Dictionary for Learners, Tetlin Dialect of Upper Tanana Athabascan

Alternate Language Names

Tananatana, Tabesna, Nabesna or Nee’aanèegn’.

Region

Alaska, United States.

Who

Paul Milanowski, Alfred John (Compilers).

Others Involved

Mary Paul (Linguist for 1979 edition); Tupou L. Pulu (Publishing support for 1979 edition); J. Leslie Boffa (Illustrator of 1979 edition); National Bilingual Materials Development Center (Producer of the 1979 edition); Dollar Bay, The Native Village of Tetlin (Publishers of 2013 edition).

Publishing Information

The 1979 edition was published by the National Bilingual Materials Development Center, Rural Education, University of Alaska, Alaska.

The 2009 edition was published on October 13th, while Paul Milanowski is mentioned, there is no specific acknowledgement for any publisher.  

The 2013 edition was published on June 28th by Paul G. Milanowski Sr. , Dollar Bay, and/or The Native Village of Tetlin, Tetlin, Alaska.

The 2009 and 2013 editions were derived and updated from the Tetlin Junior Dictionary published 1979.

How People are Cited

The 1979 edition cites the compilers, producer, publisher and illustrator on the first page of the dictionary. However, Mary Paul and Tupou L. Pulu are cited in the Acknowledgements.  

The compilers and others involved are cited on the first page of the dictionary in the 2009 and 2013 editions.

How Information is Cited

The source of information of the 1979 edition is cited in the Acknowledgements.

The source of information for the 2009 and 2013 editions is cited on the first page of the dictionary.

Where is Information Coming from

The 1979 edition derives its information from dictionaries compiled in August 1974 and June 1975 in Upper Tanana Athabaskan under the Alaska Native Education Board; for the use of elementary school students in the bilingual education program of the Village of Tetlin.

The information in the 2009 and 2013 editions is derived from the 1979 edition of Tetlin Junior Dictionary.

Tools and Framework used

The different editions of this dictionary are available as a digital book. We are unsure what editions of the dictionary are also available as a physical book and/or how they can be accessed.

Access

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

Included Languages and Directionality

1979 edition: English to Upper Tanana.

2009 edition: Upper Tanana to English, English to Upper Tanana.

2013 edition: English to Upper Tanana, Upper Tanana to English.

Dialects Included

This dictionary is of the Tetlin dialect of Upper Tanana Athabascan.

Type of Dictionary

The 2009 and 2013 editions are bilingual and bi-directional; while the 1979 edition is bilingual and mono-directional.

How are Entries Organised

1979 edition: Entries are organized alphabetically.

2009 edition: Entries are split up into four sections are organized alphabetically: Upper Tanana to English (Non-Verb Section), Upper Tanana to English (Verb Section), English to Upper Tanana (Non-Verb Section), and English to Upper Tanana (Verb Section).

2013 edition: Entries are split up into three sections and organized alphabetically: Non-Verb Section, Verb Section (General Category), and Verb Section (Special Category). The verbs in the Verb Section (General Category) are listed corresponding to their verb stem; both verb sections come with an introduction.

Other Features

Other Notes

The 2009 and 2013 editions are the most similar to each other. They both split up the entries into Verb and Non-Verb categories, and change the directionality of both languages within those categories; which in turn creates an extensive set of entries.  

The 2009 edition contains a handwritten page at the very end of the dictionary which seems to be in Upper Tanana, although it is unclear who it is written by.