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Comanche Language Preservation
In 1996, with a total tribal population of 10,000 members, there are fewer than 10% who speak the language fluently. Early attempts to maintain the language have been sporadic. In 1989 the Comanche Tribe began a project to preserve the language and the history of their ancestors. The end result was 15 two-hour tapes featuring 40 tribal elders telling stories and family history in their native tongue. The next 2 years brought language classes organized by individual tribal members, all working independently, yet with a common goal of teaching the Comanche language.1
The turning point for Comanche language preservation came when Ronald Red Elk, determined to learn the language of his ancestors, enrolled in Comanche language classes offered at the University of Oklahoma, Norman in 1992. The class was the result of Dr. Alice Anderton's work in documenting the language. Anderton, a linguistic anthropologist, happened to capture the Comanche language by using the International Phonetic Alphabet as a group of fluent Comanche speakers gathered informally to practice their language skills. When the Comanche speakers noticed Dr. Anderton making notes they asked what she was doing. When she replied, "Writing down what you are saying," the Comanche response was "How can you? Our language has no alphabet." From this humble beginning, Dr. Anderton was asked to create the first tribally approved Comanche alphabet.2 In July, 1993 the Comanche Business Committee voted to approve the alphabet created by Dr. Anderton and the Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee was formed with Ron Red Elk as President. The tribe's vision was to revive the Comanche language into a living language once again, a language that people of all ages will be able to speak, write and understand in order for the culture to live on.3
Language Preservation Accomplishments
The accomplishments in language preservation for the Comanche Tribe have been: 1. Adoption of an official Comanche alphabet by the Comanche Business Committee. 2. Established a Language Preservation Office in the Tribal Complex. 3. Held alphabet workshops in Walters, Lawton, Apache and Cache-Indiahoma communities. 4. Conducted Language Immersion Week-End. 5. Published a NOMINEE (Comanche) Monthly Reader. 6. Distributed 600 copies of Numunuu Reader each month to all area schools. 7. Developed a Word Game for a language contest at the Annual Comanche Nation Fair. 8. Developed and distributed 200 sets of 56 Comanche Flashcards to children at the Annual Comanche Nation Fair. 9. Held language classes in Walters, Lawton, Apache and Cache-Indiahoma communities. 10. Comanche Language taught at Cameron University, Lawton, and University of Oklahoma, Norman. 11. A four week summer pre-school held during June, 1995, in which 76 Comanche children participated. 12. Published a picture dictionary for children. 13. Operating a three year language pre-school pilot program for three, four and five year olds in the Cache community. 14. Developed and Administered a four week summer camp for students of all ages in June 1997 in five area communities.
Restore Comanche as a Living Language
The Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee proposes to change the direction of the language. That change is to restore the Numu tekwapu as a living language once more and to take our language of heritage into the Twenty-First Century.4 As a step in that direction, the Committee has launched the Master-Apprentice Team Project for families who want to learn to speak their native language.
1. Numu Tekwapuha Nomneekatu, page 2. 2. Nott, Andrea Randi Conversation between Randi Nott, Roderick and Ronald Red Elk, 1995. 3. Numu Tekwapuha Nomneekatu, page 2. 4. Numu Tekwapuha Nomneekatu, pp. 3-4.
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