Reading and Writing Lakota Language
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Book Overview
Based on extensive research and pedagogy on the Rosebud Reservation, this elementary grammar of Lakota, one of the three languages spoken by the Sioux nation, is the first written by a native Lakota speaker. It presents the Sicangu dialect using an orthography developed by Lakota in 1982 and which is now supplanting older systems provided by linguists and missionaries. This new approach represents a powerful act of self-determination for Indian education. Though Reading and Writing the Lakota Language is thorough in its inclusion of conjugation, syntax, and sentence, it emphasizes vocabulary and pronunciation. Author Albert White Hat Sr. presents Lakota philosophy as it applies to specific grammar lessons. Moreover, he documents the impact of the acculturation process on the language, showing how Lakota evolved as a result of non-Indian influences. The textual example offers new information and interpretation of Lakota society, even to scholars who specialize n Plains cultures. Beyond language instruction, readers will value the book for its cultural insights, humorous stories, and its entertaining tone.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0874805724
ISBN13:9780874805727
Release Date:February 1999
Publisher:University of Utah Press
Length:240 Pages
Weight:1.15 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 7.0" x 10.1"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Reading and Writing the Lakota Language Book on CD
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
The book and CD in combination is an excellent way to try to learn. Lakota is a very beautiful, yet complicated language. While I don't expect to become totally proficient without a live teacher, this gives a very good background for learning dos and don'ts and offers excellent practice in pronounciation.
An uncommon language lesson
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
From the start, Albert White Hat makes it clear that learning Lakota is more than just a linguistic exercise. As he writes in his introduction: "When we teach a language to a student, we should develop in that student another heart and another mind." And indeed, these are lessons in Lakota culture from the ground up, introducing the Lakota heart and mind through their expression in basic grammatical relations. And from the very beginning, White Hat makes it a compelling journey.
Learning from our Elders
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
These lessons are the most "user-friendly" that I have seen for home study. The only real drawback that I found was that I had to wait the extra few days for the delivery of the accompanying cassettes, because the cassettes and the text are sold separately. These should be packaged together. Even if you only anticipate learning to read and write Lakota, knowing the sounds unique to the Lakota language are essential to grasping the meaning of the written word. The author tells us, "Lakota must be written based on sound." Make sure you order the cassettes and the book!
Extremely useful for the study of Lakota Language
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I have spent a great deal of time out west and studied the Lakota Language. As a teacher back east, I run a Native American club and I am interested in teaching people back east the richness of the Lakota language. This book is the best. A rare and wonderful insight into language, culture and spirituality. Pilamayeyelo!
Surpasses any other text on Lakota Language! Excellent!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I was involved in using this text from the very beginning. Mr. White Hat presented a workshop on how to teach Lakota Language, which I attended. He gave each of the Lakota Language Instructors present a copy of this text to use in their classes. If it were not for this text, I would not have stayed in the field of teaching this long (5 years). It is an excellent resource for teaching Lakota Language which I highly recommend. Pilamayaye ksto. (Thank you).
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