Lower Chinook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lower Chinook |
|
|---|---|
| Tsinúk | |
| Native to | United States |
| Region | Columbia River Valley |
| Ethnicity | 140 (2000 census) |
| Extinct | in the 1930s |
| Language family |
Chinookan
|
Lower Chinook was a special language spoken by Native American people. It belonged to a group of languages called Chinookan. This language was used near the mouth of the Columbia River, which is on the west coast of North America.
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About the Lower Chinook Language
The Lower Chinook language was once spoken by different groups of people who lived along the Columbia River. These groups included the Clatsop and Shoalwater people. Learning about languages like Lower Chinook helps us understand the history and culture of these Native American communities.
Where Was Lower Chinook Spoken?
Lower Chinook was spoken in two main areas. One area was in what is now northwestern Oregon. This was around the mouth of the Columbia River and a place called the Clatsop Plains. The other area was in southwestern Washington, near a bay called Willapa Bay.
When Did Lower Chinook Disappear?
Sadly, the Lower Chinook language is no longer spoken today. It became extinct, meaning no one speaks it as their first language anymore. The last people who spoke the Shoalwater dialect of Lower Chinook passed away in the 1930s. This shows how important it is to try and preserve languages so they don't disappear forever.
Different Kinds of Lower Chinook
Lower Chinook had a few different forms, or dialects, that were spoken by various groups:
- Clatsop: This dialect was spoken by the Clatsop people. They lived in northwestern Oregon, close to where the Columbia River meets the ocean.
- Shoalwater: This dialect was also known as Chinook proper. It was spoken by the Shoalwater people in southwestern Washington, around the southern part of Willapa Bay. This is the dialect that became extinct in the 1930s.
- Chinook Jargon: While not a dialect of Lower Chinook in the same way as Clatsop or Shoalwater, Chinook Jargon was a very important trade language. It borrowed words from many different languages, including Lower Chinook, and was used by Native Americans and European settlers to communicate for trade and other purposes across a wide area.
