Tanacross Noun Dictionary

Alternate Language Names

Tanana, Dandey in, Diney su, Tananatana.

Region

Alaska, United States.

Who

Nancy McRoy (Author of the 1973 version); Paul G. Milanowski, Alice Brean (Authors of 1977 version); Ronald Scollon (Author of 1979 version).

Others Involved

Jim Kari (Linguist).

Publishing Information

This wordlist appears to have been started in August 1973 by Nancy McRoy. It was then added to by Paul G. Milanowski, and Alice Brean in 1977. Finally in 1979 Ronald Scollon added minor spelling changes, tones, and some new entries. It is unclear whether this wordlist was ever officially published or completed.

How People are Cited

Contributors are not directly cited in the dictionary, but are identified on the Alaska Native Language Archive for each version under Contributors.

How Information is Cited

The 1973 and 1977 versions do not directly cite their source of information, but the 1979 version cites its source of information in the introductory paragraph.

Where is Information Coming from

The 1973 version does not specify where information is coming from or what sources were used. However, the Alaska Native Language Archive mentions that the information in the 1977 version is partially based on McRoy’s 1973 version. Moreover, the 1979 version explicitly states that it is an update to the 1977 version by Milanowski and Brean.

Tools and Framework used

The different versions of this dictionary are available as digital books. We are unsure if the different versions are also available as physical books and/or how they can be accessed as it is unclear wether they have been formally published.

Access

The digital copy (PDF scan) of all versions are open access through the Alaska Native Language Archive.

Included Languages and Directionality

1973 version: Tanacross to English, except for COLORS on the last page of the dictionary, which is English to Tanacross.

1977 version: English to Tanacross. This version also includes the 1973 version (except for the last page) starting from page 25 of the PDF, and like the original, is Tanacross to English.  

1979 version: English to Tanacross.

Dialects Included

No dialect is specified for this dictionary.

Type of Dictionary

This is a bilingual, mono-directional noun wordlist. While all the versions of the wordlist are mono-directional, the 1973 version has one section which in English to Tanacross (as opposed to the rest of the dictionary, which is Tanacross to English), titled COLORS.

How are Entries Organised

Entries are organized topically by theme. As each version builds upon the next, with similar thematic organization and some variation in titles and grouping of the categories between versions. However, one of the main differences is that the 1977 and 1979 versions include a Fish, Marine Life theme that the 1973 version does not.

Other Features

Other Notes

The PDF of the 1977 version incorporates an annotated 1973 version, starting on page 25 of the PDF; it is noted that the copy with notes belongs to Alice Brean. Furthermore, the PDF for the 1979 version includes the wordlist twice, but the second rendition is annotated by Alice Brean and Jim Kari.