A Key Into the Language of America

A Key into the Language of America (also known as A help to the Language of the Natives in that part of America called New England) is a book written by Roger Williams in 1643 describing the Native American languages (largely Narragansett, an Algonquian language) in New England in the 17th century. The book is the first study of an Amerindian language in English. The author, Roger Williams, was the founder of Rhode Island and a Christian dissident who believed that the king had no right to grant title to Native American lands without their permission. Williams interacted extensively with the Narragansett and Wampanoag tribes as a missionary, friend, and trader. Williams extolled many parts of Indian culture as superior to European...