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  • Billy York is the instructor for the Choctaw language class located in Marlow. He instructs anyone including young children such as his grandson, Kagen. Rebeka Rutledge/The Duncan Banner

    Billy York is the instructor for the Choctaw language class located in Marlow. He instructs anyone including young children such as his grandson, Kagen.

  • One of the additional activities done during the course of the Choctaw language class is learning different Native American crafts such as basket making. Photo submitted

    One of the additional activities done during the course of the Choctaw language class is learning different Native American crafts such as basket making.
January 9, 2012

Marlow man shares love of Choctaw language alive

Rebeka Rutledge The Duncan Banner

MARLOW — Learning a new language is sometimes a requirement loathed by high school or college students, or a necessary task for relocation.

However, sometimes becoming versed in more than one language is a goal for which people strive.

Whatever the case may be, there is an opportunity to for area residents to step away from the usual second languages, such as Spanish and French, and learn a dialect that is historically a little closer to home.

In Marlow, Billy York is offering residents the chance to learn the Choctaw language.

For York, the Native American tribe’s vernacular is actually his first language. He didn’t learn English until enrolling in the public school system at age 6.

And although he quickly became fluent in English, York never lost the desire to know how to speak, read and write what he considers his native language.

“All my relatives spoke (Choctaw), but I wanted to learn how to read and write it,” said York. “I wanted to know the grammar of it.”

Spurred by that desire, he signed up for classes offered by the School of Choctaw Language. After a while, his teacher transferred elsewhere. York applied to take her place and was given the go-ahead.

He has now been instructing for about four years, although he noted that as the teacher he is constantly learning along with the students. In fact, that is the biggest reason York enjoys the position.

“I like learning at the same time,” he said. “Teaching brings back words I haven’t thought about in a long time and I learn new words.”

As an educator he has heard different opinions from students on whether or not learning Choctaw is difficult. Some believe it is a struggle and some do not, which he notes is about the same consensus most people experience in learning any new language.

York said the Choctaw sentence structure is like talking backwards.

He has heard several people say that the from syntax of Choctaw is similar to that of Spanish.

As in most cases, York has discovered it is much easier for young children to pick up a new language, and there are several younger folks who attend his courses each year.

“I get young kids, like my grandson, and they are easier to teach,” York said. “But they get to junior high and we lose them and their parents because they get involved with sports.”

Generally, York sees about a half-dozen students for each class, although that varies depending on the time of year. When school is in session, the attendance drops, but response picks back up in the summer months.

The class is for anyone interested in learning Choctaw, which some colleges will allow to be used for a foreign language credit.

It is a free class and the only fee required is that students must purchase the books required.

Not only is there classroom learning, but sometimes guests come in to teach a little history of the tribe or how to make moccasins, bows or pottery, among other items. Many people return year after year to continue their knowledge and York said their understanding of the language continues to accelerate.

“There are phases one to four and we just go through them,” he said.

“If someone new comes, we just go back to the beginning for a while.”

York’s next session of classes begins on Thursday, with the session running from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The class continues to follow that schedule for 16 weeks. The class is held in the Marlow Chickasaw Community Center on Marlow Dr.

For more information, contact York at 580-512-7120.

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