Editing Languages of the United States (section)

====Cherokee====
{{Main|Cherokee language}}
[[File:Cherokee USC2000 PHS NCandOK.svg|thumb|right|Cherokee language distribution of the United States]]

Cherokee is the [[Iroquoian languages|Iroquoian language]] spoken by the [[Cherokee]] people, and the official language of the [[Cherokee Nation]].<ref name=CARLAb>{{cite web
| title = The Cherokee Nation & its Language
| work = University of Minnesota: Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition
| date = 2008
| access-date = May 22, 2014
| url = http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/past/immersion2008/documents/Peter_L_CherokeeNation.pdf
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131213/http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/past/immersion2008/documents/Peter_L_CherokeeNation.pdf
| archive-date = July 14, 2014
}}</ref> Significant numbers of Cherokee speakers of all ages<ref name=about>{{cite web|url=http://aboutworldlanguages.com/cherokee |title=Cherokee|last=Thompson|first=Irene|date=August 6, 2013|publisher=Aboutworldlanguages.com/|access-date=May 22, 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521085122/http://aboutworldlanguages.com/cherokee|archive-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> still populate the [[Qualla Boundary]] in [[Cherokee, North Carolina]] and several counties within the Cherokee Nation of [[Oklahoma]], significantly [[Cherokee County, Oklahoma|Cherokee]], [[Sequoyah County, Oklahoma|Sequoyah]], [[Mayes County|Mayes]], [[Adair County, Oklahoma|Adair]], and [[Delaware County, Oklahoma|Delaware]]. Increasing numbers of Cherokee youth are renewing interest in the traditions, history, and language of their ancestors.<ref name = about /> Cherokee-speaking communities stand at the forefront of language preservation, and at local schools, all lessons are taught in Cherokee and thus it serves as the medium of instruction from pre-school on up.<ref name=CARLAb/> Also, church services and traditional ceremonial [[stomp dance]]s are held in the language in Oklahoma and on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina.<ref name=CARLAb/>

Cherokee is one of the few, or perhaps the only, Native American language with an increasing population of speakers,<ref name=introductory>{{cite book |last= Joyner|first= Michael|date= September 30, 2010|title= Cherokee Lessons - Introductory Edition |url=https://www.google.com/shopping/product/16900993081780071216?q=cherokee+language&biw=1416&bih=718&ei=5luLU4HhDuaisQTI7IHIBQ&ved=0COUBEKYrMAo4FA |publisher= Lulu Enterprises Incorporated|pages= 16–17|access-date=June 1, 2013}}</ref> and along with [[Navajo language|Navajo]] it is the only indigenous American language with more than 50,000 speakers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/society/native-american-languages.html |title=Native American languages |publisher=Infoplease.com |access-date=October 23, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051042/http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/society/native-american-languages.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> a figure most likely achieved through the tribe's 10-year long language preservation plan involving growing new speakers through immersion schools for children,<ref>{{Cite news| last = Chavez, Will| title = Immersion students win trophies at language fair| work = Cherokeephoenix.org| access-date = April 8, 2013| date = April 5, 2012| url = http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/Index/6142| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130525231358/http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/Index/6142| archive-date = May 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Native Now : Language: Cherokee| work = We Shall Remain - American Experience - PBS| access-date = April 9, 2014| year = 2008| url = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/native_now/language_cherokee| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140407132754/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/native_now/language_cherokee| archive-date = April 7, 2014}}</ref> developing new words for modern phrases, teaching the language to non-Cherokees in schools and universities,<ref name="wcu.edu">{{cite web| title = Cherokee Language Revitalization Project| work = Western Carolina University| access-date = April 9, 2014| year = 2014| url = http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/cas/casdepts/anthsoc/cherokee-studies/cherokeelanguagerevitalizationproject.asp| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084751/http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/cas/casdepts/anthsoc/cherokee-studies/cherokeelanguagerevitalizationproject.asp| archive-date = April 7, 2014}}</ref> fostering the language among young adults so their children can use that language at home, developing [[iPhone]] and [[iPad]] apps for language education, the development of Cherokee language radio stations including [[Cherokee Voices, Cherokee Sounds]],<ref>{{Cite news| last = Hauk| first = Alexis| title = Radio Free Cherokee: Endangered Languages Take to the Airwaves| work = The Atlantic| access-date = April 9, 2014| url = https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/08/radio-free-cherokee-endangered-languages-take-to-the-airwaves/261165/| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116120948/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/08/radio-free-cherokee-endangered-languages-take-to-the-airwaves/261165/| archive-date = January 16, 2014}}</ref> and promoting the writing system through public signage, products like the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[iPhone]], [[internet]] use through [[Google]] including [[Gmail]], and others so the language remains relevant in the 21st century.