THE KLAMATH INDIANS OF OREGON. 



By Albert S. Gatsohet. 



DICTIONAKY OF THE KLAMATH LANGUAGE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The present Dictionary, divided in two parts, contains the lexical por 

 tion of an Oregonian language never before reduced to writing. In view 

 of the numerous obstacles and difficulties encountered in the preparation of 

 such a work, a few hints upon its origin and tendencies will be of service 

 in directing the studies of those who wish to acquire a more intimate know- 

 ledge of this energetic and well developed western language. 



The Klamath or Mdklaks language is spoken in two dialects, that of 

 the Klamath Lake Indians, or fi-ukshikni, and that of the Modocs. No 

 obstacle prevented the gathering of the terms of both dialects into one and 

 the same word -list, because the dialects differ but slightly, though more in 

 their lexical than in their grammatic forms. The difference is so slight 

 that the people of both chieftaincies understand each other readily in con- 

 versing about common subjects, and the few terms of which they fail to 

 have a mutual understanding are entered below as belonging to only one 

 of the two divisions of the Maklaks people. Generally speaking, the north- 

 ern or fi-ukshikni dialect has, where differences exist, preserved its words in 

 a more original, archaic and uncontracted form, Avhile the southern or Modoc 

 dialect is apt to exhibit contractions and elisions instead, as well as other 

 phonetic processes which tend to show a more advanced stage of linguistic 

 decay. This dialect has also incorporated more foreign terms borrowed 

 from English, Shasti, etc. than the northern dialect. 



