Language is an integral part of identity; it is what facilitates communication, preserves culture and history. Today, we shall delve into the “Cherokee Language,” dissecting its roots, its history, and its current state.
Before we embark on this journey, it’s crucial to acknowledge the sources that have made this write-up possible. Profound gratitude goes to The Cherokee Nation, The Cherokee Phoenix Newspaper Archives, and The American Indian Studies Research Institute, for offering invaluable insight into the Cherokee Language.
Cherokee Language: Origins
The Cherokee language, referred to as “Tsalagi Gawonihisdi” by its native speakers, belong to the Iroquoian family of languages. Anthropologists propose that the linguistic similarities between Cherokee and northern Iroquoian languages suggest a common ancestral origin. Historical migration separated these populations, leading to the development of unique linguistic characteristics.
From Illiteracy to Syllabary: Cherokee Alphabet’s Introduction
For centuries, Cherokee was a purely spoken language until an extraordinary individual, Sequoyah (also known as George Gist), developed a writing system called the Cherokee Syllabary in the early 19th century (1821). This syllabary differs from an alphabet as it uses symbols to represent syllables instead of single sounds. Sequoyah’s syllabary boasts eighty-five characters, each of which denotes a particular syllable. Sequoyah’s achievement meant Cherokee had a writing system before many other world languages.
Language Evolution, Utilization, and Firsts
Post the creation of the syllabary, the Cherokee people quickly and enthusiastically adopted the written language. The monumental rise of literacy is a testament to the people’s zest for learning and communication. The Cherokee Nation’s newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, established in 1828, was written in both Cherokee and English, marking the first bilingual newspaper in the United States.
The Decline
Despite a thriving written and spoken language, the US government’s forced removal of the Cherokee people from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to the “Indian Territory” in present-day Oklahoma during the 1830s–a tragic journey known as the ‘Trail of Tears’–put a setback in Cherokee linguistic proliferation. The assimilation policies implemented post-removal saw English replacing native languages at schools, initiating a language shift over generations.
The Current State: An Endangered Language
Today, the situation of the Cherokee language is of concern; it’s classified as ‘definitely endangered’ by the UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. Primarily elders in the Cherokee community, particularly in Oklahoma, Carolina, and Arkansas, speak the Cherokee language fluently. A 2015 Cherokee Nation survey found just over 2,000 fluent speakers, reflecting the urgent need for language revitalization.
Revitalization Efforts
For the past few decades, several concerted efforts have broadened to counteract the language’s decline. The Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have established language programs and immersion schools. Other initiatives include language apps and online resources, language translation of popular tales, and books to encourage intergenerational transmission of knowledge.
Takeaway
The Cherokee language, deeply intertwined with the Cherokee people’s culture, spirituality, and identity, provides an essential link to past, present, and future generations. It paints the landscapes of Cherokee history, echoing the tales of triumphs and adversities, encapsulating the spirit and resilience of the people.
The resurgence of the Cherokee language is about more than just a linguistic achievement; it’s part of a broader movement of indigenous cultural revival and resistance. Its story serves as a beacon of hope to the countless indigenous languages around the world facing the threat of extinction. Efforts to revitalize, preserve, and promote the Cherokee language pave the way in preserving an essential part of world heritage, contributing to a more vibrant and diverse global cultural fabric.
In this context, every conversation in Cherokee, every story told, every song sung, every class taught, and every child learning is a step forward, a small victory, a blooming possibility. They stand as defiant acts of resurgence, of reclamation, of a vibrant culture honoring its past, asserting its present, and marching confidently towards its future. And with these collective efforts—the efforts of individuals, communities, and institutions, the enduring song of the Cherokee language continues to resonate through the hills and across the river valleys, echoing, always, that it is, indeed, very much alive.