Massachuset language
- noun
- /ˈmæsəˌtʃuːɪt ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
:
lengua massachusett
- Much of what is known about the Massachuset language comes from colonial-era documents and translations.
Examples
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The Massachuset language was once spoken along the coast of present-day Massachusetts.
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Few records of the Massachuset language exist today.
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Early missionaries created written records in the Massachuset language to communicate religious teachings.
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The Massachuset language is fascinating.
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Early missionaries created written records in the Massachuset language to communicate religious teachings.
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Much of what is known about the Massachuset language comes from colonial-era documents and translations.
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The Massachuset language was once spoken along the coast of present-day Massachusetts.
Synonyms
A Native American language once spoken by people near Massachusetts Bay
A language once spoken by the Massachusett people in eastern Massachusetts that no one now speaks
A language once spoken by people who lived near Massachusetts Bay
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'Massachuset language' is a straightforward noun + 'language' construction meaning 'the language spoken by the Massachuset people'; a B1 learner who knows the proper name 'Massachuset' and the noun 'language' can derive this meaning. This compositional pattern (X language = the language of X) is standard in English and common cross-linguistically, so it is transparent.
Etymology
Massachuset language is named after the Massachuset people who lived on the coast of what is now Massachusetts. The place name 'Massachuset' likely meant 'near the great hill', so the phrase simply means 'the language the Massachuset people spoke'.
