Karankawa language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Karankawa |
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|---|---|
| Keles | |
| Native to | United States |
| Region | Texas coast, from Galveston Island to Corpus Christi |
| Ethnicity | Karankawa people |
| Extinct | 1858 |
| Language family | |
| Linguist List | zkk |
Pre-contact distribution of the Karankawa language, lacking the historical inclusion of the Houston-Galveston area
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The Karankawa language (pronounced kə-ˈræŋ-kə-wə) was once spoken by the Karankawa people. These Native Americans lived along the coast of Texas in the United States. They moved between the mainland and the nearby barrier islands.
Sadly, the Karankawa language is now extinct. It died out around 1858. It was not closely related to other languages spoken in the area. This means it might have been a language isolate, a language with no known relatives. Only a few hundred words of Karankawa have been saved. These words were written down by explorers and linguists between 1698 and the 1880s.
Words We Know
We only have a small collection of Karankawa words. These words were recorded by different people over many years. Albert Samuel Gatschet, a linguist from the late 1800s, collected some words from people who remembered the language.
Here are some interesting words from the Karankawa language:
- Nāt’sa means "one". People counted this on their right pinky finger.
- Haikia means "two" or "second". This was counted on the right ring finger.
- Kaxayi means "three". This was counted on the right middle finger.
- Hayo hak(ě)n means "four" or "fourth". It was counted on the right index finger.
- Do-aḍ also means "four" or "fourth". It literally means "deer".
- Nāt’sa Behema means "five" or "fifth". It literally means "First Father". This was counted on the right thumb.
- Hayo Haikia means "six" or "sixth". It literally means "Three two". This was counted on the left pinky finger.
- Haikia Nāt’sa means "seven" or "seventh". It literally means "Second one".
- Haikia Behema means "eight" or "eighth". It literally means "Second father".
- Haikia Do-aḍ means "nine" or "ninth". It literally means "Second deer".
- (Do-aḍ) Habe means "ten" or "tenth". It literally means "Ten(th deer)". This was counted on the left thumb.
Common Karankawa Words
Here are some other words that were recorded:
- Kaup(ě)n means "Speak"
- Yamawe means "Man"
- Glo-essen or Glos(ě)n means "Boy"
- Kaninma means "Woman" or "Mother"
- Ka'da means "Girl"
- Glle-i means "Water"
- Ahayika means "Friend"
- Dōwal means "Sun"
- Kiss means "Dog"
- Peka means "White"
- Pal or Ma means "Black"
- Aknamus means "Eat"
- Tcha means "See"
- Ye means "Go" or "Walk"
See also
- In Spanish: Idioma karankawa para niños
