[AmigoKumeyaay]

CHEROKEE
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[Josiah]

[Stands Alone]

I enrolled in the online Cherokee language lessons at Cherokee Nation site. It isn't an easy language to learn, so will probably take the class over again in September.

[Stands Alone]

I am wondering, why are sites that have Cherokee words and syllabary different from what I am learning from the Cherokee Nation's official site? I know our teacher said there was a difference between western & eastern dialect, is this also true for spelling & pronouncing of the words and using a different syllabary symbol? Can someone explain this?

[Unregistered Cheroke]

Originally Posted by Stands Alone

I am wondering, why are sites that have Cherokee words and syllabary different from what I am learning from the Cherokee Nation's official site? I know our teacher said there was a difference between western & eastern dialect, is this also true for spelling & pronouncing of the words and using a different syllabary symbol? Can someone explain this?

Hello Stands Alone!

Different words as used in both dialects for the same thing, and certain sounds (maybe one or two?) are unique to their own dialect. Also, the eastern, Middle dialect (the Lower dialect is exinct) uses the pitch accent, whereas the Overhill, or Western dialect is a multi-tone system, where you do one of the following to indicate a different meaning by pitching at least a syllable (even Cherokee Nation of OK doesn't discuss this publicly - do they even mention it in classes?):

These two are "level pitches:"
high pitch,
low pitch,

These four are "contour pitches," meaning the pitch is altered while pronouncing the syllable:
high-to-low pitch
low-to-high pitch
falling pitch
rising pitch