h1>Chickasaw (Chikasha)
Chickasaw is a Western Muskogean language spoken by about 1,000 people
mainly in Oklahoma. The majority of the speakers are over 50 years old:
the younger generation are drifting towards English. Despite the similarities
between Choctaw and Chickasaw, most Choctaw speakers find the latter
unintelligible.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Chickasaw was used as a lingua franca
among all the tribes of the lower Mississippi river. The Chickasaw were one
of the five Civilized Tribes forcibly removed to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
in the 1830s. The other Civilized Tribes are the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole.
Chickasaw pronunciation
Sample text in Chickasaw
Himmaka’ nittakookano hattak yokasht toksalicha’nikat ki’yo. Hattak
mómakat ittíllawwi bíyyi’kacha nanna
mómaka ittibaachaffa’hitok.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Links
Information about the Chickasaw language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickasaw_language
http://www.native-languages.org/chickasaw.htm
The Official Site of the Chickasaw Nation
http://www.chickasaw.net
Chickasaw History – history of the Chickasaw
http://www.tolatsga.org/chick.html
Chickasaw Historical Documents
http://www.chickasaw.biz