Kings River Yokuts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings River Yokuts |
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|---|---|
| Region | San Joaquin Valley, California |
| Ethnicity | Yokuts people |
| Extinct | 2017 with the death of Hank Oliver |
| Language family | |
Historical distribution of Kings River Yokuts
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Kings River was a special language spoken by the Yokuts people in California. It was part of a larger group of languages called Yokutsan languages. Sadly, the last known speaker of Kings River, Hank Oliver, passed away in 2017. This means the language is now considered extinct.
What was the Kings River Yokuts Language?
The Kings River language was spoken by Native American communities. These communities lived in the San Joaquin Valley region of California. Languages like Kings River are important because they carry the history and culture of the people who speak them.
Where was Kings River Yokuts spoken?
The Kings River Yokuts language was named after the Kings River. This river flows through the central part of California. The people who spoke this language lived along the river and in the surrounding areas. Their traditional lands were rich in natural resources.
Dialects of Kings River Yokuts
Like many languages, Kings River Yokuts had different ways of being spoken. These different versions are called dialects. There were four main dialects of the Kings River language:
- Chukaymina
- Michahay
- Ayitcha (also known as Kocheyali)
- Choynimni
Each dialect had its own unique sounds and words. However, they were similar enough for speakers to understand each other.
