Lakota Language Computer Software
By Mike Baker of Customized Computer Software
In an attempt to use computer programming skills to benefit the teaching and preservation of the Lakota language and customs;
Mike Baker of Customized Computer Software (
www.code-it.com) offers the following software programs for
free download on this site. His hope is that these software programs will help, in some small way, to teach the children and to preserve
Native languages. This is just a start of an ongoing commitment, and he
will be adding more free software as the required recordings are available for development. Not only has Mike
made this Lakota Language software publically available, you will find
software devoted to other Native American languages on his site too!
Key Benefits...
It's FREE!
Kids (as well as some adults) enjoy computer teaching methods.
Computer skills are increased while learning language.
Lakota Language Teaching Software
This Software uses sound files to "speak" the words.
Quote from code-it.com (source), "Want to learn simple Lakhota (American Indian) words and phrases? Well folks, we first released
this software in 1996: there are many of you still getting use out of the old 16-bit version. Due to many requests to upgrade to a more "modern
interface/ version" we just had to oblige - committing the 100's of hours required. This new version doesn't just let you hear/ play the word or
phrase but delivers it via an array of flash videos. Includes a massive translation text dictionary as well."
This application "speaks" the Lakota words and phrases by the use of computerized .wav files. It includes translation of over 3300
words from English to Lakota as well as Lakota to English. An option of having a percentage of them "spoken" to you via the click of a button is presented.
It includes a collection of early-1900 era photos presented as a screen saver, a fully functional "American Indian themed" web browser that includes
"Native American" links.
Features:
Lakota Word Speakster
Lakota Phrase Speakster
Lakota / English Translator
American Indian screen saver
American Indian themed web browser
Click the above Play button to hear the intro...
Lakota Speakster V5.0 is available for download below and is being offered as Freeware. ENJOY!
Min Requirements: OS: Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP & Vista, VGA, & sound card to take advantage
of the speak feature {'Lakhota' will run w/o sound card- but text only}.
Is a computer software program designed to teach simple Lakota words. The program
starts with a main menu to select the word types to be learned. After selecting the specific word
group, the program goes into a separate program. The English and Lakota word pairs are randomly
displayed on the screen with graphics/colors within the selected word group. The user then has
the option of playing the words by clicking a 'speak' button. The Lakota words are 'spoken' by a
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal member.
The main program menu offers the following groups of words & misc.:
Animals (buffalo, fox, dog, etc..)
Body Parts (hand, leg, foot, etc..)
Colors (red, green, yellow, etc..)
Draw program to teach the words for colors
Family Relatives (mother, father, uncle, etc..)
Foods (milk, beef, bread, etc..)
Native American type screen saver
Numbers (1...10)
Shapes (circle, square, triangle, etc..)
Lakota V1.2 is available for download below and is being offered as Freeware as of
March 12, 1999. ENJOY!
Min Requirements: 486 IBM/comp, MS Win3.1/95(tm), VGA, & sound card to take advantage
of the speak feature {'Lakota' will run w/o sound card- but text only}.
English to Lakota
Lakota to English
Computerized Translation Dictionary
This software program is a computerized translation dictionary that converts over
3300 words from English to Lakota and Lakota to English.
The program also includes an account of the syntax of speaking the Lakota language and a
pronunciation guide for each Lakota word that is listed so that the user will be more
likely to be able to speak the Lakota word in an acceptable manner.
Also, includes an American Indian screen saver (Rinehart collection)and an on- line
registration feature so that you will receive any free updates or revisions to the
software.
Lakota_Words V2.0 is available for download below and is being offered as Freeware
as of March 21, 1999. Please ENJOY!
Min Requirements: 486 IBM/comp, MS Win95/98orNT, SVGA monitor
Lakota_Kids Play Language Software
For kids and the young at heart!
This Software uses sound files to "speak" the words.
Is a newly (9\30\98) developed computer software program designed to
teach simple Lakota words in a playful yet educational way. The program starts with a main menu
that gives the user the opportunity to go to the COMBO screen, DRAW screen, JUKE BOX screen, or
SAVER screen.
The COMBO part of the program teaches the Lakota, as well as the English words for numbers, colors,
animal names as well as animal sounds by the use of graphics, sound files, and an interactive environment.
The DRAW program is designed to teach children computer mouse operation and also the
Lakota words for colors by letting the child play by 'painting' a picture by the use of
the mouse.
The Juke Box program gives the child the opportunity to play child related songs on this
computerized 'Juke Box'.
Also included is a American Indian scene screen saver.
This program puts to use sound files so that the Lakota and/or English words are 'spoken'
as well as spelled and written. It has been designed to hold the interest of small
children as well as simple operation to encourage computer time (attention span) in an
effort to teach Lakota words.
Lakota _Play V1.0 is available for download below and is being offered as Freeware
as of March 12, 1999. HAVE FUN!
Min Requirements: 486 IBM/comp, MS Wins 95/98(TM), VGA, sound card & speakers.
American Indian Pictograph/ Petroglyph Writing Software
This program, Picto V1.0 was written to help preserve the
American Indian culture by giving the user the opportunity to interact with the computer
to write his/ her own story using pictures/symbols that were used by Native Americans of
long ago. Pictographs or Petroglyphs were the first step in the development of Native
language. Picture writing or "rock art" is a mode of expressing thoughts by the
use of marks. It is the wish of the programmer to advance the knowledge of Indian customs
and traditions by forming a understanding of the drawings that were used by these people.
Picto V1.0 is available as freeware below.
Min Requirements: 486 IBM/comp, MS Win'95(TM), VGA, sound card.
Note:Program speed will vary, relative to computer hardware!
Lakota Language Software
Click on the file to download for free!
NOTE: (If you want to download the language
software from this page, and if you have a German version of Windows, three
of the programs ( Lakhota Speakster v5.0, Lakota Play V1.0 and Picto V1.0) won't work properly as they will
be downloaded to your "Programme" folder, but will look for a folder called
"Program Files". In order to make them work, simply create a new folder (with the
Windows-Explorer), call it Program Files and move those two programs from the
Programme folder to the Program Files folder. /
Drei der Softwear-Programme, die man von dieser Seite herunterladen kann (Lakhota Speakster v5.0, Lakota
Play V1.0 und Picto V1.0), funktionieren nicht so wie sie sollten, wenn man eine
deutsche Version von Windows benutzt. Im Normalfall befinden sich diese
Programme nach dem Download im Ordner "Programme". Sie sind aber so programmiert,
dass sie beim Start auf einen Ordner namens Program Files zurückgreifen
wollen, welcher natürlich auf deutschen Windows-Versionen nicht existiert.
Ich hab ganz einfach im Windows-Explorer einen neuen Ordner mit dem Namen
Program Files ertellt und die beiden Programme dorthin verschoben. Dann
funktioniert's. - Manuela (Manu) Mueller)
It's FREE! 
