Expert: John McLaughlin - 11/11/2005

Question
I'm writing a travel journal about Zion National Park.  So far googling various internet sources, Mukuntuweap is said to be Southern Paiute language for "straight arrow", "straight canyon", "straight river", or "land of the springs".  Parunuweap, "land of the birds", and Wahweap, "bitter water".  

Please correct, clarify and/or elaborate.  Your expertise greatly appreciated.

Tanja

Answer
Mukuntuweap:  Southern Paiute mukkunta 'straight', uippy 'canyon' [the 'y' is a vowel pronounced kind of like the 'u' in put, but without the lips rounded] "Straight Canyon"

Parunuweap:  Southern Paiute patu 'whitewater' (shortened from pa 'water' plus tosa 'white'), noippy 'canyon with water' "Whitewater Canyon"

Wahweap:  Southern Paiute wa'a 'cedar, pinyon pine', uippy 'canyon' OR Ute oa 'salt', uippy 'canyon'.  It is probable that Wahweap in Arizona comes from 'Cedar Canyon' in Southern Paiute, and Wahweap in Utah comes from 'Salt Canyon' in Ute, but both would sound nearly alike to English ears and eventually be spelled alike.  Southern Paiute and Ute are just different dialects of the same language that I call Colorado River Numic.  "Cedar Canyon" or "Salt Canyon"

For a bibliographical reference you can consult:
William Bright.  2004.  Native American Placenames of the United States.  Norman, Oklahoma:  University of Oklahoma Press
I was the consultant for the Great Basin names, so I've just given you exactly what I wrote for the book.  Have a great day.  If you have further questions, you can contact me directly at mclasutt@brigham.net