Konkow language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Konkow |
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|---|---|
| Northwest Maidu Koyoom kʼawi |
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| Native to | United States |
| Region | California |
| Ethnicity | Maidu, Mechoopda |
| Native speakers | 3 (2007) |
| Language family |
Maiduan
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The Konkow language, also known as Northwest Maidu, is part of the Maiduan language family. It was traditionally spoken by the Maidu people in California, United States. Sadly, very few people speak Konkow today. Only three elders who learned it as their first language are still alive. Because of this, Konkow is considered a critically endangered language.
The Konkow people call their language Koyoom kʼawi. In this name, koyoo means "meadow". Adding -m makes it an adjective. So, Koyoom kʼawi means "meadow language". The people who speak it are called Koyoom kʼawim maʼa, which means "meadow tribe".
Konkow Language Varieties
The Konkow language was spoken in different ways, depending on the area. These different ways of speaking are called dialects. Experts believe there were at least nine Konkow dialects. Each dialect was named after the place where it was spoken.
Some of these dialects included Otaki, Mikchopdo, Cherokee, Eskeni, and Feather Falls. There might have been even more small differences within families. So, there wasn't just one Konkow language. Instead, "Konkow" referred to a way of speaking that sounded different from other Maidu languages. By the early 1900s, only four of these dialects were still being used.
Other Names for Konkow
The name "Konkow" has been spelled in a few ways, like Concow and Konkau. The language is also known by other names. These include Maidu, Holólupai, Michopdo, and Nákum.
Bringing Konkow Back
Since 2002, a new version of Konkow has started to be used. This version is based on the Cherokee dialect of Konkow. It is sometimes called "Modern Konkow." Some Native Americans in California, who have family ties to the old Konkow tribe, are learning and using it.
This modern dialect comes from Mary Jones, one of the last people to speak the old Konkow language. She learned the dialect spoken near Cherokee, California. To help others learn, a special DVD course was created. It is called "Twenty-two Lessons in the Koyoongkʼawi Language."
Learning materials for the Mechoopda dialect are also available. These materials are based on old recordings of Emma Cooper from the 1940s. In 2012, a "Konkow Toddler" app was even released for iPhone, iPad, and other iOS devices. This app also uses Emma Cooper's recordings.
You can find many study materials for the Northwest Maidu language online. The Konkow Maidu Cultural Preservation Association website offers the 22-lesson course and other resources. These efforts are helping to keep the Konkow language alive for future generations.
