Language Families of North Carolina
When the first English arrived on North Carolina's shores, they were met on the beach by a small group of Algonkian men. The Englishman in charge walked up to one of the Indian men and asked "What is this place called?" The Algonkian looked at the English thoughtfully, and then said "Wingandacon." The Englishman who asked the question wrote down the word the way it sounded, and later put it on the map one of his companions was drawing to indicate where they landed.
The Algonkian man, however, had not answered the Englishman's question. This was the first time he saw the English and did not understand the newcomer's language. Because Indian tradition was to greet strangers politely, some response was needed. So the Algonkian simply said: "Those are nice clothes you are wearing."
While it is not surprising that Native Americans and Englishmen could not understand one another, there were also language differences among North Carolina Indians. There were three language families among the Native peoples of North Carolina at the time of European contact. A language family can be defined as a common root language from which other languages have developed.
The three language families among North Carolina Native Americans were Algonkian, Iroquian and Siouan. Algonkian speakers lived in villages along the coasts and sounds north of the Cape Fear River. Algonkian tribes included the Chowan, Hatteras, Moratok, Pamlico, Secotan, and the Weapemeoc. Iroquois speakers lived in two different places: along the coastal plain were the Tuscarora and the Meherrin, and in the Blue Ridge Mountains were the Cherokee. The Siouan lived in the Piedmont and their tribes included the Cape Fear, Catawba, Eno, Keyauwee, Occaneechi, Saponi, Shakori, Sissipahaw, Waccamaw, Wateree amd Woccon.
Like everywhere else in the world, North Carolina’s Indian peoples had considerable language differences. Verbal communication could be difficult, especially across the language families. But even tribes, such as the Cherokee and Tuscarora, who spoke dialects belonging to the same language family, had to find ways to "talk" to one another. Some scientists think many Native Carolinians may have communicated using a simplified common language.
ENGLISH TUSKERURO PAMPTICOUGH WOCCON
(Iroquoian) (Algonquian) (Siouian)
One Unche Weembot Tonne
Two Necte Neshinnauh Num-perra (rra?)
Three Ohs-sah Nish-wonner Nam-mee
Four Untoc Yau-Ooner Punnum-punne (e?)
Five Ouch-who Umperren Webtau
Six Houeyoc Who-yeoc Is-sto (st?)
Seven Chauh-noc Top-po-osh Nommis-sau
Eight Nec-kara Nau-haush-shoo Nupsau
Nine Wearah Pach-ic-conk Weihere
Ten Wartsauh Cosh Soone noponne
Eleven Unche scauwhau ----------- Tonne hauk pea
Twelve Nectec scaukhau ----------- Soone nomme
Twenty Wartsau scauhau ----------- Winnop
Thirty Ossa te wartsau ----------- -----------
Hundred Youch se ----------- -----------
Thousand Ki you se ----------- -----------
Rum Oonaquod Weesaccon Yup-se
Blankets Oorewa Mattosh Roo-iune
White Ware-occa Wop-poshaumosh Waurraupa
Red Cotcoo-rea Mish-cock (ck?) Yauta
Black or
Blue, idem Caw-hunshe Mow-cottowosh Yah-testea
Gunpowder Ou-ku Pungue Rooeyam
Shot Cauna Ar-rounser Week
Axe Au-nuka Tomma-hick Tau-unta winnik
Knife Oosocke nauh Rig-cosq Wee
Tobacco Charho Hooh-pau Uu-coone
Shirt Ough-tre's ----------- Tacca pitteneer
Shoes Oo-ross-soo ----------- Wee-kessoo
Hat Trossa Mottau-quahan Intome-posswa
Fire Utchar Tinda Yau
Water Awoo Umpe Ejau
Coat Ouswox/Kawhitchra Taus-won Rummissau
Awl/Needle Oose-waure Moc-cose Wonsh-shee
A Hoe Wauche-wocnoc Rosh-shocquon Rooe-pau
Salt Cheek-ha ----------- -----------
Paint Quaunt Chuwon Whooyeonne
Ronoak Nauh-houreot Mis-kis-'su Rummaer
Peak Chu-teche Ronoak Erroco
Gun Auk-noc Gau hooptop Wittape
Gun-Lock Oo-teste Gun tock Seike Noonkosso
Flints Ou-negh-ra Hinds Matt-teer
A Flap Oukhaure Rappatoc Rhooeyau
Belt Oona-teste Maachone Wee-kau
Scissors and Cheh-ra ----------- Toc-koor
Tobacco-Tongues
A Kettle Oowaiana ----------- Tooseawau
A Pot Ocnock ----------- -----------
Acorns Kooawa ----------- Roosomme
A Pine-Tree Heigta Oonossa Hooheh
Englishman Nickreruroh Tosh shonte Wintsohore
Indians Unqua Nuppin Yauh-he
ENGLISH TUSKERURO WOCCON
A Horse A hots Yenwetoa
Swine Watsquerre Nommewarraupau
Moss Auoona hau Itto
Raw skin undrest Ootahawa Teep
Buckskin Ocques Rookau
Fawn-skin Ottea Wisto
Bear-skin Oochehara Ourka
Fox-skin Che-chou Hannatockore
Raccoon-skin Roo-sotto Auher
Squirrel-skin Sost Yehau
Wildcat-skin Cauhauweana -----------
Panther-skin Caunerex Wattau
Wolf Squarrena Tire kiro
Minx Chac-kauene Soccon
Otter Chaunoc Wetkes
A Mat Ooyethne Soppepepor
Basket Ooyaura Rookeppa
Feathers Oosnooqua Soppe
Drest-skin Cotcoo Rauhau
A Turkey Coona Yauta
A Duck Sooeau Welka
A King Teethha Roamore
Fat Ootsaure Yendare
Soft Utsauwanne Roosomme
Hard or heavy Waucots ne Itte teraugh
A Rope Utsera Trauhe
A Possum Che-ra -----------
Day Ootauh-ne -----------
A Pestel Tic-caugh-ne Miyau
A Mortar Ootic caugh-ne Yossoo
Stockings Way haushe -----------
A Creek Wackena -----------
A River Ahunt wackena -----------
A Man Entequos -----------
Old Man Occooahawa -----------
Young Man Quottis -----------
Woman Con-noowa -----------
Old Woman Cusquerre Yicau
Wife Kateocca Yecauau
A Child Woccanookne -----------
A Boy Wariaugh -----------
Infant Utserosta -----------
Ears Ooethnat -----------
Fishgig Ootosne Weetipsa
A Comb Oonaquitchra Sacketoome posswa
A Cake bak't Ooneck -----------
A Head Ootaure Poppe
Hair Oowaara Tumme
Brother Caunotka Yenrauhe
I Ee -----------
Thou Eets -----------
There Ka -----------
Homine Cotquerre Roocauwa
Bread Ootocnare Ikettau
Broath Ook-hoo -----------
Corn Oonaha Cose
Oonave
Oosare
Oosha
Pease Saugh-he Coosauk
A Bag Uttaqua Ekoocromon
Fish Cunshe Yacunne
A Louse Cheecq Eppesyau
A Flea Nauocq -----------
Potato's Untone Wauk
A Stick Chinqua -----------
Wood Ouyunkgue Yonne
House Ounouse (Oin?) Ouke
A Cow Ous-sarunt Nappinjure
A Snake Us-quauh-ne Yau-hauk
A Rat Rusquiane Wittau
A Goose Au-hoohaha Auhaun
A Swan Oorhast Atter
Allegator Utsererauh Monwittetau
A Crab Rouare cou Wunneau
A Canoe Ooshunnawa Watt
A Box Ooanoo Yopoonitsa
A Bowl Ortse Cotsoe
A Spoon Oughquere Cotsau
A Path Wauh-hauhne Yauh
Sun or Moon Heita Wittapare
Wind Hoonoch Yuncor
A Star Uttewiraratse Wattapi untakeer
Rain Untuch Yawowa
Auhuntwood
Night Oosottoo Yantoha
A Rundlet Oohunawa Ynpyupseunne (Yup?)
An Eel Cuhn-na -----------
A T---d Utquera Pulawa
A F---t Uttena Pautyau
A Cable Utquichra -----------
Small Ropes Utsera utquichra -----------
A Button Tic-hah Rummissauwoune
Breeches Wahunshe Rooeyaukitte
Stockings Oowissera Rooesoo possoo
Day Wauwoc-hook Waukhaway
Mad Cosserunte Rockcumne
Angry Cotcheroore Roocheha
Afraid Werricauna Reheshiwau
Smoak Oo-teighne Too-she
A Thief or Rogue Katichhei -----------
A Dog Cheeth Tauh-he
A Reed Cauna Weekwonne
Lightwood Kakoo Sek
To morrow Jureha Kittape
Now Kahunk -----------
To day Kawa -----------
A little while ago Kakoowa Yauka
ENGLISH TUSKERURO WOCCON
Yesterday Oousotto Yottoha How many Ut-tewots Tontarinte How far Untateawa ----------- Will you go } along with me} Unta hah Quauke Go you Its warko Yuppa me Give it me Cotshau Mothei That's all Ut chat Cuttaune A Cubit length Kihoosocca Ishewounaup Dead Whaharia Caure A Gourd or Bottle Utchaawa Wattape A lazy Fellow Wattattoo watse Tontaunete Englishman is thirsty Oukwockaninniwock ----------- I will sell you } Goods very cheap} Wausthanocha Nau hou hoore-ene All the Indians} are drunk } Connaugh jost twane Nonnupper Have you got } any thing to eat} Utta-ana-wox Noccoo Eraute I am sick Connauwox Waurepa A Fish-Hook Oos-skinna ----------- Don't lose it Oon est nonne it quost ----------- A Tobacco-pipe Oosquaana Intom I remember it Oonutsauka Aucummato Let it alone Tnotsaurauweek(Tout?) Sauhau Peaches Roo-ooe Yonne Walnuts Rootau-ooe ----------- Hickery Nuts Rootau Nimmia A Jew's-Harp Ooratsa Wottiyau I forget it Merrauka ----------- Northwest-Wind Hothooka ----------- Snow Acaunque Wawawa
Source:
A New Voyage to Carolina, by John Lawson, Gent. Surveyor-General of North Carolina; London, 1709.
"Indian Words and Place Names in Coastal North Carolina 400 Years Ago," by David Stick, a brochure published by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Raleigh.
See: John Lawson — Explorer, Historian, and Co-Founder of Bath.
Copyright 
2001
