Week one experience: Language

Definitely, the most unique experiences thus far have involved the Cherokee language. Our first Cherokee language class sparked a desire within each of us, I think, to learn a least a little bit of Cherokee and make an effort beyond the classroom to learn more on our own. Despite knowing that Cherokee is complex and difficult to learn, I was not aware that Cherokee is a Class IV language. Meaning is conveyed not only through what is said but how it is said tonally. Cherokee is written phonetically and in Sequoyah’s syllabary with each character representing a specific syllable.
Dr. Wyman Kirk expressed to us that Cherokee is in danger of becoming a dead language. Most speakers of Cherokee are elders in the community and there are many second language learners throughout. However, most Cherokee citizens do not speak in the language. Efforts toward preservation of the language include Cherokee language immersion schools, classes at the high school and university levels, and implementing technology as aids to second language learners. In the afternoon, Roy Boney and Joseph Erb presented to us some programs they have been working on to help preserve the language. I was blown away by what they can do with computer programs and how they have integrated these programs into classroom settings. They have partnered up with Apple to get each child in the Cherokee Immersion Program laptops that have programs and games in the Cherokee language as well as several font functions that allow the kids to type in syllabary as well as phonetically. Each child is also set to receive an iPhone this summer.
During that first class, we learned that a Cherokee verb is a statement, a complete thought. Prefixes, infixes and suffixes are inserted to add meaning. Several of the NSU students talked about how Cherokee has helped their English and writing skills. Before saying something in Cherokee, you really have to think about what it is you want to say. The approach to the language requires thinking in Cherokee. There is a prayer that is said in the morning ritual of Going to Water that includes something to the effect of “learning from all you observe.” This is required of a Cherokee speaker, for he/she cannot accurately convey his/her thoughts without being aware of what is going on in the surrounding world. Even if I never learn to truly think in Cherokee, it is valuable to take time to being more observant of what is going on around me and learn from that.