May 16, 2006

WHY SHOULD ANY ROAD SIGN BE IN THAT IMMIGRANT ENGLISH? (via Brad S.):

Tribal language added to highway signs (Montana News Station)

Highway signs informing motorists they are near Crow Agency now have the town's name in the Crow language, as well as English.

The Crow word is Baaxuwuaashe (bah-hoo-AH'-juh). Crow speakers say that translates to "flour mill."

Four Crow signs were put in place early this year, at a cost of about three-thousand dollars.

In western Montana, the Confederated Salish (SAY'-lish) and Kootenai (KOOT'-nee) Tribes expect to display some traditional words for place names, as well.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 16, 2006 11:14 PM
Comments

And the Crow have some great names: from the article, Burton Pretty on Top, or from another article I saw a few years ago, Wanda Old Person.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at May 17, 2006 1:06 AM
In western Montana, the Confederated Salish .. and Kootenai ... Tribes expect to display some traditional words for place names, as well

That's nothing compared to Washington State, where half the names on the map simply are Salish place names.

Posted by: Kirk Parker at May 17, 2006 1:36 AM

Some of the Lakota names are rather off-beat, too. Cheryl Not Help Him, for example.

Posted by: Brad S at May 17, 2006 8:28 AM
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