Alternate Names: Tsalagi, Tslagi
Dialects: Elati (Eastern Cherokee, Lower Cherokee), Kituhwa (Middle Cherokee), Otali (Overhill Cherokee, Upper Cherokee, Western Cherokee), Overhill-Middle Cherokee.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 10,400 (2010 census). Spoken by 10,000 of the 122,000 member Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, by 1,000 of the 10,000 Eastern Band of Cherokees in North Carolina, by a high percentage of the 7,500 members of the United Keetoowah Band of Oklahoma and Arkansas (Golla 2007). 130 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 140,000 (Golla 2007).
Language Use: Regularly taught at University of Oklahoma and Northeast Oklahoma University. Adult classes held in many locations. Cherokee Nation sponsors language preservation project (Golla 2007). Used as L2 by Natchez [ncz].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 15%–20% can read, 5% can write (1986 Cherokee Heritage Center). Now taught in schools, churches, and other classes (1986 Cherokee Advocate). Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1850–1951.
Writing System: Cherokee, Latin
Nation of Origin: United States
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.