In an effort to help preserve the culture and language of Indigenous American peoples, some English words will be replaced with equivalents in select Indigenous American languages. This innovative initiative aims to encourage modern people to use these ancient languages more frequently, so as to keep them alive.
Organizers of this effort hope that by providing basic translations of everyday English words into their respective Indigenous American forms, an appreciation for these ancient languages can be inculcated in current generations. This, in turn, could inspire further language learning and help create a resurgence in their usage.
The words chosen for replacement come from all areas of modern English including popular colloquialisms and technical jargon. Furthermore, the project is largely community-driven, with tribes and individuals submitting the translations themselves.
It takes a lot of hard work to make sure each word is translated accurately and giving people around the world an opportunity to learn the rich history of these languages.
As part of this initiative, an official database of these translated words will eventually be available online. It is hoped that, over time, the use of these words in daily conversation will become common place.
With this project, we have the potential to not only preserve the Indigenous American languages, but also to build a connection between them and the present day. It is our hope that this project can bring us closer to understanding and appreciating the history, culture and beauty of these languages.
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