The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina is turning to technology to pass on the Cherokee language.

The tribe is matching a $17,500 grant from the Department of Agriculture to buy Phraselators, a hand-held computer device that will translate English into Cherokee. The devices contain audio clips of the Cherokee language.

According to the tribe, 72 percent of fluent Cherokee speakers are over the age of 50. The tribe has started immersion classes to pass on the language to new generations.

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High-tech language lessons from tribe (The Asheville Citizen-Times 8/28)

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