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53 Uto-Aztecan

  • Eric Elliott and David Leedom Shaul
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The Languages and Linguistics of Indigenous North America
This chapter is in the book The Languages and Linguistics of Indigenous North America

Abstract

Uto-Aztecan (UA) is a family of Native American languages spoken in the Western United States, Mexico, and Central America. All UA languages are derived from a single language, known as Proto-Uto-Aztecan (PUA), spoken long ago, in Southern and Central California. The UA languages are often grouped into two large branches, Northern Uto-Aztecan (NUA) and Southern Uto-Aztecan (SUA). The NUA languages are further divided into the following branches or groupings: Takic, Numic, Tübatulabal, and Hopi. The Takic grouping is divided into Cupan and Serran, with Tongva [Gabrielino] perhaps outside Cupan and Serran but within a Takic grouping. The SUA languages are divided into the following branches: Tepiman, Tarahumaran, Opatan, Yoemian, Coracholan, Nahuan, Jova [Jobal, Oba], and Tubar. Tübatulabal, Hopi, Jova, and Tubar are isolates within the UA family. The modern UA languages share common phonological and morphological features, and basic root structure. The vitality of UA languages is greater in Mexico than in the United States, although much progress has been made with some NUA languages in revitalization.

Abstract

Uto-Aztecan (UA) is a family of Native American languages spoken in the Western United States, Mexico, and Central America. All UA languages are derived from a single language, known as Proto-Uto-Aztecan (PUA), spoken long ago, in Southern and Central California. The UA languages are often grouped into two large branches, Northern Uto-Aztecan (NUA) and Southern Uto-Aztecan (SUA). The NUA languages are further divided into the following branches or groupings: Takic, Numic, Tübatulabal, and Hopi. The Takic grouping is divided into Cupan and Serran, with Tongva [Gabrielino] perhaps outside Cupan and Serran but within a Takic grouping. The SUA languages are divided into the following branches: Tepiman, Tarahumaran, Opatan, Yoemian, Coracholan, Nahuan, Jova [Jobal, Oba], and Tubar. Tübatulabal, Hopi, Jova, and Tubar are isolates within the UA family. The modern UA languages share common phonological and morphological features, and basic root structure. The vitality of UA languages is greater in Mexico than in the United States, although much progress has been made with some NUA languages in revitalization.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Table of contents VII
  4. VII Language revitalization
  5. 32 Reviving languages: Outcomes of a Mentor-Apprentice style learning study 717
  6. 33 Child and child-directed speech in North American languages 741
  7. 34 Decolonizing Indigenous language pedagogies: Additional language learning and teaching 767
  8. 35 Digital tools for language revitalization 789
  9. 36 Using archival materials for language reclamation 807
  10. 37 Changing notions of fieldwork 823
  11. VIII Language families and isolates
  12. 38 Inuit-Yupik-Unangan: An overview of the language family 843
  13. 39 Dene – Athabaskan 875
  14. 40 Algonquian 931
  15. 41 Michif 951
  16. 42 Tsimshianic 985
  17. 43 Wakashan Languages 1013
  18. 44 Salish 1053
  19. 45 Chinookan family, with special reference to Kiksht and notes on Chinuk Wawa 1115
  20. 46 Sahaptian 1139
  21. 47 Karuk 1169
  22. 48 Wáˑšiw 1201
  23. 49 Pomoan 1223
  24. 50 California languages: Isolates and other languages 1247
  25. 51 Chumashan 1275
  26. 52 Yuman 1303
  27. 53 Uto-Aztecan 1333
  28. 54 Kiowa-Tanoan 1361
  29. 55 Caddoan 1407
  30. 56 Sketch of the Siouan Language Family 1447
  31. 57 Chitimacha 1519
  32. 58 Tunica 1545
  33. 59 Muskogean 1577
  34. 60 Iroquoian 1601
  35. 61 Unclassified languages 1627
  36. List of Authors 1649
  37. Index of languages 1673
  38. Index of names 1685
  39. Index of subjects 1695
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110712742-053

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Table of contents VII
  4. VII Language revitalization
  5. 32 Reviving languages: Outcomes of a Mentor-Apprentice style learning study 717
  6. 33 Child and child-directed speech in North American languages 741
  7. 34 Decolonizing Indigenous language pedagogies: Additional language learning and teaching 767
  8. 35 Digital tools for language revitalization 789
  9. 36 Using archival materials for language reclamation 807
  10. 37 Changing notions of fieldwork 823
  11. VIII Language families and isolates
  12. 38 Inuit-Yupik-Unangan: An overview of the language family 843
  13. 39 Dene – Athabaskan 875
  14. 40 Algonquian 931
  15. 41 Michif 951
  16. 42 Tsimshianic 985
  17. 43 Wakashan Languages 1013
  18. 44 Salish 1053
  19. 45 Chinookan family, with special reference to Kiksht and notes on Chinuk Wawa 1115
  20. 46 Sahaptian 1139
  21. 47 Karuk 1169
  22. 48 Wáˑšiw 1201
  23. 49 Pomoan 1223
  24. 50 California languages: Isolates and other languages 1247
  25. 51 Chumashan 1275
  26. 52 Yuman 1303
  27. 53 Uto-Aztecan 1333
  28. 54 Kiowa-Tanoan 1361
  29. 55 Caddoan 1407
  30. 56 Sketch of the Siouan Language Family 1447
  31. 57 Chitimacha 1519
  32. 58 Tunica 1545
  33. 59 Muskogean 1577
  34. 60 Iroquoian 1601
  35. 61 Unclassified languages 1627
  36. List of Authors 1649
  37. Index of languages 1673
  38. Index of names 1685
  39. Index of subjects 1695
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