American Indian Indigenous Languages
 American Indian Language Articles
Table of Contents
Algic Language Family (Algonquian, Wiyot , Yurok)
Caddoan Language Family (Arikara, Caddo, Kitsai, Pawnee, Wichita)
California Tribes by Language Group
Chimakuan Language Family(Chimakum, Quileute)
Chinookan Language Family(Kathlamet, Lower Chinook, Upper Chinook)
Chumashan Language Family(Barbareño, Chumash, Cruzeño, Ineseño, Obispeño, Purisimeño, Ventureño)
Comecrudan Language Family(Comecrudo, Garza, Mamulique)
Na-Dene Language Family (Athabaskan, Eyak, Tlingit)
Tribes by Language Group
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American Indian Languages
The Chumashan Language Family
Chumashan is a family of languages that were spoken on the southern California coast (from San Luis Obispo to Malibu), in neighboring inland regions (San Joaquin Valley), and on three nearby islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz).
The entire Chumashan family is now extinct. The last speaker of a Chumashan language was Mary Yee who died in 1965 and spoke Barbareño.
Chumashan consists of 6 languages. Ineseño and Barbareño may have been dialects of the same language.
Obispeño, Purisimeño, Ineseño, Barbareño, and Ventureño are named after the Franciscan missions where they were moved.
Genetic relations
Roland Dixon and Alfred L. Kroeber suggested that the Chumashan languages might be related to the neighboring Salinan in a Iskoman grouping. Edward Sapir accepted this speculation and included Iskoman in his classfication of Hokan. Afterwards, Kathryn Klar (1977) found that Salinan and Chumashan shared only one word, which the Chumashan languages probably borrowed from Salinan (the word meant 'white clam shell' and was used as currency). As a result, the inclusion of Chumashan into Hokan is now disfavored by most specialists.
Characteristics
The Chumashan languages are well-known for their consonant harmony (regressive sibilant harmony).
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American Indian Language Family Trees
Goddard (1996) & Mithun (1999)
(preliminary)
LANGUAGE FAMILIES
6. Chumashan [chúmash]
Chumash (7)
- Barbareño (USA)
- Chumash (USA)
- Cruzeño (USA)
- Ineseño (USA)
- Obispeño (USA)
- Purisimeño (USA)
- Ventureño (USA)
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Today's Mail Bag:
I am confused about the spelling of Mi'kmaq or Micmac. Which is the correct spelling? And what does the translation mean?
--Submitted by Terry G
Answer: Read the answer here
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