A serious Question.......

the kilted one

but didn't want to take it to "On Topic" 'cause it's really about me getting some information, not trying to start an argument.

I heard a representative from the Reservation where the school shooting occurred this week. I noticed in her speech something that indicated english may not be her first language. So out of my extreme ignorance of life on the reservation (with no reservations around us here), are native languages being spoken on reservations? or am I hearing a local dialect, much like a southern drawl, or Pittsburghese, or Boston accent?

Member

probabbly a dialect - few of the indians I knew ( Wisconsin) could speak the 'old' language

Hipster Doofus

There doesn't appear to be a foreign (i.e., European) influence... here's their history from the tribal council itself.

The Movie Geek

I'd vote for Accent/Dialect. Especially since jrjo said it is a "closed" community, which means that if they keep to themselves more they are more likely to have developed such an accent.

Flailing Homosapiens

Accent/Dialect.

I have a friend who is a member of the Sioux Nation. They are only a few generations removed from their native tongues and it's about family. You speak like mom and dad and grandmother.

I'm from Maine but I don't have a Maine accent because Mom and grandma are from Illinois.

Gone Fishin

Since it's nearly my backyard, I'll chime in. The old language is used mostly for special occasions. Yes, Indians still hold pow-wows and have celebratory times to keep alive the culture. I've attended one and it is really interesting. Much of the ceremonial parts are conducted in the native language. Aside from that, day-to-day conversation is in English. There are probably only handfuls of people in each tribe capable of fully conversing in the old language.

It's a bit of shame really. The local colleges do have the occasional course, as do summer school short courses at the high school, community education and such, but it's mostly introductory level stuff.

What you're probably picking up on is like WTTR says is the dialect. Most Indians are no different than the rest of us and mix in some of the language from their heritage to spice it up, but otherwise, it's a drawl of sorts. It would make an interesting study. Being a rather closed/isolated community, the dialect/drawl is probably little changed over the last hundred years.

Member

One of the highschools in my home town offered Ojibwe as language course. The school had a large Ojibwe population as there was a reserve nearby. Most people living on the reserve spoke English as a first language though.

I heard some of the interviews with the native people involved in that shooting. Their accent sounded kind of like a mix between North Dakota (reference the movie Fargo for a sample) and a lot of the native kids I knew growing up.

A lot of rural Canadians have a really similar accent to folks from Minnesoata/North Dakota.

Gone Fishin

Hipster Doofus

my boys could swim

Well, hey something coach knows something about!

Since I live only 20 miles from a reservation, and teach numerous students from there, my wife is 1/4 Lakota...Her Grandfather is full, and spent my first two years teaching on the reservation, it's like this...

They, for the most part, speak English. There are some who do speak their Native language, but it's really no one's primary tongue(there might be a few).

They do have a certain dialect, though...that is different. This is for the Native Americans that I am near, I can't speak for all of them.

For instance they say "Init" Which basically means "Right?"
example, "I saw him on tv, init?

Also, "Were?" which means "What are you talking about? or Are you kidding? You talk about something, and they'll respond "Were?"

There are many other different things...the Lakota here, instead of a "boogie man" talk about the "Geechie man"

And, the way they speak, has a little different rhythm to it. They can say the same thing as a white person, but it comes out a little differently. The Lakota language is very, different, and that is probably why.

I've seen at least 10 Pow-wows (we go at least once every year to one) and it's really a neat thing.

Puppy Love!

I have no idea. Interesting question, though.

the kilted one

thanks everyone. I think it must be the combination of the dialect and the rhythm of their speech that had me wondering. I appreciate the input.

A serious Question.......

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