A Key Into the Language of America

Roger Williams' guide to the language of the Native American tribes was the first of its kind ever published; as well as linguistic instruction, we receive stunning insights into the culture and customs of the New England tribes.

This historic text was written to accomplish two goals:

Firstly, it is a practical, instructional guidebook written with the colonial society in mind. Particularly where religious missions are concerned, but also in general, the author feels that colonialists should have a command of Native American languages. Williams passionately believed in peaceful coexistence, and realized that an understanding of the native speech was crucial for this.

Secondly, the book aims to promote understanding of Native American culture. What customs the tribes practice, the foods they eat, their marital and social mores, their methods of communicating knowledge, how they regard the many beasts of nature, and how trade and commerce is practiced are but some of the topics Williams discusses. We receive a detailed picture, revealing the sophistication of the Native Americans.

Between his descriptions of these topics, Williams appends long lists of words complete with their phonetic pronunciations. There are over 250 such tables in this book; taken as a whole, these constitute an impressive compendium of the native speech heard by European settlers in New England in the 17th century.

Roger Williams was a unique figure in the colonial era of North America. Working as a minister, he was among the few settlers who gained the trust of multiple Native American tribes, to the point where they would host him for months. This book was his first, and its publication in London brought much attention to the author and his subjects. Later in life, Williams became renowned as a defender of the Native Americans, advocate of religious freedom, and for his staunch anti-slavery views.