Free Mvskoke language book published by William & Mary Press

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary Chancellor Professor of English and Linguistics Jack Martin, PhD., has published a new resource for the Mvskoke language, “Mvskoke Language Patterns.” The book is available for download and online use without cost from W&M Libraries.

The publication was written for use by students studying the Mvskoke language at the collegiate level but is accessible for all. The online version of the book includes audio files so learners can hear the spoken words and phrases.The book can also be downloaded in EPUB and PDF formats, compatible with a variety of tablets, smartphones, and computers. A link to the audio files is included with the downloads.

“I was looking for a format where students using the materials can hear the language, so there were some real advantages to a digital publication model over traditional publishing,” Martin said about his decision to publish through W&M Press.

The online book with audio files starts off with a reading of the Mvskoke alphabet then progresses to words that demonstrate how each letter sounds. The comparisons between local and cultural differences in pronunciation and spelling are presented as an opportunity to learn while being respectful of all Muskogean words. 

Martin is a linguist who began studying the Mvskoke language in 1986. He has written several books about the language and, with collaborators Margaret McKane Mauldin and Juanita McGirt, was responsible for editing and translating “l, Totkv Mocvse/New Fire: Creek Folktales” by Earnest Gouge.

In 2024, The College of the Muscogee Nation successfully launched The Muscogee Language Dictionary app. The app was created with the help of Martin, Mauldin, Linda Wood, and app developer Julia Mainzinger. The online dictionary listed as a resource on The Mvskoke Language Program Mvskoke Opunvkv site is based upon A Dictionary of Creek/Muskogee, written by Martin and Mauldin. 

Martin maintains The Muskogee (Seminole/Creek) Documentation Project,  a comprehensive collaborative cultural resource. It features a variety of traditional Mvskoke customs and knowledge with sections on hymns, interviews, historical texts in both Mvskoke and English. 

The book is the third in a series of open source publications by William & Mary Press. Created under a Creative Commons License, it can be shared and distributed for free with proper credit.