Choctaw Language Lesson One

Apisa Achuffa

"Lesson One"
Charley Jones

If you carefully read and remember most or all of the previous lessons learned, you are ready to start pronouncing Chahta anumpa! Charley Jones provides audio for each word, listen carefully!

Enunication Of K or H followed by L, M, N, or B :

When holisso K or H is followed by holisso L, M, N or B, case insensitive, a fiopa kobafa "short breath" vowel sound is added between the two special letters. This fiopa kobafa is soft but deliberate. Listen to how Charley Jones enunciates these examples of anumpuli fiopa kobafa "short breath pronounciation" of an added vowel fopa "sound."

ahni (ah-neh) - to think
ikbi (ick-beh) - to make
hokli (hook-leh) - to catch
tohbi (toeth-beh) - white
lakna (lahk-nah) - yellow
mahli (mah-leh) - to blow

Listen to each word enuniciated by Charley, and practice your own enuniciation by achi "speaking" each anumpa. For trivia, achi can be both a verb and a noun. As a noun, you are a "rehearser."

As a reminder of Chahta sentence structure, my usage of anumpuli fiopa kobafa enjoys a literal translation of, "pronounciation short breath." Remember, Chahta sentences always start with a subject followed by adjectives, and conclude with a verb.

Click on "next" below to continue Lesson One!