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in reply to a message by chazda
Yes, we do call everyone else Outsiders. You live Outside. With a capital "O" :-)
You know, I doubt there's any kind of consensus among Natives about non-Natives naming their kids Alaskan names. It probably depends a lot on the person, but I imagine that if the parents thought it out and used it for a reason instead of just liking the sound -- if the parents actually knew what the heck they were talking about -- then people would be fine with it.
Non-Natives who grew up in the villages would pronounce Native names (of the area where they live) correctly. If they move in from outside, there's probably an accent. There is definitely a Native accent (which of course differs depending on the tribe), which is pretty common among elders in the villages. It's less common with young people. It's a gorgeous accent...sort of crisp. Also, usually people who grew up speaking a Native language as their first language speak English a bit slower than you or I would. It's a cultural difference as well as a linguistic one.
I'm not sure I understand your fourth question. Are you asking if it's a bad thing when people can identify a Native person by their name? Actually, it's often the surname that sets it apart: most Native people have 1) Native surnames, 2) Male Biblical first-names-as-surnames (Joseph, Luke, Peter), or 3) Russian surnames (from when much of Alaska was controlled by the Russians.
When Natives and whites intermarry, kids more likely to get a non-Native first name. When Natives marry each other, they're still likely to give their kids a non-Native name these days. Native names are very uncommon nowadays.
~ Cait
You know, I doubt there's any kind of consensus among Natives about non-Natives naming their kids Alaskan names. It probably depends a lot on the person, but I imagine that if the parents thought it out and used it for a reason instead of just liking the sound -- if the parents actually knew what the heck they were talking about -- then people would be fine with it.
Non-Natives who grew up in the villages would pronounce Native names (of the area where they live) correctly. If they move in from outside, there's probably an accent. There is definitely a Native accent (which of course differs depending on the tribe), which is pretty common among elders in the villages. It's less common with young people. It's a gorgeous accent...sort of crisp. Also, usually people who grew up speaking a Native language as their first language speak English a bit slower than you or I would. It's a cultural difference as well as a linguistic one.
I'm not sure I understand your fourth question. Are you asking if it's a bad thing when people can identify a Native person by their name? Actually, it's often the surname that sets it apart: most Native people have 1) Native surnames, 2) Male Biblical first-names-as-surnames (Joseph, Luke, Peter), or 3) Russian surnames (from when much of Alaska was controlled by the Russians.
When Natives and whites intermarry, kids more likely to get a non-Native first name. When Natives marry each other, they're still likely to give their kids a non-Native name these days. Native names are very uncommon nowadays.
~ Cait
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