Computers keep ancient Native language alive (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Computers keep ancient Native language alive

Monday, February 14, 2005 - by Dan Fiorucci
[article contains video]
http://www.ktuu.com/CMS/templates/master.asp?articleid=11669&zoneid=4

Chickaloon, Alaska - A last-ditch effort is underway to save one of
Alaska’s most-ancient dialects. That dialect is “Ahtna-Athabascan” and
its roots go back to a people who lived here even before the Eskimos.

The rescue effort comes at a time when perhaps just 100 Natives speak
the dialect. The great irony is that the ancient language is being
preserved by one of the most modern devices -- the computer.

For an English speaker, Athabascan words are not easy to learn. But a
computer database is helping make sure the newest generation of what is
perhaps Alaska’s oldest culture keeps the words of their ancestors
alive.

Inside the Native center in Chickaloon, the familiar sounds of English
are being replaced by the sounds of what had been a dying language.
That language, Ahtna-Athabascan, has roots going back thousands of
years.

But it was nearly extinguished over the course of the last century when
white settlers in Alaska forbade young Athabascans from speaking it in
school.

“I was raised in a Catholic school so I was not allowed to speak my
language,” says one.

Now modern computers are helping revive the ancient dialect, allowing
students to see the alphabet of the Ahtna-Athabascan language at the
same time they hear Native voices speak it.

“We're gonna pass around CD's for each of you to try,” says the
instructor.

Those struggling to learn the language say this is a big breakthrough.

“It’s very helpful because my grandma is the one that's teaching
everybody all this language,” says a woman. “And you can only ask her
so much before she runs out of patience!”

Meanwhile, Athabascan elders have a twinkle in their eye as they watch
the newest generation of their people master the language of their
great-grandparents.

“Amazing, they pick it up pretty good,” says Athabascan elder Albert
Harrison.

Mary Steehan tries out her new skill in the dialect. “That means,
‘Hello, my name is Mary.’”

Now the Ahtna-Athabascan dialect is in the hands and minds of
8-year-olds -- the safest place it could possibly be.

"Chah-BELL-ee."
"What's that?"
"Spruce tree!"

The youngsters and a dozen or so adults will be spending the next eight
months learning basic Athabascan. It will be a challenge keeping the
language alive, but at least now a formal effort is being made to
preserve some part of this ancient dialect.

The people of the Chickaloon and Sutton area were determined not to let
the language die without a fight. For years they’ve been applying for
government grants. This year, those grants came through, as did
teaching assistance from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

There are 6,000 languages in the world today, and they’re disappearing
at an alarming rate. The hope is that Ahtna-Athabascan won’t be among
the casualties, but it’s a tough fight.