We also believe that we must do everything we can as a Nation to provide them with the tools and resources necessary so that they can learn, grow, and teach our language for generations to come. We believe the future of our language lies with the strength of our children and their passion for carrying it forward. Although, there is a significant body of archived material available, there is no existing digital database by which to access and utilize or expand. Proper equipment, personnel, and expertise in this type of field is a must. The majority operate using their own personal resources.Īt this time, one of the top priorities is to accurately document the last of our first language speakers. There are less than 10 speakers that are either teaching and/or working in the community. As of today, we are losing the last remaining elder speakers at an alarming rate. It has been known for some time now that our Language has been in a state of emergency. We, as Comanches, are descended from one of the most powerful tribes on the southern plains. It is the voice of our true identity, ceremonies, stories, songs, and history. Two faculty members from Comanche Nation College and Texas Tech University worked with tribal elders to create a digital archive of whats left of the language. Language is at the center of our existence as Comanches. A two-year tribal college in Lawton, Okla., is using technology to reinvigorate the Comanche language before it dies out. Why is it important for us to have a language department? We must do something to revitalize our language before we reach the level of extinct! The Comanche language is somewhere between severely endangered and critically endangered. Army marched down abandoned roads, past burned-out villages and through deserted ghost towns littered with corpses rotting in the sun. Severely endangered - language is spoken by grandparents and older generations while the parent generation may understand it, they do not speak it to children or among themselvesĬritically endangered - the youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently Vulnerable - most children speak the language, but it may be restricted to certain domains (e.g., home)ĭefinitely endangered - children no longer learn the language as a 'mother tongue' in the home UNESCO provide a classification system to show just how 'in trouble' the language is: See also 'Comanche' and 'Indians: Texas' in the Reference Files list. To get to the bottom of this we turned to United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who regularly publish a list of endangered languages. Contact Information: Reference Department, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library. The Condition of the Comanche Language according to UNESCO The Comanche language is a member of the Central Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family.
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