The precious cultural heritage of indigenous peoples often lies within their languages, stories, and traditions. One such potent example is the Cherokee Nation who have protected and maintained their rich cultural legacy and language against all adversities. This article will explore the distinct Cherokee language, the ingenious Cherokee syllabary, and the strenuous efforts to keep the language enduringly alive.
The Cherokee Language—Its Enigmatic Beauty and Influence
The Cherokee language, or ‘Tsalagi Gawonihisdi’ in Cherokee, is of the Iroquoian language family. It’s one of the few indigenous languages with a thriving base of speakers around the world, particularly in Oklahoma and North Carolina[^1^]. What sets Cherokee apart from many other languages is its complexity; both in terms of its syntax and its sound system. The language consists of a polysynthetic verb structure, which makes every verb in essence a sentence, and the verb inflections indicate the relations among the various elements in the sentence[^2^].
The Cherokee Syllabary—An Ingenious Writing System
Renowned Cherokee politician and silversmith Sequoyah birthed the writing system known as the Cherokee syllabary in the 1820s, marking a salient point in Cherokee history. Unlike a standard alphabet, the Cherokee syllabary consists of unique symbols that represent syllables instead of individual sounds. This innovative writing system—comprising 85 characters, each corresponding to a unique syllable—allowed the Cherokee people to achieve literacy rapidly[^3^].
Post its adoption, literacy swept across Cherokee so fast that the Nation soon outpaced its white neighbors by posing a higher literacy rate. This facilitated the creation of their printed newspaper, ‘Cherokee Phoenix’, adding another milestone to Cherokee history.
The Fierce Struggle to Revive and Maintain the Cherokee Language
Despite witnessing a consistent downturn in the number of speakers for an extended period, owing to forced assimilation into English-speaking society, the Cherokee language is currently seeing a revival. Cherokee Nation has undertaken several preservation initiatives, one of them being the creation of the Cherokee Nation Sequoyah Schools to foster Cherokee language learning among the younger generation[^4^].
Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program is another significant effort to ensure the language transition from elder speakers to young adults, thereby countering the imminent threat of language extinction[^4^]. Alongside, Cherokee Nation initiated several digital endeavors to inculcate the language among tech-savvy generations. For example, the availability of Cherokee language interface on Windows OS and Apple’s iOS devices is an encouraging step in this direction.
Conclusion
As integral as the Cherokee language is to the Cherokee people’s cultural identity, sustaining it is an overwhelming task. Yet, the unflagging determination of the Cherokee Nation ensures that their unique language will continue to be a vibrant aspect of their extraordinary cultural heritage.
The stories of indigenous peoples often go unheard or forgotten, packaged into grotesque caricatures or pleasant novelties. Yet, as the tale of the Cherokee language and syllabary demonstrates, these cultures brim with rich histories, innovative creations, and potent willpower against all odds. Pledging respect to these cultures entails listening to these stories in their languages, value their uniqueness, and work towards their preservation.
[^1^]: The Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Language.
[^2^]: Scancarelli, J. (2005). Native Languages of the Southeastern United States. University of Nebraska Press.
[^3^]: Cherokee Nation. Sequoyah and the written Cherokee language.
[^4^]: Hauk, Alexis. The Fight to Save the Cherokee Language. The Atlantic. May 13, 2015.