Chickasaw Basic Language

The Chickasaw language is a vital part of our culture, history, and identity. It makes us uniquely Chickasaw. Today, there are fewer than forty fluent speakers of the Chickasaw language. A majority of these speakers are part of the Chickasaw Language Committee that meets in Ada, Oklahoma. They help keep the Chickasaw language alive by serving as consultants and teachers. Chickasaw Basic Language: Workbook III is a continuation of Workbook II. Students can expect to progress in their understanding of Chickasaw vocabulary and grammar structure. It includes five chapters complete with vocabulary, quizzes, and tests. The text embraces two ways of writing Chickasaw words: the Jesse and Vinnie May Humes spelling, and the Pam Munro and Catherine Willmond spelling. While the spellings are sometimes different, the meanings are the same, and neither system is preferred over the other. Michelle Cooke serves as a senior producer of content editing for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Culture and Humanities. She has a master's degree in English and has been writing about, teaching, and researching Chickasaw history since 2007. The Chickasaw Language Committee was formed in the early 1990s by Governor Bill Anoatubby, and its members are appointed to their positions. This dedicated group of fluent speakers works together to preserve and share the Chickasaw language for generations to come.