A question I often encountered in college from my peers whose parents spoke minimal English was, “How do I explain to my parents that chemistry is what I am studying?” Or physics? Geology? What about neuroscience?
For chemistry, say, “Mom, Dad, I am studying how things stay together or fall apart.” For physics, say, “I am studying that which we cannot see; sometimes that is looking to the sky; sometimes it is looking to the sea… it’s just a lot of looking and thinking, Mom.”
How does one come up with a word for, say, “computer” in a language in which the word did not originate and without corrupting the original word or meaning? Do I join the words “metal” and “brain” to make “computer”? For the noun “email,” is it “air+letter”?
What is integral to any language revitalization discussion is the topic of language creation. To prevent a language from being a study-only, unspoken language—e.g. Attic Greek—it must remain relevant via the creation of new words. And, with the future in mind, it must be taught to young children. It is no surprise, then, that many language revitalization initiatives begin with children’s books.
Earlier this month, EarlyLight Books, publisher of science books for children (and adults), in collaboration with the Western Carolina University Cherokee Language Program, released its Cherokee language version of Beth Fielding’s book Animal Colors. The Cherokee language version is translated and edited by WCU Cherokee Language Program staff Hartwell Francis and Tom Belt, and it will serve as curriculum material for children in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian’s language immersion program.
Animal Colors is a visually captivating book about animals from around the world and includes factual information about each animal’s habitat, diet, and behavior.
Books of this nature come about through a long and painstaking process because words sometimes don’t exist for the subject matter being covered. Though it is a small book of just 24 pages, it is a triumphant step for the teaching of Cherokee (and a little bit of science) to young generations.
How does one say “I am a zoologist” in Cherokee?