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  • UCLA Linguistics professor Pamela Munro (left) and Chickasaw native speaker Catherine Willmond were recently in Ada to celebrate the publication of the first textbook of the Chickasaw language. The two authored the text after more than 25 years of research.

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September 3, 2009

First Chickasaw language textbook published

ADA — Dozens of people eager to learn the Chickasaw language had the opportunity to meet the authors of the first Chickasaw language textbook at a book signing Aug. 28 at Chickasaw Nation Headquarters in Ada.

“Publication of this text is an important step in our language revitalization efforts,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby.

“Equally important is the high level of interest and enthusiasm Chickasaw people have for recapturing this vital part of our heritage and culture.”

The University of Oklahoma Press recently published “Let's Speak Chickasaw: Chickasaw: Chikashshanompa’ Kilanompoli’,” by authors Pamela Munro, UCLA Linguistics professor and Catherine Willmond, native speaker. Both were on hand to celebrate the publication and to present “Chickasaw: The W.B.L. (The World’s Best Language),” a lecture on the uniqueness of the Chickasaw language.

“I love Chickasaw,” Munro said. “It is a language that continually impresses linguists and I’m very proud to have helped develop a resource for more people to learn about it.”

Joshua Hinson, cultural education and outreach director for the Chickasaw Language Revitalization program, hopes that the book will help create not only fluent speakers but also fluent writers and readers.

“It will provide a thorough grounding in reading, writing and speaking Chickasaw and will be a valuable tool that describes the detail and intricacies of a very complicated language,” he said.

The content is based on Munro’s work with Willmond and their numerous trips to Oklahoma to visit with more than 50 Chickasaw native speakers.

The textbook is the second collaborative work by the authors; the first, “Chickasaw: An Analytical Dictionary,” was published in 1994.

“Let’s Speak Chickasaw” treats the Chickasaw language as a living thing, not a historical artifact.

“Hopefully, this will help bring back competence in this beautiful language, which is now sadly endangered,” Munro said.

Designed for Chickasaw students from beginner to intermediate, the text covers pronunciation, word building, structure and usage.

It also contains “Beyond the Grammar” sections that offer insight into the history of the language and a CD to convey fine points of pronunciation.

Each of the 20 units includes dialogues or readings that reflect language use by native speakers.

These sections are meant to enhance students’ understanding of how words and sentences are put together.

Classroom tested for 14 years, “Let’s Speak Chickasaw” will now be the centerpiece of Chickasaw language courses.

A limited number of copies of the text will be available through the Chickasaw Press. For more information, phone (580) 559-0547.

The book is also available through the University of Oklahoma Press.

To purchase, visit www.oupress.com.

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