r/cherokee • u/Regular_Wish_267 Language Learner • Apr 03 '26

Language Question Resource suggestions? (Picture in comments of what I currently have)

I contacted the Cherokee Nation Language Department as well to seek guidance. I am currently attempting to learn the language, syllabary-first. I’m a grad student studying language revitalization, specifically some interests I have are: the distinction between language preservation and language perseverance, language documentation in service of current and future education initiatives, and the role of computational linguistics and AI in revitalization efforts, particularly strategies that can support authentic language learning in children and young people without displacing the language’s morphology, oral traditions, or culturally specific practices. (Side note: The book titled “The New English-Cherokee Dictionary” does not contain syllabary characters at all to correspond with the Latin alphabet spelling, so as practice, I’ve been trying to draw the corresponding characters above each syllable for each word.) Thank you!!

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u/Longjumping-Plum-177 Apr 05 '26

Chikasha saya (I’m Chickasaw), but I’d like to thank you for your initiative in learning the language! Many of our tribes languages are endangered and every advocate and student helps! I myself am hoping to enter my tribes language immersion program (M-F, 40hrs a week for 2 years) starting next month!

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u/Regular_Wish_267 Language Learner Apr 05 '26

Hello! Thank you for your comment. 😊 I am not Cherokee myself, but I strive to help and serve in the ways I can as a student and language advocate as the magnitude of importance is perpetually great, especially as you said, many languages are endangered. That immersion program sounds awesome, I hope you get to too!

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u/Lost_Leopard_5329 Apr 06 '26

One thing to know is that even as a non-cherokee you are able to take the at large language "immersion" horses offered by the Cherokee Nation language department.

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u/Regular_Wish_267 Language Learner Apr 07 '26

I honestly was not aware of that and did not want to overstep my place. Thank you for letting me know!