Indian Linguistic Families of America, North of Mexico Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1891, pages 1-142

About this book

"Indian Linguistic Families of America, North of Mexico" by John Wesley Powell is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. This work delves into the diverse languages spoken by the indigenous tribes of North America, offering a comprehensive analysis of their classifications and relationships. The book likely appeals to those interested in linguistics, anthropology, and the understanding of indigenous cultures within America. At the start of the book, the author discusses the complexities surrounding the study of Native American languages, highlighting the historical interactions between tribes and the influence of European settlers which led to language borrowing and the development of intertribal jargons. Powell outlines the difficulties faced by researchers, including the vast number of linguistic families and the confusing overlaps due to cultural exchanges. He proposes a need for a standardized nomenclature to better classify and analyze these languages, setting the stage for a detailed exploration of linguistic families and their geographical distributions throughout North America.