Yokutsan languages

Yokutsan (also Yokuts) is a family of languages spoken in the interior of southern California in and around the San Joaquin valley.

The Yawelmani dialect has been a focus of much linguistic research.

Family members

The Yokutsan family consists of 3 languages (Far Northern Valley, Foothill Yokuts, Palewyami) which in turn consist of numerous dialects and subdialects.

(1) Valley Yokuts

dialects:
  • Far Northern Valley
subdialects:
  • Yachikumne (a.k.a. Chulamni)
  • Lower San Joaquin
  • Chalostaca
  • Lakisamni
  • Tawalimni
  • Northern Valley
subdialects:
  • Nopṭinṭe
  • Merced
  • Chawchila
  • Northern Hill
  • Chukchansi
  • Kechayi
  • Dumna
  • Southern Valley
subdialects:
  • Wechihit
  • Nutunutu-Tachi
  • Chunut
  • Wo’lasi-Choynok
  • Koyeti-Yawelmani (a.k.a. Yowlumni)
  • Wowol
  • Telamni

(2) Foothill Yokuts

dialects:
  • Gashowu
  • Kings River
subdialects:
  • Chukaymina
  • Michahay
  • Ayitcha (a.k.a. Aiticha, Kocheyali)
  • Choynimni (a.k.a. Choinimni)
  • Tule-Kaweah
subdialects:
  • Wikchamni
  • Yawdanchi (a.k.a. Nutaa)
  • Bokninuwad
  • Buena Vista
subdialects:
  • Tulamni
  • Hometwali

(3) Palewyami (a.k.a. Poso Creek, Altinin)

It has been proposed that the Yokutsan family is related to the hypothetical Penutian stock. The proposed relationship is currently undemonstrated, but many linguists find the evidence so far to be promising, especially regarding the relationship between Yokutsan and the Utian family (termed "Yok-Utian" by Catherine Callaghan).

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Bibliography

Yawelmani

See also: Yokutsan languages, California, Geoffrey Pullum, Native American languages, Penutian, Utian