Pertanyaan

Sequoyah was a young Cherokee Indian, son of a white trader and an Indian squaw. At an early age, he became fascinated by “the talking leaf,” an expression that he used to describe the white man’s written records. Although many believed this “talking leaf” to be a gift from the Great Spirit, Sequoyah refused to accept that theory. Like other Indians of the period, he was illiterate, but his determination to remedy the situation led to the invention of a unique 86-character alphabet based on the sound patterns that he heard. His family and friend thought him mad, but while recuperating from a hunting accident, he diligently and independently set out to create a form of communication for his own people as well as for other Indians. In 1821, after twelve years of work, he had successfully developed a writtenlanguage that would enable thousands of Indians to read and write. Sequoyah’s desire to preserve words and events for later generations has caused him to be remembered among the important inventors. The giant red wood trees of California, called “sequoias” in his honor, will further imprint his name in history. How would you describe Sequoyah?