Yuman–Cochimí


The Yuman–Cochimí languages are a family of languages spoken in Baja California, northern Sonora, southern California, and western Arizona.

There are approximately a dozen Yuman languages. The extinct Cochimí, attested from the 18th century, was identified after the rest of the family had been established, and was found to be more divergent.

The resulting family was therefore called Yuman–Cochimí, with Yuman being the extra-Cochimí languages.

Cochimí is now extinct. Cucapá is the Spanish name for the Cocopa. Diegueño is the Spanish name for Ipai–Kumeyaay–Tipai, now often referred to collectively as Kumeyaay.

Upland Yuman consists of several mutually intelligible dialects spoken by the politically distinct Yavapai, Hualapai, and Havasupai.

  • Cochimí (†) (Northern Cochimí and Southern Cochimí may have been distinct languages)
  • Kiliwa
  • Core Yuman ?
    • Delta–California Yuman
      • Ipai (a.k.a. ‘Iipay, Northern Diegueño)
      • Kumeyaay (a.k.a. Southern Diegueño, Campo, Kamia)
      • Tipai (a.k.a. Southern Diegueño, Huerteño, Ku’ahl)
      • Cocopah (a.k.a. Cucapá; cf. Kahwan, Halyikwamai)
    • River Yuman
      • Quechan (a.k.a. Yuma)
      • Maricopa (a.k.a. Pii-Paash; cf. also Halchidhoma)
      • Mojave
    • Pai
      • Yavapai
      • Upland Yuman (a.k.a. Northern Yuman)
        • Hualapai dialect (a.k.a. Walapai)
        • Havasupai dialect
      • Paipai (a.k.a. Akwa’ala; possibly distinct from the Upland Yuman language only at the dialect level)