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LNPA Lenape Language Program

Conversations in the Lenape Language

LNPA Children during a Lenape Language session

The original goals of the LNPA Lenape Language Program were to provide instruction in the language for members of our community who desperately wished to learn their language. At the time, available resources in the language, although their vast contribution cannot be underestimated, either took the form of dictionaries, which provide a wealth of vocabulary but few devices to show how the language is structured, or of courses inundated with complex grammar and specialized terminology that can be useful to grammarians and linguists, but that leaves the common person largely at a loss. The few courses containing audio recordings of Native speakers were invaluable, but were equally limited in scope. These resources are pertinent and valuable resources for teachers and grammarians who are trying to get a grasp of the structure of the language, but are of little use in aiding Native speakers with the complete assimilation of the language.

Consequently, the main objective in constructing a language resource was to provide a conversational approach based upon the "one word a day" method, in which small portions of conversation and vocabulary could be gently introduced, reinforced, and expanded in subsequent conversations. Structural elements of the language are also introduced gently, avoiding the use of complex grammatical terminology. The "Conversations in Lenape" textbook ultimately containes 24 Conversational Lessons supplemented with games and songs as well as stories which reinforce words with Native traditions and concepts. The text takes two forms: a "condensed lesson version" and an expanded "curriculum version" in which lessons are presented on a daily basis to be used by parents and teachers in homeschool or public school settings.

In the Spring of 2009, the Swarthmore College Linguistics Department requested us to provide a course in the Lenape Language. In preparation for these classes, a second text of supplements for each lesson was developed to provide advanced instruction in grammar, usage and structure.

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............................................................................................................... .....Spring 2009 Lenape Language Course at Swarthmore College

Since then additional introductory and advanced classes have been taught at Swarthmore, in Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Fall and Spring 2011, and Spring 2012, which were comprised primarily of linguistics students who have proven extremely instrumental in providing additional resources in the language. For a detailed account of these resources read the acknowledgements and other links below. Also visit our Lenape Language Resources Page on the Swarthmore College website.

The intention of the LNPA Language Program has always been to make resources in the language available to all those persons who wish to learn and to help revitalize our endangered language. The resources that have been developed are published on this website for that purpose and are freely available for download and use in educational settings. Please credit the Lenape Nation of PA Language Project and cite this page when using these resources.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0946585.

(This page is under construction. We are in the process of uploading the most current editions of the language lessons and other resources.)

Conversations in the Lenape Language

Southern Unami Dialect

Textbooks (including cd's) coloring book and children's songbook are available for sale on our Trading Post.

LANGUAGE LESSONS AND ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTS
includes coloring pages, stories, tests and worksheets to accompany lessons

Dictionaries
The dictionaries below are comprehensive.
They contain words collected from various research projects in progress.
For this reason they are continually updated. The dates listed below them represent the most recent updates.

LENAPE/ENGLISH DICTIONARY

ENGLISH/LENAPE DICTIONARY
Updated 1/7/2011

Compiled by Margret Lenfest
Phonetics by Louise St Amour

LENAPE LANGUAGE DICTIONARY OF VERB CONJUGATIONS
Updated 10/27/10

Index

LENAPE LANGUAGE VIDEOS
by Swarthmore College Students

Digital Story - Zack Weiner

Lenape Bulbous Bouffont Skit - Amira Silver-Schwartz
Click here to view the original Bulbous Bouffont Skit

Lesson 17 Video - Amira Silver-Schwartz

Lesson 19 Video - Amira Silver-Schwartz

OTHER LANGUAGE PROJECTS
by students in the Lenape Language class at Swarthmore College

Analysis of "The Mermaid" C. F Voegelin
Maureen Hoffmann, Bryn Mawr College

Analysis of "Loss of the Big House" C. F Voegelin
Louise St Amour, Haverford College