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Published:8/7/2009 7:03:00 AM
iTunes Store offers Cherokee language revitalization application
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| Nez Perce tribal citizens Angel Sobotta, middle, and Gabrielle Moses, right, take turns testing the Language Pal software with elder Horace P. Axtell, left, as Michael Wasson-Pinkham watches from behind. (Courtesy photo) |
By Jami Custer
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. –Thornton Media Inc. has developed an iTunes application that allows the Cherokee language and other indigenous languages to be downloaded onto handheld game consoles, MP3 players and cell phones.
Company officials – who also created RezWorld, a video game designed to revitalize Native languages – said the downloadable language software is called Language Pal and can program audio recordings of an indigenous language in multiple dialects from multiple speakers.
It also allows the programming of electronic flashcards, archived recordings, multiple choice games and thousands of audio files with searchable databases on the Nintendo DSi, a portable game system.
“We wanted to create software that allows any tribe to program their own language onto a quality handheld device. The Nintendo DSi is an obvious choice because the DS series is the best-selling handheld in history,” Thornton Media CEO Don Thornton said.
The Language Pal software is not an official Nintendo title, but a “homebrew” software created by an authorized Nintendo developer, which Thornton Media has begun the process of becoming.
“Our approach to language tools has always been to make language learning fun” Thornton said. “Your kids will be playing with video games anyway. They might as well be learning their language.”
He said Nintendo DS units loaded with the Cherokee Basic language application will be available for purchase at the Cherokee National Holiday during Labor Day Weekend in Tahlequah. However, there was no price as of press time. Thornton also said the Cherokee Basic application can be loaded onto iPod Touches and iPhones for $9.99 at www.itunes.com.
Choosing to develop these language revitalization tools has been what Thornton calls his “life’s work.”
“Our indigenous languages are dying at an alarming rate,” he said. “We work closely with over 110 tribes and (Canadian) First Nations, and we are very close to our clients. We see more language extinction from the ground level than anyone. We record at the kitchen tables of more elders than anyone. We see how important these languages are to their communities.”
Thornton said developing the language applications isn’t cheap and at times can be tough because he has no business partners. But he hopes to find a financial partner so that he may someday break even on the tribal language projects.
He commended the Cherokee Nation’s immersion school and language revitalization programs, but said to truly bring the language back “we also have to look at the other 99.9 percent of the Cherokee population.”
He said language has to be reinforced daily and with handhelds people can use them in the home as a 24-hour tutor that never gets tired of repeating itself.
“Begin using Cherokee in your home, office, within the community a little at a time. Use commands with your kids. Use Cherokee at the kitchen table. Start in a small way. Language revitalization starts within the home, but it require the effort of a community,” Thornton said.
Along with the language applications, the game RezWorld is closer to being on the market. He said there have been hundreds of requests from Cherokees for the first level of RezWorld-Cherokee version.
“At some point we’ll make Level 1 of RezWorld available by download off of our Web site, possibly by the beginning of September for $29.99,” he said. “If it’s ready in time it will also be available on CD at our booth at the Cherokee Holiday for the same price.”
Thornton said even though RezWorld comes with “third party studies,” teaching language through video games is a new concept that tribes haven’t bought into.
“RezWorld is simply the most exciting and effective product ever to be introduced in the language revitalization world,” he said. “We hope for the sake of all Indian Country that we get a client so tribes can see the results. It’s virtually guaranteed to produce conversational speakers in your language.”
“Where and how are they getting the language? Once the (immersion) kids go back home, will the parents be able to keep up with them?” Thornton said.
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Comment Section
21 Total Comments (0 Pending Approval)
| 8/7/2009 |
I think that this is an abolutely brilliant ideA!! I do have a question. You mention that the downloads are available via iTunes for the iPods and iPhones. What about for those of us that use cell phones that are Windows based? Is there a version for download that will work for us? Again, great job!! This is a great tool!!
Kevin Patrick
Shawnee, KS |
| dejavukc |
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| 8/7/2009 |
Hi dejavukc,
Thank you for your kind words. Since we finance these projects out of our own pocket, it's tough to put in money on research and development on other technologies. If we can recoup some money from selling the app and Nintendo DSi we will invest more money into Windows based phones such as Blackberry, etc. |
| ndnlanguage |
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| 8/7/2009 |
I don't understand it, this company say they are looking for a financial partner and Cherokee Nation has 7 casinos. Why aren't they helping this company out? What they are doing has tremendous impact in Indian Country... |
| pbrown435 |
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| 8/8/2009 |
can you help me find the location on itunes for the language
i sure cant find it
wado
larry |
| oldtxcowboy54 |
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| 8/10/2009 |
Hi Larry,
You can go to our website www.ndnlanguage.com and click on the iPod Touch/iPhone "Click here" link and it will take you to the page where there's a direct link to the iTunes App store. Wado! |
| ndnlanguage |
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| 8/10/2009 |
I'm a Cherokee Nation Citizen, and I've seen the demonstration of the Rez World Game and it is great! Besides English, I speak fluent Spanish and have used Rosetta Stone in the past to learn languages. So I know what it takes to learn a second language. I've been taken the online classes for years with Ed Fields, and have even bought Sam Hider's CD Course from the Cherokee Nation Gift shop, and have been to the Cherokee Nation lauguage site. But these methods are slow, and not really the best method to learn a second language. Since I don't live in Oklahoma, I can't take clases in person. In my opinion, this technology is the next best thing to learn Cherokee when one does not have access to fluent speakers. If the Cherokee Nation can fund money for Mr. Ed Fields to teach Wannabees to speak Cherokee all these years with his online class, then they can surely fund this technology for Cherokee Citizens. |
| mfields2009 |
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| 8/11/2009 |
I am not a tribal member of the CN, but I am Cherokee none
the less. I have been trying to learn the language for over 10 years now and still cannot understand the conversations on the radio broadcasts. Whether you're a
member of the Nation or not, learning our language is one of
the most important things we can do. I've taken all the on
line classes, made A's in all of them, bought and studied every tape and cd available and all I know is a bunch of words and couldn't carry on a conversation with someone who
is fluent in the language. The Thornton group is the best
way for the Cherokee people to bring their language back to
all those who care about their culture. I was a senior research scientist for NASA and was on a team who picked
landing sites for the Apollo lunar landings, so I'm not some
dimwit. Let's do something to make this system available to us at a reasonable price. Maybe the Nation needs to visit its own site and hear what its members are saying.
wado,
whitestone |
| ldpearl47 |
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| 8/11/2009 |
The article is about Cherokee iPod but everyone is commenting about the video game so I will too!
I'm a CN member in California and have followed the whole RezWorld thing since I heard about it. I think our tribe should make the game for all of us. My son hates school but he doesn't mind sitting in front of a computer for hours playing those games. He might as well be improving himself while he's doing it and learn some Cherokee. |
| chris.williams810 |
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| 8/11/2009 |
I want to comment about the Cherokee online classes, I am Cherokee who has taken the classes with Mr. Fields and I want you to know that I am very glad for these classes. My mom was Cherokee and she never taught us the language . These classes has enable me to learn my native language. Not everyone who takes the classes are WANNABES, some are Cherokees who wish to learn about thier history and language. Wado to the Cherokee natio and Mr. Fields for this classes.
Patricia, Totsuwa. |
| p.dinkins |
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| 8/12/2009 |
I usually don't come to Cherokee Phoenix site, the IndianCountryToday website link to this story. I'm from a tribe with no casino funding. When I read how CN members feel "sick and disgusted" about how their own tribal leaders spend the tribe's casino funds, I feel my tribe is lucky. We don't have any resources but we do everything we can to bring the language back. If we have $200 million our leaders will definitely spend it on our language and culture first. James.SD |
| fkoladas |
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| 8/12/2009 |
The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council and our Chief only have themselves to blame for all this mess. Lets NOT make the same mistakes that have been made in the past. The Online Cherokee Language classes were SUPPOSE to be first and foremost for CHEROKEE CITIZENS. Not just for anyone with a Cherokee Princess in the family. From what I see, most of the people taking the classes are NOT Cherokee Citizens, NOR are they members of the UKB or Eastern Band.
The Cherokee Nation needs to get its act together and stop catering to non Cherokee Citizens. Like that guy from that bogus State Recognized Tribe a few months ago demanding that his kid be able to attend and stay in the Immersion school. If the Cherokee Nation does fund this Itunes application and/or the Rez World game. Lets make SURE that it will ONLY benefit Cherokee Citizens. Our Cherokee Culture and Heritage has alreadly been misapropriated and stolen enough as it is already. Lets not make things worse then they already are! |
| mfields2009 |
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| 8/12/2009 |
Hello, Thank you all for your comments.
A note from Thornton Media: We hold Cherokee experts Mr. Fields and Mr. Hider in the highest regard. Our products are meant to enhance, not replace, existing language programs. Please do not disparage the work of our hardworking Cherokee speaking experts. |
| ndnlanguage |
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| 8/12/2009 |
This is an idea whose time has come.
Now, to make this complete Culture lessons need to added in. No matter the language you study, if you do not understand the Culture from which it comes, you will never fully understand the language or the people.
Our Culture is being lost as fast out languages and it needs to be preserved TODAY!
Young people--get recorders, pen & paper and go LISTEN to the Old Ones. |
| WaccamawWoman |
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| 8/13/2009 |
Another problem, is that it seems like in the Cherokee Nation Education Department, there are too many big egos and some people in charge there are ignorant about modern language theory and how to build language proficiency. ( I do give them credit though for the Immersion Program, and they have developed at least a few halfway decent computer programs lately). But that’s about it.
There seem to be too many old fashioned players there that are still relying on language learning methods from the 1950's. We’re in the 21st century people. My generation was brought up with computers and IPods. No one I know in their 20s and 30s is going to sit down with BORING Cherokee Language repetition drills which are some of the current methods . At least the Itunes material and the Rez World Game make learning Cherokee more fun and less boring for some of us younger Cherokees.
I’ve got one of the Cherokee language learning books that the Education Department put out. Its basically a bunch of random Cherokee words and expressions. ( No pictures and NOTHING is put into context).
The Audio-lingual method based on behaviorist theories by B.F. Skinner (learning random words and expressions through memorization without any thought of how they are put together and not put into context) , is outdated,... just like some people in our Education Department are outdated.
Sam Hider and Ed Fields should be commended for their work with the Cherokee Language and they will always be in my book, the great pioneers of Cherokee Language learning. However, we are in the 21st century and its time to move on. If some of that Casino money ISN’T used to bring back our Language for most of us that AREN’T in immersion school, and whose parents DIDN’T speak Cherokee to us, then we just gonna be ( like the other guy said), a bunch of heritage Cherokees with CDIB cards to go to the local IHS clinic and receive free stuff like scholarships. And that’s how the US Government is going to look at us if we DON’T get our act together quickly. And then we won’t have Casino Money PERIOD! |
| mfields2009 |
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| 8/13/2009 |
Thank you, Cherokee Phoenix for this amazing story!
We too, downloaded the itunes application and are learning Cherokee.
What a great concept!
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| QUOYASMOM |
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| 8/15/2009 |
I read this article on digg.com. Pretty cool to use modern devices to revive ancient languages. Judging by the comments some Indians are mad about the language situation. Hope you are successful, it's a beautiful language. Good luck to all! |
| dingleballs |
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| 8/18/2009 |
Phoenix readers,
I am writing a follow-up to this month's language revitalization story. The story will explain the reason Cherokee Nation passed on Thornton Media's program your comments would be very useful.
If anyone is interested in being interviewed or using comments similar to the ones above, please contact me at (918)453-5560 or email me at jami-custer@cherokee.org with your contact information.
Thank you to all of those who commented on the story posted above.
All my best,
Jami |
| jami-custer |
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| 8/18/2009 |
Can this be downloaded to the pc with windows media w/sync and then played on the computer, or, does one need and ipod? |
| nrmmj |
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| 8/18/2009 |
I bought the app, and it's great. Compared to other available language learning items, $9.99 is a great value, especially with all the audo. There's only so much you can learn from a book, so having the audio for all the words and phrases in this app is wonderful. It's also helpful that many of the entries have both the Cherokee script and the pronunciation guide. The syllabary guide is helpful for when you can't remember a specific syllabary character.
In addition to the simple numbers, colors, days of the week, etc., there are also phrases. I especially like the "Kids Phrases," some of which are quite funny. And when learning is fun, you're more likely to learn.
Wa'do Thornton Media! |
| heszy |
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| 8/21/2009 |
I just read this story a couple of days ago and would like to comment. I’ve been following the story of the Rez World video game for about a year now. I first learned about it in Indian Country Today. I knew right then and there after reading the story that this game would be an excellent tool to assist in learning the Cherokee language. I have tried many methods in the past to learn Cherokee yet I am unable to hold a basic conversation in the language.
Before I even read the story, I always thought that some kind of a virtual reality game would be the next technological breakthrough for language learning. This technology is already used by the US military. I’m a citizen of the Cherokee Nation that doesn’t live in Oklahoma. So my access to Native speakers is extremely limited. I don’t think the Rez World game will or should ever replace Native Cherokee speakers. However, not all Cherokee citizens have everyday access to Native speakers.
I appreciate many of the things the Cherokee Nation has done already with the Cherokee language, such as with the online language classes and the language material on the website. The Rez World game is just an extra learning tool, and a very good one at that.
When learning a language, it is extremely difficult to learn, without fluent speakers around to practice the language with. This game can be thought of as a sort of immersion in the Cherokee languagaae (although a virtual one), and it will give us some fundamentals in the language that some of us lack.
The game puts the language to use in real world simulated situations. The ITunes application is also a great idea. No one is going to carry Cherokee language books around during the day. IPods and IPhones gives us access to the Cherokee language at our fingertips.
I don’t want the game for free from the Cherokee Nation. I just want to ability to purchase the game. The Rez World game gives us a great opportunity to learn Cherokee and the game assist us in taking the next step in doing so. It would be a shame to see money and politics get in the way of a great technological breakthrough to learn the Cherokee language.
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| lighting7512 |
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| 8/24/2009 |
'Siyo nigadv, this looks like a helpful resource. And it will add well to others available through the Nation, like the language classes, word lists, and interactive games. There are also some terrific works sponsored by the nation here:
http://www.blackgummountain.com/Blackgum_Mountain.html
I've been working on a book about the Cherokee syllabary trying to trace how it works in script, print, and digital forms. Hope to have it to publishers by October 1. Here's hoping that all these efforts help citizens like us growing up away from speakers become more fluent.
On a different note, has anyone seen this report from the Nation about where the casino monies go?
http://www.cherokee.org/docs/PublicNotices/09_CNE_WTMG_final.pdf
Salol in Michigan |
| Salol |
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