How Globalization Affects The Cherokee Language? – Language Shift And Dialects

With the presence of thousands of languages and millions of people that speak those languages, there is always a threat to languages that have less number of speakers. There is a term, resilience linguistic. This branch of linguistics deals with the challenges that languages face and measures that should be taken to save those languages from extinction. One of the most common reasons why languages go extinct is that, with the passage of time, their speakers either die or stop speaking their language because of a variety of factors.

This short read immerses in the Cherokee language which has just 376,000 speakers globally. We also talk about the language shift which is the reason that you will find fewer people speaking Cherokee, today. This read also explains the role of Cherokee translation services in raising awareness about the Cherokee culture that brings people’s attention toward this near-to-extinction language.

The Cherokee Language and Its Speakers

As mentioned earlier, Cherokee has just 376,000 speakers in the whole world. There was a time when Cherokee speakers were just present in North Carolina but today you will find them in different parts of the world among which Canada is the most famous one. This is why you will find French Canadian translation services that translate French Canadian to Cherokee for the Cherokee-speaking community.

Also known as Tsalag, Cherokee is an endangered Iroquoian language. According to the 2018-2019 census, there are only 1520 to 2100 Cherokee speakers. However, the number has increased in 2023 because of the addition of non-native Cherokee speakers. There is an estimate that almost eight fluent Cherokee speakers die every month, resulting in the decline of fluent Cherokee speakers with every passing day.

The Current Residence of the Cherokee Speakers

The majority of Cherokee speakers live in the US state of Oklahoma. Other than Oklahoma, Cherokee speakers also live in Canada. The role of Cherokee dialects is also one of the reasons why they are more in number in Oklahoma. There are three dialects of Cherokee, Overhill, Lower, and Middle. The Overhill dialect is almost extinct with just a few speakers in the South Carolina-Georgia border.

Impact of Globalization on the Cherokee Language

Globalization has both positive as well as negative changes on the already declining Cherokee language. It brings us together with the ease of communication. However, it is because of globalization that the number of speakers of one language increase while the number of speakers of the other language decline.

There are multiple factors that play a major role in either making a language global or leading it toward extinction. For example, it is an uncommon perception that English is going extinct because it’s not. Major businesses and brands are English ones. The English media industry keeps on producing exceptional movies that won’t let this language die.

On the other hand, if we compare Cherokee with English, one would say that there is no comparison at all. There are only a few lacs of Cherokee speakers among which some are going through a language shift and adapting to other languages in their daily lives. 

Role of Digital Platforms and Tools

Digital platforms play a crucial role in enhancing the importance of the Cherokee language. These platforms help in learning a language online and provide activities where a community can engage. On the other hand, professional Cherokee translation services translate the Cherokee literature into other languages to capture the interest of the target audience. This step helps in the preservation of the Cherokee language.

Is Cherokee in Danger Because of Language Shift?

One of the main reasons for the language shift in the Cherokee language is because of where its speakers live. As there is quite a majority of Cherokee speakers in Canada, they are influenced by French Canadian speakers. There are almost seven million French Canadian speakers in Quebec City that have a direct influence on the Cherokee speakers. With the integration of professional French Canadian translation services, it has become easier for Cherokee speakers to understand the French Canadian culture and language.

Inculcation of Cultures in Different Ways of Live

Cherokee speakers are concerned about their endangered language. With this threat, Cherokee speakers are inculcating the Cherokee cultural events and norms into their daily lives. For example, native Cherokee speakers celebrate the Green Corn Ceremony in the late summer for the first harvest of corn. However, native Cherokee speakers start the celebration of this festival very early which consists of feasting, dancing, and making important decisions for the next harvest.

Final Words!

Globalization is important for languages as it either brings them forward or leads them toward language death. Cherokee is a language with a smaller number of speakers. Language shift is the reason that Cherokee speakers are learning other languages hence a decline in a number of Cherokee speakers. Online platforms make it easier for Cherokee speakers around the world to connect as well as for non-Cherokee speakers to learn Cherokee.