Do you speak your own Native Language?

[Healing Tree Herbals]

How many people here can speak their own Native Language?

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

Ey Swayel Kalilsha tel sqix yep thats about the extent of my skillz

[Healing Tree Herbals]

Ey Swayel Kalilsha tel sqix yep thats about the extent of my skillz

What did you say???
Now ya gotta give the translation...

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

good day my name is Kalilsha

[Healing Tree Herbals]

good day my name is Kalilsha

Ahhhh...Todah (thanks)

[Mud_Woman]

I know a few navajo words to get by. I was gonna take college courses, but never did. Im embarrased that I cant carry on a conversation with my grandmother. My mom or who evers there has to translate for me. This sounds funny, but I have a "white tounge", some word dont roll off my tounge right. The few words and short sentences that I know, I speak to my lil' girl. My oldest daughter lives with her father, and he doesnt like to speak navajo, so she doesnt know navajo too much.

I try my hardest to speak, but some word come out . . . weird. My mom gets fustrated with me and gives up.

[Little Man's Ma]

I wish I was more fluent, I can understand what is being said, I can translate the words, but when I try, I just get tongue tied.. mixing up french, and english and Ojibwe..

[ac_miss]

I spoke my language fluently up until I was 5 years old. From then on, I spoke English. It's sad because my whole family can speak Albamu, but I can't. I can understand most words and get by with most phrases/greetings, but I wish I knew more. I would like for my daughter to learn the language(s) as she grows older so I bring her around my mom and other family member frequently.

I've tried speaking a few words, but I get embarrassed and ridiculed for not pronouncing some words correctly, so I limit myself to speaking only a few phrases and words.

[Mud_Woman]

I've tried speaking a few words, but I get embarrassed and ridiculed for not pronouncing some words correctly, so I limit myself to speaking only a few phrases and words.

Your not the only one. I get that all the time because i have other ppl translate info to my grandmother.

[Chata_Sia_Hoke]

I want to learn the Choctaw language so badly. The problem is I live on the Navajo Rez so I'm around Navajo. If any one knows good resources besides the tribal website, please please let me know.

[NorthofAda]

I spoke my language fluently up until I was 5 years old. From then on, I spoke English. It's sad because my whole family can speak Albamu, but I can't. I can understand most words and get by with most phrases/greetings, but I wish I knew more. I would like for my daughter to learn the language(s) as she grows older so I bring her around my mom and other family member frequently.

I've tried speaking a few words, but I get embarrassed and ridiculed for not pronouncing some words correctly, so I limit myself to speaking only a few phrases and words.

That's too bad. Nobody should be ridiculed for trying to speak their native language and maybe not getting the pronunciation or grammar quite right. Those who are fluent started out from the ground up, and some of us adults have to do that, too. I'd rather hear someone really trying to learn and speak their native language, even if they mess up sometimes, than have folks be discouraged from trying just cuz they may not say everything PERFECT...

So...keep at it!

[Mud_Woman]

That's too bad. Nobody should be ridiculed for trying to speak their native language and maybe not getting the pronunciation or grammar quite right. Those who are fluent started out from the ground up, and some of us adults have to do that, too. I'd rather hear someone really trying to learn and speak their native language, even if they mess up sometimes, than have folks be discouraged from trying just cuz they may not say everything PERFECT...

So...keep at it!

You hit the nail right on the head. Im so glad you said that. My 2 yr old is learning, but unlike my mom getting fustrated with me, if my lil' one doesnt say it right, 'oh well'. Shes learning to use her tounge and nose to make sounds.

[NorthofAda]

I remember being told back when I lived in AZ that Navajo was one of the hardest languages to learn. It's a beautiful language, and I'm glad that you're encouraging your little one to learn.

[NorthofAda]

I want to learn the Choctaw language so badly. The problem is I live on the Navajo Rez so I'm around Navajo. If any one knows good resources besides the tribal website, please please let me know.

I know there are several books out there - including a new one coming out in December that looks really good - "Choctaw Language and Culture" by Marcia Haag and Henry Willis. It's listed on Barnes and Noble's website.

I don't speak Choctaw, but I'm Chickasaw (slowly, very slowly learning the language) and the 2 languages are from the same family and have a lot of similarity in vocabulary, grammar, etc.

It's hard to learn long distance, away from your people, though. There's a program back in Ada, OK for Chickasaw people, a language mentoring program where students are paired with elders who are fluent speakers and you work with them several hours a week, immersed in the language. My people working really hard to promote the learning and preservation of our language.

I would encourage anyone who is interested in learning their native language to do so, even if it's slow, even if you make mistakes. We need to keep these languages alive for our children's sake!

[ac_miss]

I don't speak Choctaw, but I'm Chickasaw (slowly, very slowly learning the language) and the 2 languages are from the same family and have a lot of similarity in vocabulary, grammar, etc.

The Alabama and Coushatta languages are also in the same family. Sometimes we're able to understand some Choctaw and Seminole words. It's neat.