Beothuk language

The Beothuk language (/biːˈɒtək/ or /ˈbeɪ.əθʊk/), also called Beothukan, was spoken by the indigenous Beothuk people of Newfoundland. The Beothuk have been extinct since 1829, and there are few written accounts of their language. Hence, little is known about it, with practically no structural data existing for Beothuk.

Beothuk
Beothukan
Native to	Canada
Region	Newfoundland
Ethnicity	Beothuk people
Extinct	1829, with the death of Shanawdithit (Mary March)
Language family	unclassified (Algonquian?)
Language codes
ISO 639-3	bue
Linguist List	bue
Glottolog	beot1247[1]
Pre-contact distribution of Beothuk language

Classification

Claims of links with the neighbouring Algonquian language family date back at least to Robert Gordon Latham in 1862. From 1968, onwards John Hewson has put forth evidence of sound correspondences and shared morphology with Proto-Algonquian and other better-documented Algonquian languages. If this is valid, Beothuk would be an extremely divergent member of the family.[2]

Other researchers claimed that proposed similarities are more likely the result of borrowing than cognates.[3] The limited and poor nature of the documentation means there is not enough evidence to draw strong conclusions.[4] Owing to this overall lack of meaningful evidence, Ives Goddard and Lyle Campbell claim that any connections between Beothuk and Algonquian are unknown and likely unknowable.[5]

Recorded song

In 1910, American anthropologist Frank Speck recorded a 74-year-old native woman named Santu Toney singing a song purported to be in the language. The recording resurfaced at the very end of the 20th century. Some sources give the year 1929, but the 1910 date is confirmed in Speck's book Beothuk and Micmac (New York 1922, p. 67). The words are hard to hear and not understood. Santu said she had been taught the song by her father, which may be evidence that one person with a Beothuk connection was alive after the death of Shanawdithit in 1829 since Santu Toney was born about 1835). Contemporary researchers have tried to make a transcription of the song and to clean up the recording with modern methods. Native groups have learned the song.[6]

James P. Howley, Director of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland, who for more than forty years was interested in the history of the Beothuk, doubted (in 1914) the truthfulness of Santu Toney.[7]

Wordlists

Beothuk is known only from several wordlists from the 18th and the 19th centuries by George C. Pulling (1792),[8] Rev. John Clinch, Rev. John Leigh, and Hercules Robinson (1834).[9] They contain more than 400 words that had been collected from speakers such as Oubee, Demasduwit, and Shanawdithit, but there were no examples of connected speech. Wordlists had also been collected by W. E. Cormack (who worked with Shanawdithit), Richard King (whose wordlist had been passed onto Robert Gordon Latham[10]), and James P. Howley (1915)[11] (who worked with Jure, a widow from the islands of the Bay of Exploits).[12]

The lack of any systematic or consistent representation of the vocabulary in the wordlists makes it daunting to establish the sound system of Beothuk, and words that are listed separately on the lists may be the same word transcribed in different ways. Moreover, the lists are known to have many mistakes. That, along with the lack of connected speech leaves little upon which to build any reconstruction of Beothuk.

Combined lists

The wordlists have been transcribed and analyzed in Hewson (1978). The combined Beothuk wordlists below have been reproduced from Hewson (1978: 149-167).[12]

Number	Gloss	Beothuk (all lists combined)	Latham / King (1850)	Cormack (m.s.)	Clinch (m.s.)	Leigh (m.s.)	Robinson (1834)	Howley (1915)
1	afraid	cockaboset don’t be afraid	cockaboset don’t be afraid
2	alive	mamisut; mamseet	mamseet	mamisut
3	angry	assoyt		assoyt
4	ankle	geijebursut		geijebursut
5	arm	watheek; shedbasing wathik upper arm; watheekee; memayet arms	watheekee	watheek; shedbasing wathik upper arm		memayet arms
6	arrow	ashooging; dogemat	ashooging	ashooging		dogemat
7	asleep, dead	widdun						widdun
8	awake	amet		amet
9	baby	messiligethook	messiligethook
10	back	posson; possont			posson	possont
11	bad	mudty; mudeet bad man; maudee, muddy, madich	maudee, muddy, madich	mudty; mudeet bad man
12	bakeapples	abidemashick					abidemashick
13	bat	sosheet	sosheet
14	bead	baasick (cf. necklace)		baasick (cf. necklace)
15	bear	washawet; gwashuwet	washawet			gwashuwet
16	beast	obditch (cf. cat, seal)			obditch (cf. cat, seal)
17	beat	pugathuse beating; bukashowite			pugathuse beating	bukashowite
18	beaver	maumshet; mamshet	maumshet			mamshet
19	(go to) bed	boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down)	boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down)
20	belly	haddabatheek (cf. body)		haddabatheek (cf. body)
21	berries	manus; bibidigemidic	manus			bibidigemidic
22	birch	paushee birch rind or paper; by-yeech birch tree; boyish birch rind	by-yeech birch tree		paushee birch rind or paper	boyish birch rind
23	bird	deynyad, deynyadrook birds		deynyad, deynyadrook birds
24	bird (large)	popadish (cf. pigeon)			popadish (cf. pigeon)
25	bird (little)	obseet; ounermish		obseet	ounermish
26	birds’ excrement	sugamith			sugamith
27	bite	bashoodite				bashoodite
28	black	maudzyke; mandzey	mandzey	maudzyke
29	blackbird	woodch		woodch
30	blankets	manaboret; manavorit	manaboret			manavorit
31	blind	kaesing-guinyeet		kaesing-guinyeet
32	blood	ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth or iggobauth		ashaboouth	arrowbauth	izzobauth or iggobauth
33	blow	deschudodoick		deschudodoick
34	blow the nose	shegame; shegamit			shegame	shegamit
35	blue	eeshang-eyghth		eeshang-eyghth
36	blunt	boas seek; mocothutt blunt-nosed fish		boas seek; mocothutt blunt-nosed fish
37	boat	adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship); adothe boat or vessel	adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship)			adothe boat or vessel
38	boat (large)	dhoorado	dhoorado
39	body	haddabothy; haddabothic			haddabothy	haddabothic
40	boil (as water)	oadjameet		oadjameet
41	boil (transitive)	moadamutt		moadamutt
42	bone	aenameen		aenameen
43	bonnet, hat	abodoneek; abadungeyk; abodonec	abadungeyk	abodoneek		abodonec
44	bosom	bodchmoot; boghmoot (cf. breast)	boghmoot (cf. breast)	bodchmoot
45	bow	hathemay; anyemen	anyemen		hathemay
46	boy (white)	bukashamesh; buggishamish; buggishamesh	buggishamesh	bukashamesh		bukashamesh		buggishamish
47	boy (Indian)	mossessdeesh; mogazeesh	mogazeesh	mossessdeesh
48	bread	maujebathook; annawhadya	annawhadya	maujebathook
49	break a stick	pugenon			pugenon
50	break wind	tediddle			tediddle
51	breast	bemoot (cf. bosom); bogomot		bemoot (cf. bosom)		bogomot
52	breath	gaboweete		gaboweete
53	bushes	maudeweech	maudeweech
54	buttons	aegumet; agamet buttons or money	aegumet			agamet buttons or money
55	candle	shapoth; shaboth	shapoth			shaboth
56	canoe	thubathew boat or canoe; dapathook; tapathook	dapathook		thubathew boat or canoe	tapathook
57	cap	eeseeboon (cf. bonnet)	eeseeboon (cf. bonnet)
58	capelin	shamook; shaamoo; shamooth	shamook; shaamoo			shamooth
59	cat	obodish; abidesoot; abideeshook	abidesoot			abideeshook		obodish
60	cat (marten)	abidish	abidish			abidish
61	catching fish	eshbauth			eshbauth
62	cattle	methabeet; nethabete	methabeet			nethabete
63	cheek	weenoun	weenoun
64	chin	keoun; geoun; goun	geoun		keoun	goun
65	clothes	dhingyam; thingyam	dhingyam			thingyam
66	clouds	berroick				berroick
67	coal	methie; methie dirt			methie		methie dirt
68	cockle	sheedeneesheet	sheedeneesheet
69	codfish	bobboosoret (cf. fish)	bobboosoret (cf. fish)			bobboosoret (cf. fish)
70	cold	eenodsha; moidewsee	eenodsha			moidewsee
71	comb	edrathin				edrathin
72	come	touet; deiood	touet; deiood
73	come back again	nadyed	nadyed
74	come hither	dyoot thouret; dyoom; thooret	dyoom	dyoot thouret		thooret
75	comet	anin				anin
76	cream jug	nadalahet; motheryet	nadalahet			motheryet
77	cry	mautheauthaw; matheothuc			mautheauthaw	matheothuc
78	currants	shamye			shamye	shamye
79	cut	hadyusum; odishuik or odishuite			hadyusum	odishuik or odishuite
80	dancing	thubwedgie; badiseet			thubwedgie	badiseet
81	dead	gosset; gausep (cf. asleep)	gosset; gausep (cf. asleep)
82	deer	osweet; cosweet	cosweet			osweet		osweet
83	deer’s horns	megorum; megorun	megorum			megorun
84	devil	ashmudyim; haoot	haoot	ashmudyim
85	dirt	yew-why			yew-why
86	dog	mammasamit; mammasameet	mammasameet			mammasameet		mammasamit
87	dogberries	menome			menome
88	dogwood, mountain ash	emoethook	emoethook			emoethook
89	drawing knife	moheshaudet; moeshwadet	moheshaudet			moeshwadet
90	drink	ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water)	ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water)
91	drinking cup	shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.)		shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.)
92	dry	gasook	gasook
93	duck	eesheet; boodowit	eesheet			boodowit
94	ducks and drakes	mameshet; howmeshet				mameshet	howmeshet
95	eagle	gobidin		gobidin
96	ear	mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman	mootchiman		mismuth	mooshaman
97	eat	pugazoa; bocootyone; pokoodsoont; odoit	bocootyone; pokoodsoont		pugazoa	odoit
98	egg	deboin; debine	deboin			debine
99	elbow	moocus			moocus	moocus
100	Eskimo	ashwan	ashwan
101	eye	geegnyan; gwinya	geegnyan			gwinya
102	eyebrow	momeaugh; marmeuck			momeaugh	marmeuck
103	fall	koshet				koshet
104	fat	eeg	eeg
105	fear	geswat; cockaboset no fear	geswat; cockaboset no fear
106	feather	evenau; ewinon; abobidress feathers	ewinon		evenau	abobidress feathers
107	finger	onnus forefinger; oddesamick little; awadshibik middle; wyabick ring; hanyees	hanyees					onnus forefinger; oddesamick little; awadshibik middle; wyabick ring
108	fire	koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat	oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning)		koorae	woodrat
109	fish	poopusrout; baubooshrat (cf. codfish)	baubooshrat (cf. codfish)		poopusrout
110	fish hook	adooch; adothook	adooch			adothook
111	fishing line	disup; edat			disup	edat
112	flea	kessyet			kessyet
113	flesh (meat)	ashauch	ashauch
114	flying	miawoth; miaoth			miawoth	miaoth
115	foot	hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg)	adyouth (cf. leg)		hodwitch
116	forehead	doothun	doothun
117	fork	papade-aden; etheuwit			papade-aden	etheuwit
118	fowl	edgedoweshin						edgedoweshin
119	fox	dogajavick	dogajavick
120	fur, animal hair	peatha			peatha	peatha
121	gaping	abemite				abemite
122	get up	amshut; kinup; ganyess		amshut		ganyess		kinup
123	gimlet	quadranuck	quadranuck			quadranuck
124	girl (white)	imamuset; emamooset	emamooset			emamooset		imamuset
125	girl (Indian)	woaseesh	woaseesh
126	give me	dayhamin	dayhamin
127	(we) give thee a knife	wawashemet o-owin	wawashemet o-owin
128	glass	hadalahet (cf. cream jug); hadibiet	hadalahet (cf. cream jug)			hadibiet
129	gloves	obsedeek	obsedeek			obsedeek
130	go away	gayzhoot	gayzhoot
131	go home	baetha	baetha
132	go out	baeodut; enano	baeodut			enano
133	good	homedick; oomdzech; betheote good night	homedick; oomdzech			betheote good night
134	goose	yewone; odo-ezheet (cf. duck); odeusook	odo-ezheet (cf. duck)		yewone	odeusook
135	gooseberry	jiggamint				jiggamint
136	grass	shisth			shisth
137	grindstone	shewthake; aquathoont	shewthake			aquathoont
138	groaning	cheeashit; cheashit			cheeashit	cheashit
139	gull	asson	asson			asson
140	gun	harreen or huz-seen; adamadret	adamadret		harreen or huz-seen	adamadret
141	gun powder	beasothunt	beasothunt			beasothunt
142	hair	donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna	drone-oock		donna	dronna		drummet
143	halibut, flatfish	hanawasutt	hanawasutt
144	hammer	iwish; mattuis	iwish			mattuis
145	hand	memen hands or fingers; maelmed; memet	maelmed		memen hands or fingers	memet
146	hare	odusweet	odusweet			odusweet
147	(make) haste	ishu; eeshoo	eeshoo					ishu
148	hatchet	nowaut; thinyun; dthoonanyen; thingaya	thinyun; dthoonanyen		nowaut		thingaya
149	head	keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun	geothuk		keawthaw	keauthut, gonothun
150	hear	noduera	noduera
151	heart	bedoret; bogodoret	bedoret			bogodoret
152	heaven	theehone	theehone
153	herring	washemesh				washemesh
154	hiccups	mudyraw; madyrut			mudyraw	madyrut
155	hill	kaasook; keoosock	kaasook; keoosock
156	hoop	woin				woin
157	house	mae-adthike (cf. hut); mammateek	mae-adthike (cf. hut)			mammateek
158	hungry	dauoosett	dauoosett
159	(not) hurt	aoodrach	aoodrach
160	husband	zathrook (cf. man)				zathrook (cf. man)
161	hut	meothik (cf. house)	meothik (cf. house)
162	ice	ozrook; ozeru	ozrook			ozeru
163	Indian (red)	behathook; beothuck; beathook	behathook; beothuck			beathook
164	Indian cup	shucodidimet; shucodidimit	shucodidimet			shucodidimit
165	iron	mauageene; maudshinuk; mowageenite			mauageene	mowageenite		maudshinuk
166	islands	mammasheek				mammasheek
167	kill	whadicheme; bogathoowytch	whadicheme; bogathoowytch
168	(not) kill	datyuns	datyuns
169	kiss	sheboth; widumite			sheboth	widumite
170	knee	hodsmishit; hodamishit			hodsmishit	hodamishit
171	kneeling	abusthibe; abusthibit			abusthibe	abusthibit
172	knife	yewoin; iwo-in; aewaeen; hewhine; uine	aewaeen; hewhine		yewoin	uine		iwo-in
173	lamp	mondicuet; bobdiduishemet	mondicuet			bobdiduishemet
174	laugh	whoishme; wyeeth			whoishme	wyeeth
175	lead	goosheben				goosheben
176	lean, thin, sick	ashei	ashei
177	leaves	madyua; madyna			madyua	madyna
178	leg	cogadealla; aduse (cf. foot)			cogadealla	aduse (cf. foot)
179	lie	pisauwau; bituwait (cf. sleep)			pisauwau	bituwait (cf. sleep)
180	life	mamset (cf. alive)	mamset (cf. alive)
181	lightning	koorae; barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder)			koorae	barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder)
182	(I) like	adjeedisk	adjeedisk
183	lip	coosh; ooish			coosh	ooish
184	lobster	odjet	odjet			odjet
185	long	kannabuck	kannabuck
186	lord bird, harlequin duck	mammadrouit				mammadrouit
187	louse	cusebee; kusebeet			cusebee	kusebeet
188	lumpfish	aeshemeet		aeshemeet
189	mainland	gauzewook				gauzewook
190	man (white)	pushaman; buggishaman; bukashaman	buggishaman		pushaman	bukashaman		buggishaman
191	man (Indian)	shawdtharut (cf. husband)	shawdtharut (cf. husband)
192	Micmac	shanung	shanung
193	milk	madabooch	madabooch
194	moccassin	moosin; mosen	moosin; mosen
195	money	beodet	beodet
196	moon	kuus; keeose, washageuis; kius, washewiush	keeose, washageuis	kuus		kius, washewiush
197	mosquito	shema bogosthuc				shema bogosthuc
198	mouth	mamudthun; mameshook	mamudthun			mameshook
199	muscle (mussel)	owameet	owameet
200	nails	cush; quish			cush	quish
201	neck	tedesheet (cf. throat)			tedesheet (cf. throat)	tedesheet (cf. throat)
202	necklace	zeek (cf. beads); bethec	zeek (cf. beads)			bethec
203	needle	tuzmus; dosomite (cf. pin)			tuzmus	dosomite (cf. pin)
204	net	giggaremanet	giggaremanet			giggaremanet
205	night	washewch; washew	washewch			washew
206	nipper	bebadrook				bebadrook
207	no	newin	newin
208	nose	gheen; geen	gheen			geen
209	oakum	mushabauth			mushabauth	mushabauth
210	oar	poodybeac			poodybeac	poodybeac
211	ochre	odemen; odement	odemen			odement
212	oil	emet	emet			emet
213	otter	edachoom; edru	edachoom			edru
214	partridge	susut; zosoot; zosweet	zosoot		susut	zosweet
215	partridgeberries	shaudame			shaudame
216	pigeon (sea), (guillemot)	bobbodish (cf. bird)	bobbodish (cf. bird)			bobbodish (cf. bird)		bobbodish (cf. bird)
217	pin	tusmug; dosomite	dosomite		tusmug	dosomite
218	pitcher, cup, plate	manume; manune	manume			manune
219	pond	woodum	woodum
220	puffin	gwoshuawit				gwoshuawit
221	puppies	mammasameet (cf. dog)				mammasameet (cf. dog)
222	rain	pedthae; watshoosooch; badoese; bathuc	watshoosooch; badoese		pedthae	bathuc
223	raspberries	gauzadun					gauzadun
224	rat	gadgemish				gadgemish
225	red	deedrashow	deedrashow
226	river	shebon; shebin brook	shebon; shebin brook
227	rocks	ahune				ahune
228	rolling	odausot			odausot
229	rowing	huzzagan; osavate			huzzagan	osavate
230	run	wothamashee; ibadinnam; wothamashet	ibadinnam		wothamashee	wothamashet
231	sails	ejabathook	ejabathook			ejabathook
232	salmon	wasemook	wasemook			wasemook
233	saw	dedoweet; deddoweet	dedoweet			deddoweet
234	salt water	massoock	massoock
235	scab	pigathee			pigathee	pigathee
236	scallop	gowet				gowet
237	scalping the head	nomushrush keawthaw			nomushrush keawthaw
238	scissors	oseenyet; osegeeu	oseenyet			osegeeu
239	scratch	bashubet				bashubet
240	seal	momau; bidesuk; beedzuk; bidesook	bidesuk; beedzuk		momau	bidesook
241	seal sunk	aparet a bidesook				aparet a bidesook
242	seal skin bag	bochmoot seal skin sledge full		bochmoot seal skin sledge full
243	see	ejew	ejew
244	shake hands	meman momasthus; kawinjemeesh; meman monasthus	kawinjemeesh		meman momasthus	meman monasthus
245	ship, vessel	mamzhing; mamashee (cf. boat)	mamashee (cf. boat)	mamzhing
246	shoes	moosin (cf. mocassin)				moosin (cf. mocassin)
247	shoot	hodthoo shoot a gun; outhaje-arrathunum shoot an arrow perpendicularly; wadshoodet	wadshoodet		hodthoo shoot a gun; outhaje-arrathunum shoot an arrow perpendicularly
248	short	yeech	yeech
249	shoulder	momezabethon; momegemethon			momezabethon	momegemethon
250	shovel	hadowadet; godawick	hadowadet			godawick
251	silk handkerchief	egibiduish	egibiduish			egibiduish
252	sinew of deer	modthamook	modthamook
253	singing	tuauthaw; awoodet			tuauthaw	awoodet
254	sit	haddosdoding; athep	athep		haddosdoding	athep
255	sleep	puthuauth; bootzhawet; aoseedwit I am sleepy (cf. lie, bed); isedoweet	bootzhawet; aoseedwit I am sleepy (cf. lie, bed)		puthuauth	isedoweet
256	sleeve	wobesheet	wobesheet
257	smell	marot	marot
258	smoke	possthee; basdiek; besdic	basdiek		possthee	besdic
259	snail	aeueece	aeueece
260	sneezing	midyathew; adjith			midyathew	adjith
261	snipe	auojet				auojet
262	snow	(corrasoob); causabow; kaasussabook	causabow; kaasussabook		(corrasoob)
263	song	mamatrabet (a long?)	mamatrabet (a long?)
264	soon	jewmetcheen	jewmetcheen
265	sore throat	anadrick	anadrick			anadrick
266	sorrow	corrasoob (cf. snow)			corrasoob (cf. snow)	corrasoob (cf. snow)
267	speak	carmtack; jeroothack	carmtack; jeroothack
268	spear	anun; aaduth seal spear; amina deer spear; hannan		anun; aaduth seal spear; amina deer spear	hannan
269	spider	woadthoowin	woadthoowin
270	spoon	hanamait; adadiminte, andemin	adadiminte, andemin		hanamait
271	spouse	anwoyding	anwoyding
272	spruce	trawnasoo			trawnasoo	trawnasoo
273	spruce rind	sousot			sousot
274	standing	kingabie; kingiabit			kingabie	kingiabit
275	stars	so-ushzeth; shawwayet; adenishit	shawwayet		so-ushzeth	adenishit
276	stinking seal	mattik bidesook	mattik bidesook			mattik bidesook
277	stockings	gassek; gasset	gassek			gasset
278	stones	ougen; oun (cf. rocks)	oun (cf. rocks)		ougen
279	stooping	hedy-yan			hedy-yan	hedy-yan
280	sugar	shedothoon	shedothoon
281	sun, moon	dewis; keeose; keuse; magaragueis sun; washageuis moon; kius; maugerooius sun; washewiush moon	keeose; keuse; magaragueis sun; washageuis moon		dewis	kius; maugerooius sun; washewiush moon
282	swimming	tuwedgie; thoowidgee (cf. dancing)			tuwedgie	thoowidgee (cf. dancing)
283	sword	bidisoni	bidisoni			bidisoni
284	tea	butterweye (but probably garbled)	butterweye (but probably garbled)
285	teeth	outhermay; botomet outhermayet			outhermay	botomet outhermayet
286	thank you	thine				thine
287	thigh	ipeween; ipweena			ipeween	ipweena
288	thread	meroopish; meroobish (cf. twine)			meroopish	meroobish (cf. twine)
289	throat	tedesheet (cf. neck)			tedesheet (cf. neck)
290	throw a trap	shaubabuneshaw			shaubabuneshaw
291	throw	pugatho; pugathoite			pugatho	pugathoite
292	thumb	pooith; buit; boad; pooeth	boad		pooith	pooeth		buit
293	thunder	petothorish; barodiisick (cf. lightning)			petothorish	barodiisick (cf. lightning)
294	ticklace (kittiwake)	gotheyet	gotheyet			gotheyet
295	tickle (gut, sound, strait)	kaduishuite				kaduishuite
296	tinker (razorbill)	oothook				oothook
297	tobacco	nechwa	nechwa
298	tomorrow	maduck	maduck
299	tongue	memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck	mamadthuk (cf. mouth)		memaza	memasuck
300	trap	tibethun; lathun; shebathoont	lathun		tibethun	shebathoont
301	tree, woods	annooee	annooee
302	trousers	mowead	mowead			mowead
303	trout	dottomeish	dottomeish			dottomeish
304	turr (murre)	geonet	geonet			geonet
305	twine	meroopish; madobeesh	madobeesh		meroopish
306	walk	woothyan; baysot (cf. run); woothyat			woothyan	woothyat		baysot (cf. run)
307	walking stick	cheething			cheething
308	warm	obosheen warming yourself; boobasha	boobasha		obosheen warming yourself	obosheen warming yourself
309	watch	dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon); kius	dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon)			kius
310	water	ebauthoo; ebadoe; zebathoong water (drink)	ebadoe; zebathoong water (drink)		ebauthoo	ebauthoo
311	water bucket	guinyabutt (with vertical or sloping sides); sunong-guinyabutt (large at bottom, small at top)		guinyabutt (with vertical or sloping sides); sunong-guinyabutt (large at bottom, small at top)
312	wet	wabee (confusion with white)	wabee (confusion with white)
313	whale’s tail	owasposhno-un		owasposhno-un
314	where do you go	becket	becket
315	white	wobee	wobee
316	whortle berries	mamoose (cf. berries)					mamoose (cf. berries)
317	wife	oosuck				oosuck
318	wife (white)	adizabad-zea	adizabad-zea
319	wind	tisewthun; gidgeathuc			tisewthun	gidgeathuc
320	wood	adiab			adiab	adiab
321	woodpecker	sheebuint; shebohoweet	shebohoweet	sheebuint		shebohoweet
322	wolf	moisamadrook				moisamadrook
323	woman	imamus; emamoose; woass-sut red Indian woman	emamoose; woass-sut red Indian woman			emamoose		imamus
324	yawning	tibeath; jibeath			tibeath	jibeath
325	yes	ethath; yeathun	ethath; yeathun

Numerals

Numerals in Beothuk:[12]

Gloss	Cormack	Latham / King (1850)	Leigh
one	yaseek	yazeek	gathet
two	adzeich	adzeech	adasic
three	shendeek	shendee	shedsic
four	dabseek	dabzeek	abodoesic
five	ninezeek	nunyetheek	nijeek
six	bashedtheek	beshed	bigadosick
seven	oodzook	odeozook	oodosook
eight	aadazook	adosook	aodoosook
nine	yeothoduk	yeothoduck	yeothoduck
ten	shansee	shansee	theant
eleven	ee-zaziech
twelve	ee-adzide
thirteen	ee-shendeek
fourteen	ee-dabzook
fifteen	ee-ninezeek
sixteen	ee-beshedtheek
seventeen	ee-oodzook
eighteen	ee-aadazook
nineteen	ee-yeothoduck
twenty	adzeich dthoonut
thirty	shendeek dthoonut

Months

Months in Beothuk:[12]

Gloss	Cormack list (from Shanawdithit)
January	cobshuneesamut
February	kosthobonong bewajoite
March	manamiss
April	wasumaweeseek
May	bedejamish bewajowite
June	wasumaweeseek
July	cowazaseek
August	wadawhegh
September	wasumaweeseek
October	godabonyegh
November	godabonyeesh
December	odasweeteeshamut

References

1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Beothuk". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
2. Hewson, John (1971). "Beothuk Consonant Correspondences". International Journal of American Linguistics. 37 (4): 244–249. doi:10.1086/465172. JSTOR 1264516.
3. Voegelin, C.F.; Voegelin, E.W. (1946). "Linguistic considerations of northeastern North America". In Johnson, F. (ed.). Man in Northeastern North America. Andover, MA: Philip's Academy. pp. 178–194.
4. Mithun, Marianne (2001). The Languages of Native North America (First paperback ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 368. ISBN 0-521-23228-7.
5. Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford University Press. p. 290. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
6. Perry, SJ (2008-09-10). "Santu's Song: Memorable day for Beothuk Interpretation Centre". Porte Pilot. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
7. Santu’s Song | Hewson | Newfoundland and Labrador Studies
8. Pulling, George C. 1792. A few facts by G.C. Pulling respecting the Native Indians of the Isle of Newfoundland. Manuscript in British Museum, additional MSS 38352.
9. Robinson, Sir Hercules. 1834. "Vocabulary of the Natives of Newfoundland." Royal Geographical Society Journal 4:218-220.
10. Latham, Robert G. 1850. Natural History of the Varieties of Man. London: J. Van Voorst.
11. Howley, James P. 1915. The Beothucks or Red Indians. Cambridge University Press.
12. Hewson, John. 1978. Beothuk Vocabularies. (Technical Papers of the Newfoundland Museum, 2.) St. John's: Newfoundland: Newfoundland Museum, St. John's. 178pp.

External links

• Text including Beothuk vocabulary
• About the Beothuk language
• OLAC resources in and about the Beothuk language