Sequoyah and the Cherokee Written Language

Sequoyah, a self-taught linguist from the Cherokee Nation, created a written language for the Cherokee in the early 1800s. Fascinated by the written communication of White settlers, he developed a syllabary of 86 symbols representing the sounds of the Cherokee language. Despite initial skepticism, Sequoyah demonstrated its practicality, leading to widespread adoption and literacy among the Cherokee. His work resulted in the first Cherokee newspaper and helped preserve Cherokee history and culture.

What was Sequoyah's major contribution to the Cherokee Nation?

• He developed a written language.

• He created a new spoken language.

• He established trade routes.

• He led a military regiment.

Where was Sequoyah born?

• Paris

• London

• Tuskegee

• New York

What skill did Sequoyah teach himself that was unrelated to language?

• Sailing

• Blacksmithing

• Painting

• Carpentry

What did Sequoyah call the written papers of the White settlers?

• Singing sheets

• Silent leaves

• Talking leaves

• Whispering pages

What motivated Sequoyah to continue developing a written system?

• The advantage of transporting written communication

• The need for a new form of art

• The desire to learn new languages

• The beauty of written symbols

How many symbols did Sequoyah's original written system have?

• 26

• 52

• 86

• 100

Who helped Sequoyah demonstrate the writing system to the Cherokee community?

• His wife

• His brother

• His daughter, Ioka

• His son

What was the initial reaction of the Cherokee community to Sequoyah's writing system?

• They immediately embraced it.

• They ignored it.

• They were skeptical.

• They banned it.

What was one of the outcomes of Sequoyah's success with the writing system?

• The creation of a Cherokee university

• The establishment of the first Cherokee newspaper

• The invention of a new musical instrument

• The development of a new form of dance

How did Sequoyah's work empower the Cherokee people?

• By teaching them new military strategies

• By introducing them to new trade partners

• By preserving their history and culture in written form

• By giving them new agricultural techniques