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Native American Languages

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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.

Course Descriptions

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)

Course Schedule

This schedule may not be current if recent changes have been made to the course schedule in One. Email us at nas@ou.edu or call 405-325-2312 with any questions.

All courses offered in-person unless otherwise marked as WEB (asynchronous) or SYNC (synchronous/Zoom).

Course numbersTitle InstructorBlockDay/Time/Delivery
CHOC
2733-100
 
Intermediate ChoctawFreddie LewisMay
5/15/2023 - 6/9/2023
MWTRF
10:30 am - 12:45 pm
SYNC
CHOC
1725-001
Beginning Choctaw, Cont.Freddie Lewis1st Full Term
5/15/2023 - 7/07/2023
MWTRF
1:00 pm - 2:50 pm
SYNC
CREK
1715-001
Beginning Creek/SeminoleMelanie Frye2nd Full Term
6/12/2023 - 8/4/2023
MWTRF
10:30 am - 12:20 pm
SYNC
KIOW
1725-001
Beginning Kiow, Cont.Dane Poolaw2nd Full Term
6/12/2023 - 8/4/2023
MWTRF
10:30 am -  12:20 pm
SYNC
KIOW
1715-001
Beginning KiowaDane Poolaw2nd Full Term
6/12/2023 - 8/4/2023
MWTRF
1:00 pm - 2:50 pm
SYNC

*Courses are still being added for fall. We anticipate adding more sections of CHER 1715, 1725 and 2733 in the near future.

Course numbersTitle InstructorDay/Time/Delivery
CHER
1715-001
Beginning CherokeeChristine ArmerMWTRF
10:30 am - 11:20 am
CHER
1725-001
Beginning Cherokee, cont.Christine ArmerMTWRF
9:30 am - 10:20 am
CHER
2733-001
Intermediate CherokeeChristine ArmerMWF
11:30 am - 12:20 pm
CHOC
1715-001
Beginning ChoctawFreddie LewisMTWRF
11:30 am - 12:20 pm
CHOC
1725-001
Beginning Choctaw, contFreddie LewisMTWRF
12:30 pm - 1:20 pm
 
CHOC
2733-001
Intermediate ChoctawFreddie LewisMWF
1:30 pm - 2:20 pm
CREK
1715-995
Beginning Creek/SeminoleMelanie FryeWEB
CREK
1725-001
Beginning Creek/Seminole, cont.Melanie FryeMTWRF
11:30 am - 12:20 am
CREK
2733-001
Intermediate Creek/SeminoleMelanie FryeMWF
10:30 am - 11:20 am
KIOW
1715-001
Beginning KiowaDane PoolawMTWRF
10:30 am - 11:20 am
KIOW
1725-001
Beginning Kiowa, cont.Dane PoolawMTWRF
9:30 am - 10:20 am
KIOW
2733-001
Intermediate KiowaMartha PoolawMWF
12:30 pm - 1:20 pm

NAS Language Faculty


Christine ArmerĀ 
Instructor
Cherokee Language

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

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Patrick Del Percio
Instructor
Cherokee Language

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

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Melanie Frye

Melanie Frye
Instructor
Creek Language

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

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Freddie Lewis

Freddie Lewis
Instructor
Choctaw Language

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

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Dane Poolaw
Instructor
Kiowa Language

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

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Martha Poolaw

Martha Poolaw
Instructor
Kiowa Language

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

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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.