled Karankawa Language	Talon Brothers (1693)	Beranger (1720)	Berlandier (1828)	Gatschet: Mrs. Oliver (1888)	Gatschet: Old Simon (1884)	Gatschet: Sallie Washington (1884)
English	Native	Native	Native	Native	Native	Native
Gender and People
A man	techoyou	alane	saylá	yámawe	úshi
father				béhema
he				tál
the woman	achadu		calí
virgin			fetscuem-cali
mother				kanínma
she				tál
girl			cali-cuan	kā’da
a boy	colohs		clox	gló-ěssěn	níktam
a little man, youngster					ushi níktam
child, young, babe				kwā’n
Indian man			choygnea*
Indian woman			choygnea-calem*
the Spainards (“people of the land” because they came by land)	cahamqueamy				kahe or ka
the French (“people of the sea” because they came by sea)	calbasses
Tonkawa Indians					Tchankáya
Body, Appearance, and Health
blood			fechandelman*
the foot		eham	hei-yú	kékeya (foot)
toes			hei-yosam
ankle			iclea ?
heel			ik-dota
sole of the foot			ik-aal
the leg		emanpocq	schemi *
veins? of the entire leg			acuynu ?
the knee		enelus
the thigh		emedale
the arms		sumahaha	chigmia (arm)
upper arms			cha(j)egual
the entire arm			laaje
the hand			hooyo	étsma
fingers			hooyo-am	étsma
to touch				tchaútawa;
nails			hooymblé
the back of hand			cuama (the back of hand)
palm of the hand			ho-yal
from the elbow to the shoulder		schotum	deeya
the shoulder		enidschota	eel-em
the stomach and the abdomen (belly/womb)		alouo	coog ? (belly or bowels) or enauza ? (stomach)
the eyes		emicout	leca (eye)
to see			om	tchá
the eyebrows		imlahoué
eyelash			leguems
eyelid			lesayma
pupil of the eye			lacuim
the neck		emubecq	sebilool ?
the head		enoquer	daal
face			iancú ?
the hair		equioay couy	equa (hair of head) or ecun-eche (hair from animal?) *
the chin		emimian hauma	agnena (chin or beard)
the nose		emay aloumy	lóo (nose) or lóo-dulm (large nosed)
the mouth		emy aquoy	agg
the teeth		dolonaquin	e(y) or(g) (tooth)	é, é tesselénia(toothbrush)
the tongue		ascune	len (tongue)
lip			aggmach *
to speak			aal
to whistle				áksōl
gums			eclenemac ?
palate			elcon
clavicle or collar bone			lemoolmá
ribs			guen, ay(?)
forehead			mekloó
the broad faced man? (Cado?)			veloó-dulm
face			lesáyom or iancú ?
cheek			agui
ear			aisoyna or ai(g) or ai(y)
ear wax			aigenal
heart				láhama
breast			al	kanín (teat)
breasts of a woman			(ev)em
testicles			en
the private parts of a man		emibacq	baj (penis)
the uterus			hacha culo*
buttock			mooj
muscle			eel
the entire body			quismatamac ?
tattoos (the pricks or punctures they have on them)		bachmanae
sick		a bas		kwátcho
in good health, healthy				klabán
tall, large				yá-an
small, little				kwā’n
round				lá-akum
wide				yá-an
Clothing, Trinkets, Trade, and Other Odds and Ends
a shoe		cameplan
a hat		calamu
all kinds of clothes		sams
woman’s dress, gown				kwíss kádla
textile fabric				kwíss
cloth				kwíss
hat			dalmac-cama
trousers			yenna-cama ?
shoe			camepel
blanket			lams
shirt			chacama	gusgáma
glove			oñecada
handkerchief			lams-santle ?
pins and needles		beschena		aguíya (from Spanish)
to sew		tecsilea
pretty woman			calee-malem	hamála (handsome, pretty in general)
ugly woman			calee-bat
bell			selabaya
brush				tesselénia
glass trinkets		quiahin
paper		imeter a coum
to read				gwá
vermilion		cadrum
to give				báwûs
to manufacture, to produce, to create, to make				káhawan, kosáta
to work				takína
Elements, Environment, and Celestial Bodies
fire	cohoille	quoylesem (fire)	cuacha *	kwátchi (also used to refer to fever)	húmhe
smoke				ánawan
live coal			alm
ashes		ahonae
heat			schoj*
the sun	colonu	clos	clon (sun)	dó-owal
the moon		a ovil	tayk
the wood	cohab	quesoul (wood)
ocean, saltwater, sea	cocomden (saltwater)		tacui (sea, ocean)	gllé-i (ocean, water, open water)
water		clay	clé	gllé-i
the wind		eta		bá
the cold		delin	gláy (cold)
the rain		ampaje	g(ü)ss or g(ii)s	wíasn (to rain)
star			caguan
clouds			quapan
air			lun
sand		cohon
tree			etsquequi	akwiní
field			do(ps)á
a cane (reed, walking stick)		coln
dwarf pine		quesis-maille
resin or tar		couja
Tree type?(of a certain wood with which they start fire by rubbing one piece of it against eachother)		demaje
an oak apple (oak gall)		aix quitoula
tree			etsquequi	akwiní
mountain			euajadan
day				bákta
grass				awtchzōl
Animals and Insects
A horse	canonaium			kuwáyi, kuwaí (from Spanish caballo)	kwá, kwán
mare			cuay-nen
colt or immature stallion			cuaanñam
stallion			cuaflekuen
dog	quez	queche	qüeche (male) qüeche-nen (female) *	kíss
pig, sow	quez calbasses “French Dogs”	queche	tech-lo-disa or tech-lo-nem ? (female pig – probably nen isntead of nem) *	madóna		tapshewá (hog)
an ox/buffalo		dedotte	oola-lá (bison or buffalo)
an oxhorn		deyuedolan	homo (horn)
bull			chool-la
female cow			chool-nen
calf			chool-cuain
buffalo hide			oola-jay
cattle				téts’oa
cow				téts’oa
deer			edochin	dó-atn
doe			edochin-nen
a deerskin		quesoul
octopus				ám tchúta
oyster				dă’
fish		guylera	am	ám
bird			coocho*	k’udn
feather			coochcam*
feathers		humdolucq
bird’s feet			cuch-lú
a plover		cebé
a lark		cout sest aeta
a pelican		ammane
a water hen (coot)		ouapa
chicken				kútně wólya (prarie chicken)
crane				kědō’d
a duck		coué
duck (canvasback duck)				medá-u
cock			co(nnuan)guila
hen			(connua)-gnen
turkey			sam kei(a)solote or sam kei(se)solote
turkey hen			samnen
goose				lá-ak
egg				dáhome
male cat			catum
female cat			catum-nen
calico				kádla
domestic cat				gáta (from Spanish)
kitten				gáta kwán
a fly		camoje
mosquito				gă’ or gá’h
turtle			chaube*	haítnlokn (green turtle)
alligator			oñase		hókso
serpent, snake				aúd
bear				ŏ’s
coyote			cuba
female coyote			cuba-nen
wolf	quez, queche		badolú
female wolf			badolú-nen
young of animal				kwā’n
to kill				ahúk
dead				mál
guts			(t)ach*
animal entrails			trach-sá*
intestines for sausage?			clax ?
bone			fechedall*
meat, beef			fechi*	téts’oa, tétsoa	tíkěmai
grass or hay			quay	awtchzōl
to grow (said of animals and plants)				kwān or kw únakwan
Hunting, Tools, and Weapons
a bow	crouin			gaí
arrow	demo (an arrow)			děmóa
a knife		cousila	chela	silekáyi
a gun		quesoulp
the powder		calmel
a musketball		quechila-demoux
a cannon		esjam
an ax, a hatchet		quiaen		matchíta
an oyster catcher		quojol
a pistol		caayuuane
a rope (cord)		bachina
an adze (tool used to shape wood)		cousilca
a pickax (mattlock)		queune
a dart,harpoon, or fish spear		cousila
rifle			chelacuy ?
gunpowder			con-mel	kû’nmil
rock or stone			cay
iron			chelneday*
silver			cheledame*
gold			chelee-cheman*
hoe or pickaxe			chelee-nagut*
to catch				haítn
to shoot				ódn
to break, to tear				táhama
a gimlet (drilling tool)		cluny
Food, Cooking, and Smoking
fire pot	cocomden	coje eun (a mess tin)
a pitcher (jug,jar)		cahan
a flask (bottle)		quedim
a kettle		couquiol
a cask		caucouum
a tin (or pewter) plate		quesil-acouan			koláme (tin bucket [Gatschet questioned “Aztec comalli?”])
a bowl		locq
a bucket, pail, or bowl		cocq
a grindstone		hunca
barrel				búdel (from Spanish baril)
frying-pan				koláme
food		cousilami
to eat, eatable				aknámus
meat, beef			fechi*	téts’oa, tétsoa	tíkěmai
an oak acorn		calache
biscuit (or hardtack)		comjam
bread		cocam (fresh bread)	cuama-maya	kwiamóya (cornbread)
tortilla			cuampà
peas and beans		coudeche
potato				yám
egg				dáhome
corn or maize			cuayc(un) or (cuayc(em)	kwiám (maize)
corn flour				ámhătn
molasses				téskaus-gllé-i
butter			fecha
flour				ámhätn
salt		quetache
liquid				gllé-i
to drink		coacaen		akwetén
wine		debeu
milk			schimucim*	tesnakwáya
whiskey or brandy			liban	labá-i
sugar, sweet				téskaus
tobacco	cahe	acanam	caje
a calumet (long-stemmed Indian pipe)		cadiolle
cigarette					ka swénas
cigar			caje-tible
to grow (said of animals and plants)				kwān or kw únakwan
to pound				kássig
to suck				énno
hungry				ámel
Housing
building, camp, Indian village, huts, house, wigwam, lodge, cabin	caham (cabin)		caha (house)	bá-ak
a board		quouaham
a mat		didaham
to sleep		najanana		î’m
seat			ioyaiene ?
Spanish Religion
church			catssé
God			dios (from Spanish)
Movement and Ships
a ship		elouchoum	yualagle	awā’n
a canoe, pirogue, dugout, boat, sailing vessel		ouhahim		awā’n
a paddle for a boat		emolouajem
a sail		emlamil
a mast		enyuesoul
a cane (reed, walking stick)		coln
resin or tar		couja
to walk (to march or to go)		stray		yé
pass from one side to another		lon
to arrive				gás
at present				messús
to fall				amóak
to come				gás, gá’hs	ewé-e, ewé, zankí (to come quick)	ewé-e (come, to come quick), ká’-as (come here!)
get away!				ähä’mmish snî’n
to hasten, to hurry				kóta or zankée or ewé-e
to jump				ém
quick!				ewé-e or ewē
to run				tólos (also means to run fast)		zankéye (to run, to hasten, to hasten: See Old Simon’s “to come quick” – zankí
scat!				ähä’mmish snî’n (as said to dogs and cats; with a sharp accent)
let us go! or go away!						wána
to swim				nótawa
to skip				ém
to sit, sit down!				hákěs		háka, tchakwamé (sit down here!)
to push				dán
to go				yé
far off				wál nia or nyá
to find				tchá
to lie down				wú-ak
to stand				yétso
wide				yá-an
Emotion and War
very angry					nazerúaza pára
brave			fechigua*
coward			fechi-chi-salem *
war			maché *
peace			biase
bad				tchuúta
to capture				haítn
to strike				gá-an
to cause pain				kassídshuwakn
to weep				owíya
desire				tá
give me!			(g)ajuch*
“when you give them what pleases them”		baa
to wish				tá
to want				tá
friend				aháyika (“the Spanish amigo was more used among them. When wanting to be on good terms with the whites, they preferred the term amigo and said: ‘mucho amigo!”
to laugh				kaíta
to love				ka
to cherish				ka
dear				mutá
nice, good				plá
want or love			qúachel*
I don’t love you			mi-qúachals
enemy				kóm aháyika
to hate				matákia
hostile or hostile enemy				kóm aháyika (“the Karankawas called so several of the tribes around them.”)
to hurt, to injure				kassídshuwakn
to kill				ahúk
dead				mál
obnoxious				tchúta
dangerous				tchúta
powerful, strong				wól
tired				kwá-al
pretty				hamála
to understand				kúmna
to know				kwáss or kúmna
fine [as in ok]				plá
shall we fuck?			hachi cooche*
get away!				ähä’mmish snî’n
let us go! or go away!						wána
I am going to (do etc.)				n’tchápn
hush!				ähä’mmish! (as said to children)
goodbye				atcháta
gone				budáma
Numbers
one				nā’tsa
two				haíkia
three				kazáyi
four				háyo háln
five				nā’tsa béhema
six				háyo haíkia
seven				haíkia nā’tsa
eight				béhema
nine				haíkia dó-atn
ten				dó-atn hábe
Social Structures, Ceremony, and Entertainment
whiskey or brandy			liban	labá-i
Ceremony [mitote Cabeza de Vaca?]
tobacco	cahe	acanam	caje
a calumet (long-stemmed Indian pipe)		cadiolle
cigarette					ka swénas
cigar			caje-tible
music				yŏ’ta
to marry				mawída
chief				hálba
to perform				kosáta
Colors
black				p’al	má
blue				tsō’l
red				tamóyika
white					péka
Greetings, Time, and Location
“Long ago I spoke” (the language)					gaziamétět upā’t
yesterday				tuwámka
where?				mudá?
yonder				nyá
soon				messús
to return				gás
presently				asháhak
past time (in times past)				tuwámka	upāt (long ago [emphatically upá-ā-āt])
long past				budáma wál
now				asháhak
future tense				tá or tchápn
for a long while				mushawáta
far off				wál nia or nyá
farewell				atcháta!
how do you do?				m’ tchá áwa
to converse, to talk, to tell, to say, to say to				kaúpn, gaziamétět	napé-ni pátsim
after a while				messús
all the time				mushawáta
Syntax and Sayings
that				tál
there				nyá
thine or thy				áwa
this				t;al
though				aá
too				ténno
well (adj)				klab;an
no!				kóm, kúm	kwó-om, kwōm
yes				hié-ě
not				kóm
mine or my				náyi
I				náyi or ná-i	napé-nai
future tense				tá or tchápn
it				tál
to do				kosáta or káhawan
be or to				in detail Oliver Sec
also				ténno
always				mushawáta
and a				a (when used in a sentence) or ténno (also)
much				wól
by and by				messús
behold				tch’a
great				yá-an	awátchzol
a great deal of, plenty of				wól
Uncertainties
light [as in daylight or not heavy?]			est-day
be on the point of [I believe as in standing “on the point of”]				tchápn