Language Families of North Carolina
When the first English arrived on North Carolina's shores, they were met on the beach by a small group of Algonkian men. The Englishman in charge walked up to one of the Indian men and asked "What is this place called?" The Algonkian looked at the English thoughtfully, and then said "Wingandacon." The Englishman who asked the question wrote down the word the way it sounded, and later put it on the map one of his companions was drawing to indicate where they landed.
The Algonkian man, however, had not answered the Englishman's question. This was the first time he saw the English and did not understand the newcomer's language. Because Indian tradition was to greet strangers politely, some response was needed. So the Algonkian simply said: "Those are nice clothes you are wearing."
While it is not surprising that Native Americans and Englishmen could not understand one another, there were also language differences among North Carolina Indians. There were three language families among the Native peoples of North Carolina at the time of European contact. A language family can be defined as a common root language from which other languages have developed.
The three language families among North Carolina Native Americans were Algonkian, Iroquian and Siouan. Algonkian speakers lived in villages along the coasts and sounds north of the Cape Fear River. Algonkian tribes included the Chowan, Hatteras, Moratok, Pamlico, Secotan, and the Weapemeoc. Iroquois speakers lived in two different places: along the coastal plain were the Tuscarora and the Meherrin, and in the Blue Ridge Mountains were the Cherokee. The Siouan lived in the Piedmont and their tribes included the Cape Fear, Catawba, Eno, Keyauwee, Occaneechi, Saponi, Shakori, Sissipahaw, Waccamaw, Wateree amd Woccon.
Like everywhere else in the world, North Carolina’s Indian peoples had considerable language differences. Verbal communication could be difficult, especially across the language families. But even tribes, such as the Cherokee and Tuscarora, who spoke dialects belonging to the same language family, had to find ways to "talk" to one another. Some scientists think many Native Carolinians may have communicated using a simplified common language.
ENGLISH TUSKERURO PAMPTICOUGH WOCCON (Iroquoian) (Algonquian) (Siouian) One Unche Weembot Tonne Two Necte Neshinnauh Num-perra (rra?) Three Ohs-sah Nish-wonner Nam-mee Four Untoc Yau-Ooner Punnum-punne (e?) Five Ouch-who Umperren Webtau Six Houeyoc Who-yeoc Is-sto (st?) Seven Chauh-noc Top-po-osh Nommis-sau Eight Nec-kara Nau-haush-shoo Nupsau Nine Wearah Pach-ic-conk Weihere Ten Wartsauh Cosh Soone noponne Eleven Unche scauwhau ----------- Tonne hauk pea Twelve Nectec scaukhau ----------- Soone nomme Twenty Wartsau scauhau ----------- Winnop Thirty Ossa te wartsau ----------- ----------- Hundred Youch se ----------- ----------- Thousand Ki you se ----------- ----------- Rum Oonaquod Weesaccon Yup-se Blankets Oorewa Mattosh Roo-iune White Ware-occa Wop-poshaumosh Waurraupa Red Cotcoo-rea Mish-cock (ck?) Yauta Black or Blue, idem Caw-hunshe Mow-cottowosh Yah-testea Gunpowder Ou-ku Pungue Rooeyam Shot Cauna Ar-rounser Week Axe Au-nuka Tomma-hick Tau-unta winnik Knife Oosocke nauh Rig-cosq Wee Tobacco Charho Hooh-pau Uu-coone Shirt Ough-tre's ----------- Tacca pitteneer Shoes Oo-ross-soo ----------- Wee-kessoo Hat Trossa Mottau-quahan Intome-posswa Fire Utchar Tinda Yau Water Awoo Umpe Ejau Coat Ouswox/Kawhitchra Taus-won Rummissau Awl/Needle Oose-waure Moc-cose Wonsh-shee A Hoe Wauche-wocnoc Rosh-shocquon Rooe-pau Salt Cheek-ha ----------- ----------- Paint Quaunt Chuwon Whooyeonne Ronoak Nauh-houreot Mis-kis-'su Rummaer Peak Chu-teche Ronoak Erroco Gun Auk-noc Gau hooptop Wittape Gun-Lock Oo-teste Gun tock Seike Noonkosso Flints Ou-negh-ra Hinds Matt-teer A Flap Oukhaure Rappatoc Rhooeyau Belt Oona-teste Maachone Wee-kau Scissors and Cheh-ra ----------- Toc-koor Tobacco-Tongues A Kettle Oowaiana ----------- Tooseawau A Pot Ocnock ----------- ----------- Acorns Kooawa ----------- Roosomme A Pine-Tree Heigta Oonossa Hooheh Englishman Nickreruroh Tosh shonte Wintsohore Indians Unqua Nuppin Yauh-he
ENGLISH TUSKERURO WOCCON
A Horse A hots Yenwetoa Swine Watsquerre Nommewarraupau Moss Auoona hau Itto Raw skin undrest Ootahawa Teep Buckskin Ocques Rookau Fawn-skin Ottea Wisto Bear-skin Oochehara Ourka Fox-skin Che-chou Hannatockore Raccoon-skin Roo-sotto Auher Squirrel-skin Sost Yehau Wildcat-skin Cauhauweana ----------- Panther-skin Caunerex Wattau Wolf Squarrena Tire kiro Minx Chac-kauene Soccon Otter Chaunoc Wetkes A Mat Ooyethne Soppepepor Basket Ooyaura Rookeppa Feathers Oosnooqua Soppe Drest-skin Cotcoo Rauhau A Turkey Coona Yauta A Duck Sooeau Welka A King Teethha Roamore Fat Ootsaure Yendare Soft Utsauwanne Roosomme Hard or heavy Waucots ne Itte teraugh A Rope Utsera Trauhe A Possum Che-ra ----------- Day Ootauh-ne ----------- A Pestel Tic-caugh-ne Miyau A Mortar Ootic caugh-ne Yossoo Stockings Way haushe ----------- A Creek Wackena ----------- A River Ahunt wackena ----------- A Man Entequos ----------- Old Man Occooahawa ----------- Young Man Quottis ----------- Woman Con-noowa ----------- Old Woman Cusquerre Yicau Wife Kateocca Yecauau A Child Woccanookne ----------- A Boy Wariaugh ----------- Infant Utserosta ----------- Ears Ooethnat ----------- Fishgig Ootosne Weetipsa A Comb Oonaquitchra Sacketoome posswa A Cake bak't Ooneck ----------- A Head Ootaure Poppe Hair Oowaara Tumme Brother Caunotka Yenrauhe I Ee ----------- Thou Eets ----------- There Ka ----------- Homine Cotquerre Roocauwa Bread Ootocnare Ikettau Broath Ook-hoo ----------- Corn Oonaha Cose Oonave Oosare Oosha Pease Saugh-he Coosauk A Bag Uttaqua Ekoocromon Fish Cunshe Yacunne A Louse Cheecq Eppesyau A Flea Nauocq ----------- Potato's Untone Wauk A Stick Chinqua ----------- Wood Ouyunkgue Yonne House Ounouse (Oin?) Ouke A Cow Ous-sarunt Nappinjure A Snake Us-quauh-ne Yau-hauk A Rat Rusquiane Wittau A Goose Au-hoohaha Auhaun A Swan Oorhast Atter Allegator Utsererauh Monwittetau A Crab Rouare cou Wunneau A Canoe Ooshunnawa Watt A Box Ooanoo Yopoonitsa A Bowl Ortse Cotsoe A Spoon Oughquere Cotsau A Path Wauh-hauhne Yauh Sun or Moon Heita Wittapare Wind Hoonoch Yuncor A Star Uttewiraratse Wattapi untakeer Rain Untuch Yawowa Auhuntwood Night Oosottoo Yantoha A Rundlet Oohunawa Ynpyupseunne (Yup?) An Eel Cuhn-na ----------- A T---d Utquera Pulawa A F---t Uttena Pautyau A Cable Utquichra ----------- Small Ropes Utsera utquichra ----------- A Button Tic-hah Rummissauwoune Breeches Wahunshe Rooeyaukitte Stockings Oowissera Rooesoo possoo Day Wauwoc-hook Waukhaway Mad Cosserunte Rockcumne Angry Cotcheroore Roocheha Afraid Werricauna Reheshiwau Smoak Oo-teighne Too-she A Thief or Rogue Katichhei ----------- A Dog Cheeth Tauh-he A Reed Cauna Weekwonne Lightwood Kakoo Sek To morrow Jureha Kittape Now Kahunk ----------- To day Kawa ----------- A little while ago Kakoowa Yauka
ENGLISH TUSKERURO WOCCON
Yesterday Oousotto Yottoha How many Ut-tewots Tontarinte How far Untateawa ----------- Will you go } along with me} Unta hah Quauke Go you Its warko Yuppa me Give it me Cotshau Mothei That's all Ut chat Cuttaune A Cubit length Kihoosocca Ishewounaup Dead Whaharia Caure A Gourd or Bottle Utchaawa Wattape A lazy Fellow Wattattoo watse Tontaunete Englishman is thirsty Oukwockaninniwock ----------- I will sell you } Goods very cheap} Wausthanocha Nau hou hoore-ene All the Indians} are drunk } Connaugh jost twane Nonnupper Have you got } any thing to eat} Utta-ana-wox Noccoo Eraute I am sick Connauwox Waurepa A Fish-Hook Oos-skinna ----------- Don't lose it Oon est nonne it quost ----------- A Tobacco-pipe Oosquaana Intom I remember it Oonutsauka Aucummato Let it alone Tnotsaurauweek(Tout?) Sauhau Peaches Roo-ooe Yonne Walnuts Rootau-ooe ----------- Hickery Nuts Rootau Nimmia A Jew's-Harp Ooratsa Wottiyau I forget it Merrauka ----------- Northwest-Wind Hothooka ----------- Snow Acaunque Wawawa
A New Voyage to Carolina, by John Lawson, Gent. Surveyor-General of North Carolina; London, 1709.
"Indian Words and Place Names in Coastal North Carolina 400 Years Ago," by David Stick, a brochure published by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Raleigh.
See: John Lawson — Explorer, Historian, and Co-Founder of Bath.