An 18th-century Missionary Grammarian: Micmac studies of Father Maillard

John Hewson
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Summary

Until the publication of the Micmac grammar of Father Pacifique (1939, 1990), the only published grammar of Micmac was that of Father Pierre-Antoine Maillard (c. 1710–1762), which although it was written early in the 18th century, was not published until the middle of the 19th century (1864). This work has formed the basis of all subsequent linguistic analysis of Micmac, since the missionary priests used it to help them learn the language, and Father Pacifique, in his 1939 grammar (which is today used as a handbook by those learning the language) acknowledges his profound debt to his distinguished predecessor.

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