draft manuscript - Linguistics - University of California, Berkeley

versions of ecclesiastical texts in eighteen indigenous languages during his tenure as Superior, from
1719 until 1726 (Jouanen 1943:722), in the following terms:
No me era posible aprender las lenguas de tántas naciones, teniendo ellas entre sí tan
poca semejanza, como la francesa con la alemana. Tomé, pues, el partido, para no
ser inútil a la mayor parte de los pueblos, valerme de aquellos que sabían su lengua
natural y la del Inga, y con su asistencia traduje en diez y ocho lenguas, por preguntas
y respuestas, el catecismo, y lo que se debe enseñar a los neófitos, o en la administración
de los sacramentos, o disponiéndolos a una santa muerte.
(D’Être [1731]1942:32) 360
Uriarte ([1776]1986:288) alludes to a similar approach in describing the work of Franciscis, who
was present in San Joaquín for a brief period, making clear both the use of Quechua as a starting
point and his reliance on translators.
...Padre Ignacio María Franciscis, siciliano y sujeto muy religioso y capaz, gran teólogo,
filósofo, matemático, humanista, poeta; sabía muchas lenguas, como griega, hebrea,
alemana, inglesa, francesa. Y de todas de la Misión hizo con gran trabajo Catecismo,
correspondiente a las preguntas del inga, que se usa. 361
In describing Franciscis’ work on Mayoruna (Panoan) ecclesiastical texts, Uriarte ([1776]1986:290)
makes clear the importance of the translator:
...le sugerí un medio con que ejercitase su celo con fruto y sin fatiga. Éste fue que yo
cuidaría, como antes, de los nuevos, y el Padre, con el intérprete Vicente, fuese sacando
bien en su lengua instrucciones para bautizar, confesar, etc., y enseñase a ratos lengua
inga a dos niños hijos del capitán, que tenía en casa y le servían. 362
360 Translation (ours):
It was not possible for me to learn the languages of so many nations, there being as little similarity
between them as between French and German. I took on the role, so as to not be useless to the
majority of the communities, of availing myself of those that knew their mother tongue as well as
Quechua, and with their assistance I translated into eighteen languages, by question and answer, the
catechism and what should be taught to neophytes or in the administration of sacraments or in the
dispensation of a holy death.
361 Translation (ours):
...Father Ignacio Maria Franciscis, a Sicilian and very capable subject, great theologian, philosopher,
mathematician, humanist, poet; he knew many languages, such as Greek, Hebrew, German, English,
French. And of all those [languages] of the Mission, he made with great effort a catechism of each,
corresponding to the questions in Quechua, which is used.
362 Translation (ours):
...I suggested to him a means by which he might exercise his zeal productively and without tiring. This
was that I would watch after the new [converts], as before, and that the Father [Franciscis], with the
interpreter Vicente, would go about gathering in their language instructions for baptizing, confessing,
etc., and occasionally teach Quechua to two boys, sons of the capitán, that he had in his house and
who served him.
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