The following is a video of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) language that demonstrates what the elder is doing with her mouth in order to pronounce the words. I’ve heard only a handful of words being pronounced here in 100 Mile House but I’ve never actually listened to a recording like this which goes through the basic vowels and shows how to form words. I think it’s time that I start studying videos like this and appreciate learning this local Shuswap dialect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l23LOp0OUys
The woman speaking Secwepemc on this video is from the Splatsin Shuswap nation which is located near Enderby, B.C. The following is a link that explains a little bit about this community.
It must be a real challenge for the young people who are learning this language to be able to learn it and speak it correctly and fluently. When you think of “true immersion”, you need to be surrounded by the language 24 hours a day and not be influenced by other languages, especially English. The French Immersion system experiences the same phenomenon. The majority of the students speak English already before entering the program, so therefore, when they arrive in French Immersion Kindergarten, the teacher is the only one who actually speaks French (which is really not “true immersion). Of course the most ideal immersion would be to take French Immersion students and drop them into a French Kindergarten class in France for a year. Unfortunately for Shuswap (or other aboriginal students), this is almost impossible, unless they have the opportunity to attend a Shuswap language immersion school like Chiet Atahm on the Adams River reserve. However, even under these circumstances, English and other languages are always present, especially once the students leave school. It doesn’t help either that there is a lost generation of aboriginal speakers due to the damaging affects of the residential schools. I sure admire these people for their determination and courage to try to revive their language and traditions in today’s society. However, this is where they are probably very grateful to have the modern technology of video recorders, tape decks or even iPads so that they can record the precious stories of their elders.