Skip Navigation

Native American Languages

Skip Side Navigation

Native American Languages at OU

The University of Oklahoma is honored to serve as a place where Indigenous languages are celebrated and revitalized.  Our language faculty are both native and second-language speakers who have training in linguistics.

The language courses combine lessons in the grammar of the language with vocabulary lessons and supplementary material and activities designed to situate language learning in cultural and historical context. Considerable class time is spent on conversation, but students also learn to read and write in the language.

Our language courses satisfy both College of Arts & Sciences and University language proficiency requirements.

 

 

NAS Language Faculty


Christine ArmerĀ 
Instructor
Cherokee Language

Copeland Hall 213
405-325-2312
carmer@ou.edu

View Profile


Patrick Del Percio
Instructor
Cherokee Language

Copeland Hall 332
405-325-2312
pdelpercio@ou.edu

View Profile

Melanie Frye

Melanie Frye
Instructor
Creek Language

Copeland Hall 332
405-325-2312
mfrye@ou.edu

View Profile

Freddie Lewis

Freddie Lewis
Instructor
Choctaw Language

Copeland Hal 336
405-325-2312
flewis@ou.edu

View Profile


Dane Poolaw
Instructor
Kiowa Language

Copeland Hall 332
405-325-2312
dpoolaw@ou.edu

View Profile

Martha Poolaw

Martha Poolaw
Instructor
Kiowa Language

Copeland Hall 212
405-325-2312
martha.n.poolaw-1@ou.edu

View Profile

Language Courses

CHER 1715 Beginning Cherokee (5 Credit Hours)
Introduction to the structure of the Cherokee language with special attention to its phonology, morphology, and syntax. Conversational practice, vocabulary-building, and the history and culture of the native speech community also are emphasized. (F, Sp) [I-FL].

CHER 1725 Beginning Cherokee, Cont. (5 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1715. A continuation of the study of the structure of the Cherokee language with special attention to its phonology, morphology, and syntax. Conversational practice, vocabulary-building, and the history and culture of the native speech community are emphasized. (Sp) [I-FL].

CHER 2733 Intermediate Cherokee (3 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1723. A systematic review of the structure of the Cherokee language. Syntactic control and vocabulary expansion are emphasized. Conversational practice and traditional oral texts are used to develop proficiency. (F)

CHOC 1715 Beginning Choctaw (5 Credit Hours)
Introduction to the structure of the Choctaw language with special attention to its phonology, morphology, and syntax. Conversational practice, vocabulary-building, and the history and culture of the native speech community also are emphasized. (F, Sp) [I-FL].

CHOC 1725 Beginning Choctaw, Cont. (5 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1715. A continuation of the study of the structure of the Choctaw language with special attention to its phonology, morphology, and syntax. Conversational practice, vocabulary-building, and the history and culture of the native speech community are emphasized. (Sp) [I-FL].

CHOC 2733 Intermediate Choctaw (3 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1723. A systematic review of the structure of the Choctaw language. Syntactic control and vocabulary expansion are emphasized. Conversational practice and traditional oral texts are used to develop proficiency. (F)

CREK 1715 Beginning Creek (5 Credit Hours)
Introduction to the structure of the Creek/Seminole language with special attention to its phonology, morphology, and syntax. Conversational practice, vocabulary-building, and the history and culture of the native speech community also are emphasized. (F, Sp) [I-FL] .

CREK 1725 Beginning Creek, Cont. (5 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1725. A systematic review of the structure of the Creek/Seminole language. Syntactic control and vocabulary expansion are emphasized. Conversational practice and traditional oral texts are used to develop proficiency. (F).

CREK 2733 Intermediate Creek (3 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1725. A systematic review of the structure of the Creek/Seminole language. Syntactic control and vocabulary expansion are emphasized. Conversational practice and traditional oral texts are used to develop proficiency. (F).

KIOW 1715 Beginning Kiowa (5 Credit Hours)
Introduction to the structure of the Kiowa language with special attention to its phonology, morphology, and syntax. Conversational practice, vocabulary-building, and the history and culture of the native speech community also are emphasized. (F, Sp)[I-FL].

KIOW 1725 Beginning Kiowa, Cont. (5 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: KIOW 1715 or permission of the department or instructor. A continuation of KIOW 1715. The students will build upon their prior knowledge of symbols, diacritic marks, sounds and tones necessary to read, write, speak and comprehend Beginning Kiowa with a predetermined set of vocabulary, sentences, and basic conversation. (F, Sp)[I-FL].

KIOW 2733 Intermediate Kiowa (3 Credit Hours)
Prerequisite: 1723. A systematic review of the structure of the Kiowa language. Syntactic control and vocabulary expansion are emphasized. Conversational practice and traditional oral texts are used to develop proficiency. (F)

Sam Noble Museum - Native American Languages Collection

The Native American Languages Collection at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History contains professional audio and video recording equipment that is freely available to NAS students, faculty, staff, affiliates, and community members for any projects that involve language and culture documentation.