Scott Momaday on Language and Meaning

Questions and Answers

What was Columbus's view of the land he 'discovered'?

It was a wasteland with no communities.

It was a new world with unique cultures. (correct)

It was a land ripe for conquest.

It was a previously inhabited land.

Estimates of the Native American population in 1492 were always thought to be high, around 10 million.

False

What recent demographic estimates suggest about the pre-Columbian population of North America?

That the population may have been between 2 million and 18 million.

America was not a virgin wilderness but was home to diverse __________, histories, and cultures.

peoples Signup and view all the answers

What misconception does the idea of America as a pristine landscape support?

That European settlers brought civilization to an empty land. Signup and view all the answers

What activities did Indian peoples engage in that modified the environment?

Building towns, earthworks, trails, roads, canals, and ditches. Signup and view all the answers

Before the European invasion, much of America was well populated, contrary to the belief that it was __________.

empty or virgin Signup and view all the answers

Match the population estimates with their respective ranges:

1 million = Initial estimate of Native American population in 1492 2-18 million = Revised estimates based on recent research 43-65 million = Estimated total population of North and South America One-fifth = Proportion of the world's population in the Americas at that time Signup and view all the answers

What does Momaday believe about written words?

They encourage taking words for granted. Signup and view all the answers

Words in oral traditions are considered to be less valuable than written words.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the belief about the power of words in oral traditions?

Words possess magical powers and should be remembered. Signup and view all the answers

Among the Pueblo people, a written speech is considered ______ because it hides the true feelings of the speaker.

suspect Signup and view all the answers

Match the following authors with their sentiments about words:

N. Scott Momaday = Words encourage taking them for granted. Leslie Marmon Silko = Written statements are often suspect. Daniel Richter = Struggles to reconstruct lost histories. Pueblo people = Value spoken words over written documents. Signup and view all the answers

What common limitation do historians face according to Daniel Richter?

Incomplete records of the past. Signup and view all the answers

Momaday believes that sound is less important than the meaning of words.

False Signup and view all the answers

What do written documents represent in the context of history?

They are valuable but may not convey the complete truth. Signup and view all the answers

What was Jacques Cartier's impression of the corn supply in Hochelaga?

It was abundant. Signup and view all the answers

The Huron Indians were known for their efforts in creating a surplus of corn.

True Signup and view all the answers

What significant archaeological finding was discovered near Watson Brake?

A complex of eleven earthen mounds. Signup and view all the answers

Poverty Point was once the largest, most prosperous locality in North America around _____ B.C.

1500 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following locations with their significance:

Hochelaga = Inhabited by several thousand people, known for corn Watson Brake = Earliest mound-building complex in America Poverty Point = Largest town with earthworks in North America Huron Territory = Known for corn surplus and trade Signup and view all the answers

How did the inhabitants of Poverty Point construct their earthworks?

With stone tools and transportation in woven baskets. Signup and view all the answers

Poverty Point's ceremonial mound was shaped like a falcon.

True Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about the trade connections of Poverty Point?

It connected peoples over vast distances for ceremonial goods and materials. Signup and view all the answers

What medium did the ancient Pueblo people use to maintain and transmit their culture?

Oral narratives Signup and view all the answers

The stories of the ancient Pueblo people are meant to be taken literally.

False Signup and view all the answers

Name one of the four sacred mountain ranges that border the Navajo home in the Southwest.

Sisnaajini, Tsoodzit, Dook'oostiid, or Dibé nitsaa Signup and view all the answers

The ancient Pueblo people relied on __________ memory to maintain their culture.

collective Signup and view all the answers

Match each Navajo mountain with its description:

Sisnaajini = Shell white; Blanca Peak Tsoodzit = Turquoise; Mount Taylor Dook'oostiid = Abalone; San Francisco Peaks Dibé nitsaa = Black jet or obsidian; Hesperus Peak Signup and view all the answers

According to Leslie Marmon Silko, what type of journey did the ancient people experience?

An interior process of the imagination Signup and view all the answers

The narratives of migration and emergence serve to disconnect the people from their historical identity.

False Signup and view all the answers

What concept helps link the Pueblo people to their homelands through generations?

communal stories Signup and view all the answers

What did First Woman instruct the women to use to satisfy their passions?

Feathers, long narrow rocks, and strange plants Signup and view all the answers

The men killed the females of mountain sheep and antelope to satisfy their passions.

True Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of the men's actions as indicated in the text?

Lightning struck the men. Signup and view all the answers

The Great Stone that rolled over the earth was referred to as a ________.

stone-child Signup and view all the answers

Match the figures with their descriptions:

First Woman = Instructed women on how to satisfy passions First Man = Warned men about the consequences of their actions Gray Mountain = Home of Hasch el'ba'i, the Water Sprinkler Great Swallow People = Lived in rough houses of mud and sticks Signup and view all the answers

Which name is associated with the Gray God?

Hasch e' dodi Signup and view all the answers

What did the second chief suggest regarding the women?

To bring the women across the river. Signup and view all the answers

The mountains of the Third World were described as being in their ________ form.

substance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language and Oral Tradition

Momaday emphasizes a unique relationship with language—oral traditions preserve words as precious and powerful, while writing may lead to complacency with their meanings.
In oral cultures, words hold magical significance, capable of affecting the physical world and human emotions.
Words from the heart are more valued in Pueblo culture, as written statements may lack true sentiment.

Native American Historical Perspectives

Historical documents don't always convey truth; they may reflect biases and cultural contexts of their creators.
Tens of millions of Native Americans inhabited the Americas prior to European contact, challenging long-held beliefs of a sparsely populated "virgin wilderness."
Estimates of the pre-Columbian population in North America range from 2 million to 18 million, with entire Americas possibly housing up to 65 million individuals.

Population and Society Pre-Columbus

The presence of large populations indicates advanced social structures and economies contrary to European perceptions.
European explorers, like Jacques Cartier, recorded encounters with thriving communities, such as the populated Hochelaga with extensive agricultural fields.

Indigenous Contributions and Environmental Impact

Native Americans actively shaped their environment—constructing towns, mounds, and fostering agricultural development.
Historical mound sites, like Watson Brake, date back thousands of years, showcasing a rich cultural legacy and communal effort in construction.

Oral Histories and Cultural Identity

Indigenous peoples, like the Navajo and Pueblo, maintain strong connections to their past through oral narratives that convey cultural identity and survival strategies.
Leslie Marmon Silko highlights that these stories are not to be taken literally but carry profound cultural significance that sustains community values.

Sacred Landscapes in Navajo Tradition

The Navajo land is bounded by sacred mountains, which serve as sources of knowledge and encapsulate their cultural narratives.
Creation stories intertwine with natural features, linking the community's identity to their environment and reinforcing their worldview.

Community and Communication in Indigenous Societies

Oral traditions provide communal memory that is vital for understanding identity and ensuring survival practices among Indigenous communities.
The narratives emphasize relationships with other forms of life, advocating respect and proper conduct within the natural world.

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Description

Explore Scott Momaday's insights on the relationship between language and meaning. He contrasts the impacts of written and oral traditions, emphasizing the values placed on words in oral cultures. This quiz will delve into the nuances of how language shapes our understanding and perception.

Scott Momaday on Language and Meaning

Questions and Answers

What was Columbus's view of the land he 'discovered'?

Estimates of the Native American population in 1492 were always thought to be high, around 10 million.

What recent demographic estimates suggest about the pre-Columbian population of North America?

America was not a virgin wilderness but was home to diverse __________, histories, and cultures.

What misconception does the idea of America as a pristine landscape support?

What activities did Indian peoples engage in that modified the environment?

Before the European invasion, much of America was well populated, contrary to the belief that it was __________.

Match the population estimates with their respective ranges:

What does Momaday believe about written words?

Words in oral traditions are considered to be less valuable than written words.

What is the belief about the power of words in oral traditions?

Among the Pueblo people, a written speech is considered ______ because it hides the true feelings of the speaker.

Match the following authors with their sentiments about words:

What common limitation do historians face according to Daniel Richter?

Momaday believes that sound is less important than the meaning of words.

What do written documents represent in the context of history?

What was Jacques Cartier's impression of the corn supply in Hochelaga?

The Huron Indians were known for their efforts in creating a surplus of corn.

What significant archaeological finding was discovered near Watson Brake?

Poverty Point was once the largest, most prosperous locality in North America around _____ B.C.

Match the following locations with their significance:

How did the inhabitants of Poverty Point construct their earthworks?

Poverty Point's ceremonial mound was shaped like a falcon.

What was significant about the trade connections of Poverty Point?

What medium did the ancient Pueblo people use to maintain and transmit their culture?

The stories of the ancient Pueblo people are meant to be taken literally.

Name one of the four sacred mountain ranges that border the Navajo home in the Southwest.

The ancient Pueblo people relied on __________ memory to maintain their culture.

Match each Navajo mountain with its description:

According to Leslie Marmon Silko, what type of journey did the ancient people experience?

The narratives of migration and emergence serve to disconnect the people from their historical identity.

What concept helps link the Pueblo people to their homelands through generations?

What did First Woman instruct the women to use to satisfy their passions?

The men killed the females of mountain sheep and antelope to satisfy their passions.

What was the consequence of the men's actions as indicated in the text?

The Great Stone that rolled over the earth was referred to as a ________.

Match the figures with their descriptions:

Which name is associated with the Gray God?

What did the second chief suggest regarding the women?

The mountains of the Third World were described as being in their ________ form.

Study Notes

Language and Oral Tradition

Native American Historical Perspectives

Population and Society Pre-Columbus

Indigenous Contributions and Environmental Impact

Oral Histories and Cultural Identity

Sacred Landscapes in Navajo Tradition

Community and Communication in Indigenous Societies

Studying That Suits You

Description

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