Scott Momaday on Language and Meaning
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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.

    <p>peoples</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

    <p>Building towns, earthworks, trails, roads, canals, and ditches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>empty or virgin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the population estimates with their respective ranges:

    <p>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</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Momaday believe about written words?

    <p>They encourage taking words for granted.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Words possess magical powers and should be remembered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>suspect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following authors with their sentiments about words:

    <p>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.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common limitation do historians face according to Daniel Richter?

    <p>Incomplete records of the past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do written documents represent in the context of history?

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

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

    <p>It was abundant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant archaeological finding was discovered near Watson Brake?

    <p>A complex of eleven earthen mounds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>1500</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following locations with their significance:

    <p>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</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the inhabitants of Poverty Point construct their earthworks?

    <p>With stone tools and transportation in woven baskets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was significant about the trade connections of Poverty Point?

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

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

    <p>Oral narratives</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Sisnaajini, Tsoodzit, Dook'oostiid, or Dibé nitsaa</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>collective</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match each Navajo mountain with its description:

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

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

    <p>An interior process of the imagination</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>communal stories</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Feathers, long narrow rocks, and strange plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Lightning struck the men.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>stone-child</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the figures with their descriptions:

    <p>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</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which name is associated with the Gray God?

    <p>Hasch e' dodi</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the second chief suggest regarding the women?

    <p>To bring the women across the river.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>substance</p> 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.

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