A Dictionary of Kanien''kéha (Mohawk) with Connections to the Past

This dictionary provides a record of the Kanienkéha (Mohawk) language as spoken by fluent first- and second-language speakers at the Kanienkéha Mohawk Territory outside of Montréal, Canada.

The Kanienkéha language has been written since the 1600s, and these dictionary entries include citations from published, archival, and informal writings from the seventeenth century onwards. These citations are a legacy of the substantial documents of missionary scholars and several informal vocabulary lists written by Kanienkéha speakers, among others. The introduction to the dictionary provides a description of the organization and orthography of the historical works so that they can be used in the future by those studying and learning the language.

A Dictionary of Kanienkéha (Mohawk) with Connections to the Past allows scholars and students to learn the meaning, composition, and etymology of words in a language known for its particularly complex word structure. The organization of the entries, according to noun and verb roots, highlights the remarkable potential and adaptability of the language to express traditional concepts, as well as innovations that have resulted from contact with other customs and languages that have become part of the contemporary culture of the Kanienkehá:ka.