Rumsen language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rumsen |
|
|---|---|
| San Carlos | |
| Native to | United States |
| Region | California |
| Ethnicity | Rumsen people |
| Extinct | 1939, with the death of Isabel Meadows |
| Language family | |
| Writing system | Latin |
The Rumsen language (also called Rumsien, San Carlos Costanoan, or Carmeleno) is one of eight Ohlone languages. These languages were historically spoken by the Rumsen people in Northern California. The Rumsen language was used in an area stretching from the Pajaro River down to Point Sur. It was also spoken along the lower parts of the Pajaro, Salinas, and Carmel Rivers. This region includes the modern-day cities of Salinas, Monterey, and Carmel.
Contents
History of the Rumsen Language
The Rumsen language is part of the Ohlone group, which belongs to the larger Utian family. In 1770, the Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo was founded. Rumsen became one of the two main native languages spoken there. The other important language was Esselen.
The Last Speaker and Language Revival
The last person who spoke Rumsen fluently was Isabel Meadows. She passed away in 1939. A linguist named John Peabody Harrington from the Bureau of American Ethnology worked closely with Isabel Meadows. He took many notes during the last years of her life. These notes are now very important for people studying Rumsen. They also help with efforts to bring the language back to life.
The Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe is working hard to revive their language. They have started teaching Rumsen to their tribal members. They are also creating a new English-Rumsen dictionary. This helps new generations learn and use their ancestral language.
Rumsen-Speaking Tribes
The Rumsen language had different versions, called dialects. These dialects were spoken by four separate local tribes. These included the Rumsen tribe itself, the Ensen people near Salinas, and the Calendaruc tribe along the central coast of Monterey Bay. The Sargentaruc tribe also spoke a dialect of Rumsen along the Big Sur Coast.
Neighboring Tribes and Territories
The area where Rumsen was spoken had clear borders. To the west, it was bordered by Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. To the north were the Awaswas Ohlone people. The Mutsun Ohlone lived to the east. To the southeast were the Chalon Ohlone. Finally, the Esselen people lived to the south of the Rumsen territory.
See also
