Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-01
HINTS ABOUT INDIAN NAMES.
MIR. Pilling OF the Geological Survey
Gives Some Valuable Suggestions.


'There was statement in The STAR a few
days ago." said MIR. J.C Pilling of the bureau
ethnology, ito the effct that the proprietors
one OF our new suburban subdivisions had in
contemplation the use of Indian terms as nam es
for their streets and avenues. hope that it is
true and that the plan may be adopted by many
others. not only for streets but for places as
well. The plan is one that 1, among Others
have advocated for long time. It's shame
that We should have gone abroad for our Yorks
and Jerseys and Albanys, &C., to the neglect Of
so many beautiful words in our own native-born
languages, which, to say the least, are dis
tnctively American. Just think too, of the
paucity of good taste shown in our scores of
Aliens Corners, Hlgham Centers and Van
Dusenvilles, and Of originality in our Wash
ingtons and Oranges! To be sure we have
adopted Indian names to slight degree here
cially in New England. where many
of the Natick and Quiripi words are
still retained, particularly as names
OF geographic features; but for these we are
mainly indebted to the wisdom and good
taste Of the old pilgrims-not to our
selves. After all it's only IN isolated cases
that aboriginal terms have been retained, and
1t is the more remarkable because so many of
them are euphonious and easily remembered
1t would be little trouble to find in our native
AuAoils WoI us WHICH NOulu De not only 'SWeetly
flowing but appropriate as well. 1t wouldn't
be easy, admit, to get them introduced il
those chosen we're very long or difficult to pro-
nounce or hard to spell. For instance, notice
among the names proposed to be used by the
proprietors of the subdivision l alluded to
a while ago that of Namaroughyena Pretty
tough, isn't 1t, until you catch the rhythm?
Might bother some people, too, in the spelling;
In Its present form don't identify It as an
Indian word. There a settlement on the
Potomac called Namaroughquena, and probably
that Is what it is intended for. But the other
samples given-Algonquin and powhatan-
could anything be prettier? or course those of
US who deal with Indian Languages on a phllo-
logic basis have to accept the forms, especially
In the case Of tribal names, handed down to
us by our predecessors in the same line of
study; but for popular use slight changes along
the line OF simptifcation could be made and no
harm done. Another thing: In the selection of
aboriginal names choice should be confined to
the language of the Indians formerly inhabit-
ing the region inwhich theyare applied else their
localized appropriateness is in large part di-
"But where are these names to be foundp"
asked the STAR writer.
"Oh, there are copious vocabularies and die
tionaries," answered Mr.. Pilling either printed
or in manuscript, Of nearly all the Indian fam
lies OF languages, and suitable names for anv
locality could easily be procured. On nv own
shelves nifty such volumes can be found in
print, and in our manuscript cases here three
times as many. II would be too much to EXPECT
perhaps, that those contemplating such use OF
our native terms would submit their lists 10 en-
perts Tor their opinions, but il might save some
funny mistakes II they should"