This is the final phase of a project involving texts, a substantial dictionary, and a grammar of Penobscot, an Eastern Algonquian language still spoken in Maine. Preparation of the source texts has been completed under a previous grant, a preliminary version of the dictionary is already in existence, and a substantial part of the grammar has been written. This project will bring the dictionary and grammar to completion. This work is important to linguists dealing with American Indian languages, because no such dictionary and grammar exists for an Eastern Algonquian language. The project has also been fruitful for speakers of Penobscot, who have participated in the preparation of these materials. In addition to the reference materials about their language, a side-product of this project has been the preparation of a two-volume spelling book for Penobscot children.
