A Comparison: Matthew 4:1 in Cherokee and in Udugi

 Matthew 4:1

Cherokee:

hnaquono adanvdo inage wutinvstane tsisa, asgina ugoliyediyi ayelvsei.

ᎿᏉᏃ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎢᎾᎨ ᏭᏘᏅᏍᏔᏁ ᏥᏌ, ᎠᏍᎩᎾ ᎤᎪᎵᏰᏗᏱ ᎠᏰᎸᏎᎢ.

Udugi:

nahiyui adanvdo datinise tsisane inagei didla, gesvi adagoliyita asgina gvdodi.

ᎾᎯᏳᎢ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏓᏘᏂᏎ ᏥᏌᏁ ᎢᎾᎨᎢ ᏗᏜ, ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏓᎪᎵᏱᏔ ᎠᏍᎩᎾ ᎬᏙᏗ.

Clearly, they are different languages, but many words are readily recognizable. I don't think many people these days are able to read the New Testament in Cherokee. Udugi has a far simpler grammar, and is therefore much easier and faster to learn. As to the accuracy of the two translations, I would have to say that the Udugi is more precise.

My next blog entry will give the "Our Father" in both Cherokee and Udugi, allowing a further comparison.