The Sociolinguistics of the S-Word: 'Squaw' in American Place Names

by William Bright

People often ask me if I shared my dad's interest in linguistics... Not formally, no!

But this academic essay of his, below, is a good example of how we did connect, on a subject close to both our hearts— how language is used politically and socially, sometimes with great tragedy and rebellion as a result. - Susie

The Sociolinguistics of the S-Word: 'Squaw' in American Place Names

Place names containing the word ‘squaw’ are numerous throughout the United States, but have become controversial. American Indians have presented three kinds of argument against the term. The first is that it is derived from a Mohawk word for the female genitalia. Linguistic data show, however, that it is actually a Massachusett word for ‘woman’.

Wendy Rose’s 1977 Poetry collection says it all: “Academic Squaw Reports to the World from the Ivory Tower”

A second argument presented is that ‘squaw’ has been used derogatorily by whites toward Indian women. This argument is supported weakly by liter…