Book Coming Out

[Andre Cramblit]

Forthcoming book of interest:

Beginning Creek: Mvskoke Emponvkv
by Linda Alexander, Bertha Tilkens, Pamela Joan Innes

List Price:   $29.95

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd); Book and CD edition (May 2004)
ISBN: 0806135832

Book Description:

Beginning Creek provides a basic introduction to the language and
culture of the Mvskoke-speaking peoples, Muskogee (Creek) and
Seminole Indians. Written by linguistic anthropologist Pamela Innes
and native speakers Linda Alexander and Bertha Tilkens, the text is
accessible to general readers and students and is accompanied by two
compact discs.

The volume begins with an introduction to Creek history and
language, and then each chapter introduces readers to a new
grammatical feature, vocabulary set, and series of conversational
sentences. Translation exercises from English to Mvskoke and Mvskoke
to English reinforce new words and concepts. The chapters conclude
with brief essays by Linda Alexander and Bertha Tilkens on Creek
culture and history and suggestions for further reading.

The two audio CDs present examples of ceremonial speech, songs, and
storytelling and include pronunciations of Mvskoke language keyed to
exercises and vocabulary lists in the book. The combination of
recorded and written material gives students a chance to learn and
practice Mvskoke as an oral and written language.

Although Mvskoke speakers include the Muskogee (Creek) and Seminole
Nations of Oklahoma, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama,
and some Florida Seminoles, the number of native speakers of Mvskoke
has declined. Because the authors believe that language and culture
are inextricably linked, they have combined their years of
experience speaking and teaching Mvskoke to design an introductory
textbook to help Creek speakers preserve their traditional language
and way of life.



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André Cramblit: andre.p.cramblit.86 at alum.dartmouth.org is the Operations
Director Northern California Indian Development Council NCIDC
(http://www.ncidc.org) is a non-profit that meets the development needs
of American Indians

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