At the time of Columbus’ arrival, America had a population of 75,000,000 people that spoke 2,000 languages in North, Central, and South America. In the world today, approximately 6,000 languages are spoken, and only about 600 languages are expected to survive this century.
There are more than 800 indigenous languages in the Western Hemisphere. In the US, 165 native american languages are still spoken.
Seventy-four native american languages are almost extinct, with only a handful of elderly speakers. Fifty-eight indigenous languages have fewer than 1,000 fluent speakers, twenty-five have 1,000-10,000 speakers, and only 8 native american languages have more than 10,000 speakers.
Many indigenous languages of the Americas are endangered, and many others are extinct, with no living native speakers.
Language scholars estimate that before the time of Columbus, over 300 languages were spoken in North America north of Mexico. Since then, that number has dropped to about 175 indigenous languages.
One estimate predicts that number will dwindle to less than 20 by the year 2050.
When our children were sent to government boarding schools, they were severely punished for speaking our native languages, and over time many of them were nearly forgotten.
We believe that languages have a spirit all their own.It is our vision for the future to once again hear whole generations of native people fluently speaking thier native languages. For as long as one person speaks a language, that language’s people and traditions and history will survive and thrive.
The classification below is a composite of Goddard (1996), Campbell (1997), and Mithun (1999).
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† = Extinct languages
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Yet to be classified below this line
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Esselen-Yuman (10)
Esselen † (1)
Esselen (United States)
Athapaskan-Eyak (44)
Athapaskan (43)
Apachean (6)
Kiowa Apache (1)
Apache, Kiowa [apk] (United States)
Navajo-Apache (5)
Eastern Apache (3)
Apache, Jicarilla (United States)
Apache, Lipan (United States)
Apache, Mescalero-Chiricahua (United States)
Western Apache-Navajo (2)
Apache, Western (United States)
Navajo (United States)
Canadian (13)
Beaver-Sekani (2)
Beaver(Canada)
Sekani (Canada)
Carrier-Chilcotin (4)
Babine-Carrier (3)
Babine (Canada)
Carrier
Southern Carrier(Canada)
Chilcotin (1)
Han-Kutchin (2)
Gwich’in(Canada)
Han (USA)
Hare-Chipewyan (4)
Sarcee (1)
Ingalik-Koyukon (3)
Ingalik (1)
Koyukon-Holikachuk (2)
Pacific Coast (9)
California (4)
Oregon (5)
Tahltan-Kaska (3)
Kaska (Canada)
Tahltan(Canada)
Tagish(Canada)
Tanaina-Ahtna (2)
Ahtena (USA)
Tanaina(USA)
Tanana-Upper Kuskokwim (4)
Tanana (3)
Upper Kuskokwim (1)
Tutchone (2)
Southern Tutchone(Canada)
Northern Tutchone(Canada)
Tstsaut(Canada)
Eyak (1)
Eyak(USA)
Tlingit (1)
Tlingit (USA)
Natchez †
Palaihnihan (2)
Plateau Penutian (4) (also known as Shahapwailutan)
Pomoan (7)
Salinan †
Salishan (23)
Shastan (4) †
Siouan–Catawban (19)
Siuslaw †
Solano †
Takelma †
Tanoan (7)
Timucua †
Tonkawa †
Tsimshianic (2)
Tunica †
Utian (15) (also known as Miwok–Costanoan)
Uto-Aztecan (33)
Wakashan (7)
Wappo †
Washo
Wintuan (4)
Yana †
Yokutsan (3)
Yuchi
Yuki †
Yuman (11)
Zuni
† = Extinct languages
Unclassified Languages:
Campbell et al. (2007) list the following extinct and nearly unattested language varieties of North America as unclassifiable due to lack of data.
Eyeish
Coree
Sewee
Cusabo
Shoccoree-Eno (see Eno people)
Pascagoula
Quinipissa
Opelousa
Pedee
Bayogoula
Okelousa
Congaree
Winyaw (see Winyaw)
Santee (see Santee tribe. distinguish Santee Sioux)
Okchai-Chacato (see Okchai, Chatot people)
Tequesta
Guale
Sanan
Yamasee
Akokisa
Avoyel
Tocobaga (see Tocobaga)
Houma
Neusiok (see Neusiok people)
Ubate
Cape Fear
Pensacola (see Pensacola people)
Bidai
Wateree (see Wateree people)
Mobile
Michigamea
Pakana
Saxapahaw
Keyauwee
Guachichil *
Suma-Jumano * (see Suma & Jumanos)
Huite *
Concho *
Jova *
Acaxee * (see Acaxee)
Xixime (Jijime) *
Zacatec * (see Zacatecos; perhaps the same as Acaxee)
Tahue *
Guasave *
Toboso * (see Tobosos)
* Ethnographic evidences suggests these varieties might have been Uto-Aztecan
† = Extinct languages.
Here is a list of North American languages that are now considered extinct or near extinct, along with the name of the last speaker and date of extinction, when known. An extinct language is a language that no longer has any fluent speakers, or that is no longer in current use.
Most Americans have no concept of the origin history of their state or the state they live in and this includes the knowledge of the origins of the state name. Most of our state’s names have origins in Native American Languages. There are many debates on these origins as each name may have more than one language base as well as have bad interpretations from the European Languages of English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian and more.
Here are the meanings of fifty tribal names in their own languages, cross indexed to the names they are known by today.
Grass-roots efforts to preserve and teach youngsters native languages are intensifying around the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia as about 40 indigenous tongues are in danger of disappearing within the next decade.
About half of the states and many modern towns in the US got their names from American Indian words. The name of Kentucky comes from an Iroquoian word (Kentahten), which means "land of tomorrow."