Occoneechee, the Maid of the Mystic Lake

by Robert Frank Jarrett

The Cherokee language has the continental vowel sounds a, e, i, and u, but lacks o, which is replaced by a deep a. The obscure or short u 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 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.

a	as in far.
ă	as in what, or obscure as in showman.
à	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 1 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.
′	a slight aspirate, sometimes indicating the omission of a vowel.

A number of English words, with cross references, have been introduced into the glossary.

Chimney Rock.

“Like a monolith it rises

To a grand majestic height.”

adaʻlanunʻsti—a staff or cane.

adanʻta—soul.

adaʻwehi—a magician or supernatural being.