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54 Kiowa-Tanoan

  • Logan Sutton
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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

The Kiowa-Tanoan languages are spoken in 13 communities among the Pueblos of the US Southwest and in one community in the Great Plains. Each community speaks a distinctive linguistic variety, which may be categorized into seven languages falling into four distinct branches: Kiowa, Tewa, Tiwa, and Towa. Another language, Piro, survives primarily in minimal documentation from the 19th century. This chapter briefly discusses: 1) the current status of these languages, intergenerational transmission, revitalization efforts, and the language ideologies that have restricted linguistic study to date; and 2) notable structural features. Interesting phonological features include different, but understudied systems of tone, morphophonological ablaut, and sound correspondences suggesting rich and complex historical sound changes. Grammatically, Kiowa-Tanoan is characterized by a unique noun class system reflected in grammatical number, a large set of verbal proclitics indexing up to three arguments, and a person-animacy sensitive voice and case system. Finally, the constructions marking information structure, reference tracking, and speaker perspective include a mix of particles, clitics, constituent order alternations, and highly productive noun incorporation.

Abstract

The Kiowa-Tanoan languages are spoken in 13 communities among the Pueblos of the US Southwest and in one community in the Great Plains. Each community speaks a distinctive linguistic variety, which may be categorized into seven languages falling into four distinct branches: Kiowa, Tewa, Tiwa, and Towa. Another language, Piro, survives primarily in minimal documentation from the 19th century. This chapter briefly discusses: 1) the current status of these languages, intergenerational transmission, revitalization efforts, and the language ideologies that have restricted linguistic study to date; and 2) notable structural features. Interesting phonological features include different, but understudied systems of tone, morphophonological ablaut, and sound correspondences suggesting rich and complex historical sound changes. Grammatically, Kiowa-Tanoan is characterized by a unique noun class system reflected in grammatical number, a large set of verbal proclitics indexing up to three arguments, and a person-animacy sensitive voice and case system. Finally, the constructions marking information structure, reference tracking, and speaker perspective include a mix of particles, clitics, constituent order alternations, and highly productive noun incorporation.

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/10.1515/9783110712742-054

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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