Saturday, June 20, 2015

So? what? Ꭽ? (Monosyllables Part 3 of many)

So?
what? 
Ꭽ?


Tucked away in the pages of Levi Gritts Cherokee writings is a small word that packs a big wallop.
He defines it and I have heard it used.


This word is the single (monosyllable) Ꭽ.


You can start using Ꭽ scattered in among your English right away.


What does Ꭽ mean?


Ꭽ can act as an adverb, a conjunction, a pronoun, an adjective, or an interjection depending on the context. In other words, Ꭽ can be polysemous. In English, the word so is highly polysemous. It can be used as an adverb, a conjunction, a pronoun, an interjection, or an adjective. You could argue that the sentence-initial so is an interjection as well.  The same is true for Ꭽ.  But it does more as well.


can be used as a filled pause, much in the way that “well,” “um,” and “like” are used in conversation.  In this context, despite how our English ears may hear it, Ꭽ is not just being used just to fill a pause, as it seems, but Ꭽ is being used as a tool for conversation management.


Ꭽ -- so


Ꭽ-- what




Ꭽ-- so what?


Let's look at some ENGLISH sentences, using Ꭽ in context as a way to manage the conversation:




Speaker 1: So, how do you know Me-li?
Speaker 2: We met in high school.
Speaker 1: So, I met Me-li at the Huddle house early one morning at breakfast after a long night of cramming for a college test.....


now, those same ones- but this time, exchange Ꭽ for so


Speaker 1: , how do you know Me-li?
Speaker 2: We met in high school.
Speaker 1: , I met Me-li at the Huddle house early one morning at breakfast after a long night of cramming for a college test.....


Ꭽ is also used as a VERBAL marker-- functioning as an adverb, it emphasizes the verb it accompanies and carries the idea of progression.




Ꭽ is used colloquially today also -- think of a surly response from an adolescent (sorry to pick on you teens but most adults will identify with this example!)




Imagine, a teen comes home, slumps on the couch and just stares at their phone as they rapidly text another.  You ask them to put away their phone. 
You feel ignored.  You repeat the request, this time adding, "I really need to talk to you!" and their response? 
So?







Ꭽ could be used in place of their reply to you.


I am certain you can start to use Ꭽ in your conversations.


See how easily you can replace the English word "so" in the following sentences:


Ꭽ I was shopping yesterday and I was hungry Ꭽ I bought way too much!


Ꭽ my car needs new tires and Ꭽ I cant drive it much


Ꭽ pay day is still a week away and Ꭽ I am eating beans.




start using
today!

NOTE:  a Cherokee elder told me that it is appropriate to also use Ꭽ /HA as an interjection in place of English word "Oh!"




Examples:


instead of OH! replace it with Ꭽ!
like these do:


Ꭽ!  I am so glad to see you!


Ꭽ!  that is good news!


Ꭽ! I had not heard that!


Ꭽ!  wow!


Ꭽ! you startled me!







Friday, June 19, 2015

Win handmade cherokee basket!

there's still time!


YOU could win a beautiful handmade Cherokee basket! 




Contest info is at




https://sites.google.com/site/cherokeebibleproject/contest

First Born Daughter Name: Pearl

First Born Daughter Name: Pearl


Lots of folks have written about this naming practice, and I have mentioned it before in other places but I cannot remember if I covered it on here


so folks,

Today,

lets think about the first born daughter in a Cherokee Family.


Unlike male oriented European societies, the Cherokee were/are Matrilineal rather than Patrilineal.
It was a daughter that owned the land and inherited from her family, not the sons.
It was the daughter that carried the family name and not the sons.
It was the mother who bestowed the right to be Cherokee and not the father (this did not change legally until rather recently! Now, both can be claimed)


So, out of this, a special name was bestowed to indicate that this child was the firstborn daughter (a treasure every parent dreamed of and longed for!)


Here is that information in case you wondered:


Pearl


2 spellings: {See explanation below}


ᏓᎬᎾ-ᎢᏳᎾᏍᏗ
[dagvnaiyunasdi]


or


ᏓᎬᏂᏳᏍᏗ 
 [da-gv-ni-yu-s-di]

PEARL is the historic name of the firstborn girl child in many traditional Cherokee Families


This practice goes back for generations back to pre contact times and presumably, even before and 

the practice of naming a first born daughter PEARL
is continued even today




Sometimes, today, first born daughters are named Maggie instead.
[a famous Maggie was Snowbird (EBCI) Cherokee Beloved woman: 


Maggie Axe Wahchacha-- see more on her at Megi]


another famous "Pearl" was Wilma Pearl Mankiller, Chief of CNO






Why did they switch to use the name "Me gi"?




ᎺᎩ megi [may ge]


Maggie \m(a)-ggie\ as a girl's name is pronounced MAG-ee, of English origin.


It is the short form of Margaret (Greek) which means "Pearl".







TODAY:

ᎺᎩ       megi     [may gee] Maggie \m(a)-ggie\ CORRUPTION / Borrowed Greek word
as a girl's name is pronounced MAG-ee, of English origin. It is the short form of Margaret (Greek) which means "Pearl".
BEFORE the use of Me-gi, the old name was given; It can be spelled one of 2 ways that we have found in historical documents:

Some refer to Scripture for the name spellings of  ᏓᎬᎾ-ᎢᏳᎾᏍᏗ [dagvnaiyunasdi] {found in ᎹᏚ 13:45 / Matthew 13:45, Rev. 21:21, etc} (this is older usage) read these verses online in English, syllabary and phonetics at Matthew 13


while today, others use a modern (western dialect) spelling of ᏓᎬᏂᏳᏍᏗ da-gv-ni-yu-s-di


MANY Cherokee folks learned to speak not only Cherokee and English, but also became fluent in Spanish, Greek, Latin and Hebrew*.



That is how the use of ᎺᎩ       megi     "MEGI" came into place for "Pearl".





*those languages were extremely easy for them to learn, especially when compared the complexity of their own Cherokee language.




LISTEN TO THESE VERSES FROM MATTHEW AT Parable of Pearl of Great Price




Thursday, June 18, 2015

ᏣᎳᎩ ᎬᏗ (use Cherokee Language! imperative, command to one person)

NOTE:  This was created with Digoweli font HOWEVER--- it was CHANGED by the website into Plantagenet


has not yet been reviewed for any errors this may have inadvertently created


=================
 ᏣᎳᎩ ᎬᏗ.
Tsalagi gvhd.
use Cherokee language
(imperative command)


Ꮩ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏂᎦᏓ ᎯᎠ?
Do iyusdi nigada hia?
 What is all this?


ᎯᎠᏛ ᏧᏪᏥ.
Hia-dv tsuwetsi.
 these are eggs.


ᎯᎠ Ꮎ,
Hia na,
 This here,
ᎠᏃᏎᎰ Ꮭ ᎢᏩᎾ ?
anoseho tla iwan ?
 ‘casserole’ isn't it? 
[NOTE:  using the TLA indicates this is either snowbird or western dialect and not Giduwa /not big cove dialect]


ᎯᎠ Ꮎ, ᏏᏆ ᎭᏫᏯ, ‘bacon’.
Hia na, sikwa hawiya, ‘bacon’.


ᎯᎠ Ꮎ, ᎤᏂᏣᎴᏍᏗ, ‘biscuits’.
Hia na, unitsalesd, ‘biscuits’. PLURAL


‘Grits’ ᎠᏃᏎᎰ ᎯᎠ.
‘Grits’ anoseho hia.


ᎯᎠ Ꮎ ᏑᏍᏗ, ‘gravy’.
Hia na asusd, ‘gravy’.


ᏗᏖᎵᏙᏗ ᎦᎵᏙᏗ.
Diteldohd gahldohd.
Serving Dishes


‘Sausage’, ᏍᏊ ᏏᏆ ᎭᏫᏯ ? ...
‘Sausage’, sgwu sikwa hawiya ? ...


ᎯᎠ Ꮎ ᏩᏚᎵᏏ, ᎦᏚ, ᏄᎾᏃ.
Hia na wadulis, gadu, nunahno.
 This is honey (syrup), bread, and potatoes.


ᏗᏖᎵᏙ.
Ditelido.
 Dishes.



Sunday, June 14, 2015

Free Book: Cherokee Stories (and caveat)

The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886, Government ... Office, Washington, 1891, pages


 301-398 Kindle Edition

Friday, June 12, 2015

Grant for 10 Families to Learn Cherokee Language

Are you interested in trying a new program to learn the Cherokee Language?

Families are encouraged to apply for a grant to participate (absolutely free) in an online program that will use technologies such as Skype and/or Google talk, or other technologies, websites and videos to teach the Cherokee language in the Big Cove Dialect.

The program is free, however, you must provide your own internet connection and working phone of your own is also required. (cell phone or land line either one). 

You will also be required to have a Gmail account for each family member participating but minors are allowed to share or to use an adult family member's account if you prefer.

If you are interested in obtaining an application for one of the 10 positions that are now open, please contact Walosi or Tsasuyeda at 888.743.7775  This is an automated call service so be sure to listen to the automated instructions for leaving a message, and allow 72 hours for a response/follow up.

Clearly state your name, your phone number, and the best time of day/week to call you back.

The application is a short one, but the process of selection may take several weeks once it is received by us.

You will be notified only if you are approved for participation.

To be eligible for the grant, applying families must be a "unit" comprised of at least 2 adults (parents, guardians, grandparents, etc) and at least 2 school aged children.

This course, when completed, can count in some instances, as a foreign language credit for those who are actively home educating their children. 
Just remember to indicate your interest in information on that on the application when you submit it.

Friday, June 05, 2015

Syllabary Wooden Blocks!

A gift arrived yesterday!
A dear someone knew I was wishing for the "uncle goose" syllabary blocks and they sent me 3 sets!


They arrived nicely packaged and with a handy chart showing what font style each one has!


Hubby was here to help me and together, we laid them out in order- and I am thrilled with how they look and feel!


The design is very high quality!


it was fun to sort through them all!
I am so happy with my gift!


That being said, if you are going to order some for yourself-- or for a friend--
may I suggest?


buy 4 sets- at least!


That is the only way you will have enough blocks to display each one of the syllabary symbols, the 15 word pictures, and the sides with the numbers.
It is also the only way to have enough blocks to make simple words.


(bigger words? you will need more blocks!!)


So, we had fun with it, and will display it.

It will even feature in some of our upcoming videos we are developing.


As soon as I get another set or two! hint, hint! ;)


another source of syllabary blocks is http://www.nativologie.com/store/p2/MINI_SYLLABARY_BLOCKS.html



Thursday, June 04, 2015

Monosyllables: Post 2 of Several: Ꮪ /du/

Ꮪ or /Du/ is also a monosyllable; 
it has more than one meaning, depending on the context, however it is most often heard as an onomatopoeic word. 

The concept of onomatopoeia words can be difficult to understand without examples.

Examples give you the chance to better understand the onomatopoeia.  Water plopping into a pond makes the sound "Ꮪ!" "Ꮪ!" Ꮪ!" but it means more than the sound; it conveys the idea of the drop being drawn or pulled into the water and then absorbed into the water or pond, no longer separated, as in a raindrop and a pond, but has become one "body" of water now. 

The "Ꮪ" refers to the action of that attraction and the moment they unite.  In English this is described with the scientific term of "cohesion" and is related to water's adhesive properties. 

The way to say all that in Cherokee is to simply say "Ꮪ!" 

One more thing:  "Ꮪ" also can be used as a metaphor for love attraction as in describing "love at first sight" when used in poetry or prose.

These are not all the ways that "Du!" is used, but it gets us started in applying it in everyday conversations.




Please start using DU! today!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Largest Cherokee Textbook is free & online

Why get a Cherokee New Testament?


Prentice Robinson, Cherokee Author & fluent speaker, suggests that everyone who wants to seriously study Cherokee Language use the published Cherokee Bible.

Robinson has said on many occasions
"The New Testament remains the basic text of the Cherokee language containing the most nearly complete vocabulary."


See it FREE and ONLINE at https://sites.google.com/site/cherokeebibleproject/new-testament

The site also hosts portions of Psalms, Proverbs, the entire book of GENESIS and HAGGAI.
More books in Cherokee are added as they are acquired.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Monosyllables in Cherokee Language: When just one Syllable, Just One "word" says a LOT! Part 1 of 20+

Monosyllables in Cherokee Language:  When just one Syllable, Just One "word" says a LOT!


Ꮀ [ho] adverb; used for emphasis, often basically means same as English word "very"; used for emphasis; Very: emphasizes something in a high degree; extremely; exceedingly; Can also mean in addition to emphasizing "more".



EXAMPLE: Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
[And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.]
ᎠᎴ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᏎᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏄᏬᏍᏕᏍᏗ ᎠᏓᎨᏳᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎾᏍᎩ ᏗᎫᏓᏛᏍᎩ ᏥᎩ ᏂᎦᎷᎶᎬᎾ.
A-le ho u-gv-wi-yu-se-s-di i-tsa-nu-wo-s-de-s-di a-da-ge-yu-di ge-sv-i, na-s-gi di-gu-da-dv-s-gi tsi-gi ni-ga-lu-lo-gv-na


used for emphasis.


also in 1 Peter 4:8 and numerous other verses, when found in the original Greek: Ἐπὶ, above; Above all.—Properly, over all—as a bond or cincture to keep all together. Love is the general principle, harmonizing all the special graces named in the verses.
Above all (ἐπὶ πᾶσιν)
According to the metaphor of the garment. Over all, like an upper garment, put on, etc.







MORE EXAMPLES:


verses can be found online at https://sites.google.com/site/cherokeebibleproject/home/nt-books-listed-in-order  Just enter the syllable into the search box at the top right of the CBP site to find all these verses





John 9:30
ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎤᏁᏨ ᎯᎠ ᏂᏚᏪᏎᎸᎩ; Ꮀ ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗᏳ ᎾᏍᎩ, ᏂᏥᎦᏔᎲᎾ ᏥᎩ ᏧᏓᎴᏅᎢ, ᎠᏃ ᏥᏓᎩᏍᏚᎢᎡᎸ ᏗᏥᎦᏙᎵ.
Na-s-gi a-s-ga-ya u-ne-tsv hi-a ni-du-we-se-lv-gi; Ho u-s-qua-ni-go-di-yu na-s-gi, ni-tsi-ga-ta-hv-na tsi-gi tsu-da-le-nv-i, a-no tsi-da-gi-s-du-i-e-lv di-tsi-ga-do-li.

Acts 20:38
ᎤᏲ ᎤᏂᏰᎸᏒᎩ Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᏒ ᏅᏓᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᏍᎬ ᎤᏁᏨ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎤᎧᏛ ᎿᎭᏉ ᎤᏂᎪᏩᏛᏗ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᏥᏳᏃ ᏗᏔᎸᎢ ᏫᎬᏪᎧᏅᎩ.
U-yo u-ni-ye-lv-sv-gi ho u-gv-wi-yu-sv nv-da-ga-li-s-do-di-s-gv u-ne-tsv na-s-gi u-ka-dv hna-quo u-ni-go-wa-dv-di ni-ge-sv-na ge-sv-i. Tsi-yu-no di-ta-lv-i wi-gv-we-ka-nv-gi.

1 Corinthians 9:10
ᏥᎪᎨ ᎠᏴ Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎭ ᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᎭ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏥᏂᎦᏪᎭ? ᎥᏝ ᏳᏜᏓᏏᏛᎭ ᎠᏴ ᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏥᏂᎬᏅ ᏥᎪᏪᎳ; ᎩᎶᏰᏃ ᎦᏓᎷᎩᏍᎩ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎤᏚᎩ ᏳᏩᎭ ᎦᏓᎷᎩᏍᎬᎢ; ᎠᎴ ᎩᎶ ᎤᏚᎩ ᎤᏩᎯ ᎠᎦᏔᏙᎥᏗᏍᎩ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏳᏪᎳᏗᏍᏗᎭ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎤᏚᎩ ᎤᏩᏒᎢ
Tsi-go-ge a-yv ho u-gv-wi-yu-ha nv-di-ga-li-s-do-di-ha na-s-gi tsi-ni-ga-we-ha? v-tla yu-dla-si-dv-ha a-yv nv-di-ga-li-s-do-di-s-gv na-s-gi tsi-ni-gv-nv tsi-go-we-la; gi-lo-ye-no ga-da-lu-gi-s-gi na-s-gi u-du-gi yu-wa-ha ga-da-lu-gi-s-gv-i; a-le gi-lo u-du-gi u-wa-hi a-ga-ta-do-v-di-s-gi na-s-gi yu-we-la-di-s-di-ha na-s-gi u-du-gi u-wa-sv-i

1 Corinthians 14:1
ᎠᏓᎨᏳᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎢᏥᏍᏓᏩᏕᎨᏍᏗ; ᎠᎴ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᏍᎨᏍᏗ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎤᎵᏍᎪᎸᏙᏗ; ᎠᏗᎾ Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᏎᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎨᏣᏙᎴᎰᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ.
A-da-ge-yu-di ge-sv i-tsi-s-da-wa-de-ge-s-di; a-le i-tsa-du-li-s-ge-s-di a-da-nv-do u-li-s-go-lv-do-di; a-di-na ho u-gv-wi-yu-se-s-di na-s-gi ge-tsa-do-le-ho-hi-s-di ge-sv-i.


2 Corinthians 1:12
ᎯᎠᏰᏃ ᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᎭ ᏦᏣᎵᎮᎵᎦ, ᎾᏍᎩ ᏦᎦᏓᏅᏙᎩ ᎪᎯᏳᏗᏍᎬᎢ, ᏃᏨᏗᏍᎬᎾ ᎤᏇᏓᎵᏉ ᎤᎬᏩᎵ ᎠᎦᏙᎥᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯᏍᎩᏂ ᎬᏩᎦᏘᏯ ᎤᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎣᎩᏍᏕᎵᏍᎬᎢ, ᏄᏠᎾᏍᏛᎾ ᎨᏒ ᎣᏨᏗᏍᎬ ᎣᎨᏙᎸ ᎠᏂ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎨᏒᎢ; ᎠᎴ Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎭ ᏂᎯ ᎢᏤᎲᎢ.
Hi-a-ye-no nv-di-ga-li-s-do-di-ha tso-tsa-li-he-li-ga, na-s-gi tso-ga-da-nv-do-gi go-hi-yu-di-s-gv-i, no-tsv-di-s-gv-na u-que-da-li-quo u-gv-wa-li a-ga-do-v-hi-s-di ge-sv-i, U-ne-la-nv-hi-s-gi-ni gv-wa-ga-ti-ya u-da-do-li-s-di ge-sv o-gi-s-de-li-s-gv-i, nu-tlo-na-s-dv-na ge-sv o-tsv-di-s-gv o-ge-do-lv a-ni e-lo-hi ge-sv-i; a-le ho u-gv-wi-yu-ha ni-hi i-tse-hv-i.


2 Corinthians 3:8
ᏝᏍᎪ Ꮀ ᏳᎬᏫᏳᏎᏍᏗ ᎦᎸᏉᏗᏳ ᏱᎨᏎᏍᏗ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎤᎬᏩᎵ ᎨᏒ ᏗᎦᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᏗ?
Tla-s-go ho yu-gv-wi-yu-se-s-di ga-lv-quo-di-yu yi-ge-se-s-di A-da-nv-do u-gv-wa-li ge-sv di-ga-lv-wi-s-da-ne-di?

Philippians 4:22
ᎾᏂᎥ ᎤᎾᏓᏅᏘ ᏫᎨᏥᏲᎵᎭ, Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎭ ᎾᏍᎩ Ꮎ ᏏᏌ ᏚᏓᏘᎾᎥᎢ
Na-ni-v u-na-da-nv-ti wi-ge-tsi-yo-li-ha, ho u-gv-wi-yu-ha na-s-gi na Si-sa du-da-ti-na-v-i.


1 Peter 4:8


ᎠᎴ Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᏎᏍᏗ ᎤᎵᏂᎩᏛ ᏕᏣᏓᎨᏳᏎᏍᏗ; ᎠᏓᎨᏳᏗᏰᏃ ᎨᏒ ᏓᎫᏢᏂ ᎤᏣᏘ ᎢᏯᏍᎦᏅᎢᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ.
A-le ho u-gv-wi-yu-se-s-di u-li-ni-gi-dv de-tsa-da-ge-yu-se-s-di; a-da-ge-yu-di-ye-no ge-sv da-gu-tlv-ni u-tsa-ti i-ya-s-ga-nv-i-s-di ge-sv-i.




2 Peter 2:10
ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ Ꮀ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎭ [ᎨᏂᎩᎵᏲᎢᏍᏙᏗ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ] ᎤᏇᏓᎵ ᎠᏂᏍᏓᏩᏕᎩ ᎤᏂᎬᎥᏍᎬ ᎦᏓᎭ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᏗᏂᏍᎦᎩ ᏄᏂᎬᏫᏳᏌᏕᎩ. ᎤᏂᏍᎦᎢᏍᏗ, ᎤᏅᏒ ᎠᎾᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬ ᎤᏂᎸᏉᏗ; ᎥᏝ ᏯᏂᏍᎦᎢᎭ ᏗᎬᏩᏂᏐᏢᏙᏗᏱ ᎨᏥᎸᏉᏗ.

A-le na-s-gi ho u-gv-wi-yu-ha [ge-ni-gi-li-yo-i-s-do-di ge-se-s-di] u-que-da-li a-ni-s-da-wa-de-gi u-ni-gv-v-s-gv ga-da-ha ge-sv-i, a-le di-ni-s-ga-gi nu-ni-gv-wi-yu-sa-de-gi. U-ni-s-ga-i-s-di, u-nv-sv a-na-da-nv-te-s-gv u-ni-lv-quo-di; v-tla ya-ni-s-ga-i-ha di-gv-wa-ni-so-tlv-do-di-yi ge-tsi-lv-quo-di.


JUST FOR FUN!


Whenever I am driving and I see this sign, I think of this symbol!