Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

oKcHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 141
THE SOUL
It will help our purpose materially if we briefly examine the different
semantic values of the stem -y-naN't/" which we find in the word for
''soul":
aDa'N*to' Soul; mind; disposition.
GaDa'^nottua' I am thinking.
cGwaDa'N^t'etua' I am astonished.
aGWaDa'N^t'eta' nor)i' I doubted it.
o*sfyu"' a'GWaDa'N!tat9*'r)i I rejoice.
uDa'N^ti'yu' He is of a friendly disposition.
This shows how prolific has been the activity of this stem, such
concepts as thinking, feeling, being conditioned, being disposed, being
in a certain state of mind, and, in the ritual language, even "causing,"
all being rendered by it.
This points to a semantic evolution which is very similar to that of
the Latin "animus."
Soul and mind are almost synonymous to the Cherokee. They are
at least two closely related manifestations of the same principle.
"Our soul has its seat in our heart (my heart: aGt'^na*u'). What
we think starts in our heart, and the heart sends our mind out."
Our heart is the broadcasting station, might be a very free but all the
more correct version.
It is not possible to find any definite opinions as to whether the
name, the shadow, or any other part of the individual is considered a
part of his soul, or in exactly what relation they stand to a person.
There can, however, hardly be any doubt but that the name, the
shadow, the liver, the crown of the head, or perhaps a particular hair,
or a particular lock (the scalp lock?) on the crown of the head, all
were once believed ^o be intimately associated with the soul, either
as parts of it or as abiding places for it.
The soul does not leave the body during sleep or dreams. Nor is
sickness caused by absence of the soul; but certain psychopathological
states are ascribed to this fact; the condition of utter despondency
brought about by an enemy "worldng" against you is caused by
nothing else but the fact that he has gotten hold of your soul, and has
buried it "out west," in the Night Land. This does not necessarily
mean instant death; it rarely does. You may live without your sold
for quite a nmnber of months, and slowly pine away; this is what
happens if you can not successfully counteract the influence of your
enemy.
Acute cases of lovesickness, homesickness, melancholy, and dejection
are also usually explained in this way.
No definite notion is entertained as to the origin of souls.
When the vowel becomes leDgthened the nasal becomes voiced, and is fol-
lowed by an obscure vowel.