Lakota Language Forum

The Lakota Language Consortium is actively searching for funds and grants that would enable us to create the audio version of the New Lakota Dictionary. We hope that as soon as sufficient funding is available to buy the technical equipment and pay the native speakers for their time and work on the recording, we will start putting sound files to the on-line dictionary.

The hope is that in the first part of the project we will record the headwords (lemmas). In the second part we will record some of the conjugation forms (1s, 2s and 1p) and finally we will record example sentences. This project will require quite a lot of work on programming, e.g. every item in the database will have to have a specific ID to attach the sound file to.

We hope that those of you who use the on-line version of the NLD will find this enhancement helpful.

admin wrote:We hope that those of you who use the on-line version of the NLD will find this enhancement helpful.

I, for one, will find this invaluable, especially when finding a new word. Hearing it spoken will surely help to cement the correct spelling and pronunciation firmly into my brain. Too often I think I've learned a new word, but when I come to use it I can't remember whether there is aspiration or not, where exactly is the stress - but with this innovation I'll be able to add a friendly voice to my mental data-base and make fewer spelling mistakes. (Well, that's the plan!)

I can't begin to imagine the hours of work and dedication that this project will demand. LLC truly deserves to receive grants for this, and for all its inspirational projects.

Nina

Thank you so much! This will be a wonderful addition.

As Nina said, hearing the spoken word helps with learning the language.

Háu, Áta čhó !