GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
The Cherokee language has the continental vowel sounds a, e, i, and u, but lacks o, which is replaced by a deep â. The obscure or short û is frequently nasalized, but the nasal sound is seldom heard at the end of a word. The only labial is m, which occurs in probably not more than half a dozen words in the Upper and Middle dialects, and is entirely absent from the Lower dialect, in which w takes its place. The characteristic l of the Upper and Middle dialects becomes r in the Lower, but no dialect has both sounds. There is also an aspirated l; k and t have the ordinary sounds of these letters, but g and d are medials, approximating the sounds of k and t, respectively. A frequent double consonant is ts, commonly rendered ch by the old traders (see p. [188], “Dialects”).
| a | as in far. |
| ă | as in what, or obscure as in showman. |
| â | as in law, all. |
| d | medial (semisonant), approximating t. |
| e | as in they. |
| ĕ | as in net. |
| g | medial (semisonant), approximating k. |
| h | as in hat. |
| i | as in pique. |
| ĭ | as in pick. |
| k | as in kick. |
| l | as in lull. |
| ʻl | surd l (sometimes written hl), nearly the Welsh ll. |
| m | as in man. |
| n | as in not. |
| r | takes place of l in Lower dialect. |
| s | as in sin. |
| t | as in top. |
| u | as in rule. |
| û | as in cut. |
| ûñ | û nasalized. |
| w | as in wit. |
| y | as in you. |
| ʻ | a slight aspirate, sometimes indicating the omission of a vowel. |
A number of English words, with cross references, have been introduced into the glossary, and these, together with corrupted Cherokee forms, are indicated by small capitals.
adâ′lănûñ′stĭ—a staff or cane.
adan′ta—soul.
ada′wehĭ—a magician or supernatural being.
ada′wehi′yu—a very great magician; intensive form of ada′wehĭ.