The isolation that contributed to the formation of some mountain dialects
also helped Native Americans preserve their heritage in the rising tide of European culture.
Gadagwahl degvd degvsgvyu, [English: "I use that clay and really work it,
tsulasg nigvgv. to make a pot"]
My name name in Cherokee language is
Maga uwodigei, ale osigwu nagwadvhnadegv. [English: "Mark Brown, and I'm doing alright"]
I'm alright.
Nole nigohilv digilvwisdane gehv. [English: "And I used to work all the time."]
I worked all the time.
And that's Cherokee language.
Siyo, osigwutsu? [English: "Hi, are you doing alright?
Taline denadagohv We'll see each other again."]
See you again.
My youngest one, that's all he knew when he first talked was Cherokee and he picked up
English from these other kids before he even started school.
I speak all the time, I don't care if they didn't understand me, I'd get after them if
speak in English.
I said I always tell them, I speak in Cherokee.
Well, I use Cherokee any time I'm talking to a Cherokee.
It don't matter where it's at.
I'd rather talk Cherokee than English.
Me and my grandchildren, I'd talk to them in Cherokee and I named them with Cherokee
names myself so I can call them.
They named these babies so hard names, I ain't never heard in my life.
I can't say their names so I just named them myself an Indian name.
Well that's the way it was in the way long time ago they had to name them an Indian name.
Now they don't even know what their Indian name is.
