Cree à la mode

It's become clear that a conventional approach to teaching Cree grammar has entrenched itself, one that may actually work against the "conversational" method of Blue Quills.

As I once wrote here, there are, as with other languages, two major verb forms, the independent (aka indicative) form and the subunctive (conjunct) form.

So, for example, where you'd say 'I work' in the independent form, you'd say, 'I am working' in the subjunctive.

Well, most if not all of the Cree textbooks developed so far cover both modes, with initial emphasis on the independent mode (I work). Which is not a problem in and of itself. But the thing is, it seems like most everyday speech takes the subjunctive form (I am working). So, when we first try to learn Cree by listening to and recording fluent speakers, they are using a different mode. It only adds to that initial confusion and bewilderment.

To me, the quickest way to learn to speak and hear a language would be to focus primarily on what's spoken and heard most, i.e., the subjunctive. That said, we do need to know the independent mode. But if the aim is to start dialoguing as soon as possible, maybe a new way of starting us off in Cree is in order.

And yes, this grammatical gobbledygook gives me a headache too. And no doubt, there's a good case to keep it the way it is, but I just thought I'd put it out there.

ekosi,
Rick

Why Cree can't take a holiday

All of a sudden, it's December.

Tomorrow will mark 3 months that I have been in the program, and if you recall I gave myself that length of time — one term — to see if it was for me. Simply put, I am happy to report that it is.

The last day of class is Wednesday December 14. I worry that I may not be diligent enough to keep myself at least a little bit in Cree over the holidays while I am away. Our first day back is January 9, 2006.

I know a few speakers (not least nikâwiy, i.e., my mother, although she's got a different dialect) but as I have learned, not all speakers are natural teachers. But you make do, right?

Meanwhile, you can see my blogging has taken a back seat to the school work itself, so I hope to catch you up soon on my big 10-minute paired dialogue, the end-of-term assignment that me and my main language ally Roberta have been working on since September. I also recently attended a conference in Saskatoon on Prairie languages. Lots to report, but I have to go class in, like, nisto cipahikanis (3 minutes), so it'll have to wait.

ekosi,
Rick