Kalapuyan languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kalapuya |
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| Ethnicity: | Kalapuya people |
| Geographic distribution: |
Northwest Oregon |
| Linguistic classification: | Penutian ?
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| Subdivisions: |
—
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The Kalapuyan language family includes several languages that are now extinct. This means they are no longer spoken by anyone as their main language. These languages were once used by the Kalapuya people in the Willamette Valley of Western Oregon, United States. There were three main Kalapuyan languages.
Even though these languages are no longer spoken every day, there's a big effort to bring them back! People who are descendants of the Kalapuya are working hard to revive their ancestral languages. For example, in Yoncalla, a dictionary of the Kalapuya language has been created to help people learn and use it again.
What are the Kalapuyan Languages?
The Kalapuyan language family is made up of three main languages. Each of these had different dialects, which are like different versions or accents of the same language.
- Northern Kalapuya (also known as Tualatin–Yamhill)
- Central Kalapuya (this one had several dialects, including Santiam)
- Yoncalla (also called Southern Kalapuya)
All of these languages are now extinct. The symbol † next to their names means they are no longer spoken.
How are Kalapuyan Languages Related to Others?
Scientists who study languages often try to group them into larger families. This helps them understand how languages evolved and spread. The Kalapuyan languages are usually thought to be part of a bigger group called Penutian.
Some experts once thought Kalapuyan languages were closely related to another language called Takelma. They even suggested a "Takelma–Kalapuyan" family. However, more recent studies have shown that this connection might not be true. The way Takelma and Kalapuyan languages are built (their "morphology") is very different, making a close relationship unlikely.
