2/18/12

Lakota immersion saving language




Lawyers trained in indigenous languages have access to stories that could reverse the loss of treaty lands.

Ruth Moon brings a story of hopefulness in today's Rapid City Journal:
Lakota is part of the "Dakota" language group, the third most commonly spoken Native American language in the country, but new Census estimates indicate fewer than 19,000 people still speak it. More than 10,000 of the nation's Dakota speakers live in South Dakota. Navajo is the most commonly spoken Native American language with more than 150,000 speakers. Nearly 20,000 people speak Yupik, the language of central Alaskan indigenous people. The "Dakota" language group comprises 18 language variations.
The US Census Bureau cites the languages:
Assiniboin, Brule, Brule Sioux, Da'catah/Dakota/Dakota Sioux, Hunkpapa/Hunkpapa Sioux, Lakota/Lakotah/Lakota Sioux, Nakota/Nakota Sioux, Oglala/Oglala Sioux, Santee, Teton, Yankton.
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5 comments:

  1. D.E. BishopFebruary 18, 2012 at 12:59 PM

    I've had the privilege of listening to some wonderful elders of the OST. I don't understand the language, but I love the sound of it. It's melodic, soft, flowing. I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. larry kurtzFebruary 19, 2012 at 8:31 AM

    Agreed, Ms. Bishop: UK's Daily Mail had an article about the likely origins of Native languages in Siberia. Korean and Navajo sound very similar to me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. D.E. BishopFebruary 19, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    I've spend a little time on the big Dine (Navajo) Res in AZ, but haven't had an opportunity to hear much of the language.
    I did get to hear some Hopi folks talking on Second Mesa. Cool.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    Russell Means: Welcome To The Reservation http://youtu.be/-LA-S64QY3o

    ReplyDelete
  5. larry kurtzFebruary 26, 2012 at 1:42 PM

    Thanks, anon: now posted.

    ReplyDelete

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