Mojave language

Mojave (also Mohave) is the native language of the Mohave people along the Colorado River in southeastern California, northwestern Arizona, and southwestern Nevada. Approximately 70% of the speakers reside in Arizona, while approximately 30% reside in California. Mojave belongs to the River branch of the Yuman language family, together with Quechan and Maricopa.

Mojave language became endangered during the 20th century when Mohave children were taken away from their parents to be raised in boarding schools, where they were prohibited to speak the language. They were prohibited from speaking it with their parents when they were on occasional visits home, in spite of many parents speaking no English.^[3][4][5]

Phonology

All claims and examples in this section come from Munro (1974) unless otherwise noted. Mohave phonology is similar to that of Maricopa. One difference is that sometime in the 19th century Mohave speakers shifted the sounds [s] and [ʂ] (similar to sh as in "shack") to [θ] (th as in "thick") and [s], respectively.^[6][7]

Consonants

The post-alveolar stops /ɳ/ and /ʈ/ are very infrequent and occur only in few words.

Vowels

Mohave has five vowel qualities, with length distinction and a weak vowel /ə/.

Language revitalization

As of 2012, The Center for Indian Education at Arizona State University "has facilitated workshops for both learners and speakers at the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation in northwest Arizona, California and Nevada. Fort Mojave has about 22 elders who speak some Mojave."^[8] The project is also bringing elders together with younger people to teach the traditional Mojave "bird songs."^[9]

The language preservation work of poet Natalie Diaz on the reservation was featured on the PBS News Hour in March 2012.^[10]

See also

• Mohave traditional narratives

References

• Hinton, Leanne. 1994. Flutes of Fire: Essays on California Indian Languages. Heyday Books, Berkeley, California.

External links

• Mojave language overview at the Survey of California and Other Indian Languages
• OLAC resources in and about the Mohave language
• California Language Archive: "Mojave"
• World Atlas of Language Structures: Mojave
• Mojave basic lexicon at the Global Lexicostatistical Database
• Mohave Indian Language (Mojave)
• "The Cultural Conservancy – Mojave Creation Songs". Retrieved 2012-09-11. 
• "House of Night: The Lost Creation Songs of the Mohave People". Lost and Found Sound: The Stories. Retrieved 2012-09-11. 

Languages of California Indigenous Algic Wiyot Yurok Athabascan Tolowa Hupa Mattole Kato Wailaki Chumashan Obispeño Island Chumash Purisimeño Ineseño Barbareño Ventureño Ohlone Karkin Chochenyo Ramaytush Tamyen Awaswas Mutsun Rumsen Chalon Hokan Chimariko Karuk Achomawi Atsugewi Northeastern Pomo Eastern Pomo Southeastern Pomo Northern Pomo Central Pomo Southern Pomo Kashaya Washo Mojave Kumeyaay Yana Yahi Penutian Klamath-Mudoc Yokuts Wintu Bay Miwok Coast Miwok Lake Miwok Plains Miwok Central Sierra Miwok Northern Sierra Miwok Southern Sierra Miwok Valley Maidu Northeast Maidu Northwest Maidu Nisenan Shastan Konomihu New River Shasta Okwanuchu Shasta Uto Aztecan Cahuilla Cupeño Kawaiisu Kitanemuk Luiseño-Juaneño Mono Northern Paiute Panamint Serrano Tataviam Tongva Ute Wintuan Nomlaki Patwin Southern Patwin Wintu Yokutsan Buena Vista Yokuts, Chukchansi, Gashowu Yokuts, Kings River Yokuts, Palewyami, Tule-Kaweah Yokuts, Valley Yokuts Yukian Yuki, Wappo Language isolates Esselen, Chimariko, Karuk, Salinan, Takelma Non-Indigenous Indo-European American English California English Chicano English Spanish Armenian Punjabi Russian Asian Chinese Korean Tagalog Vietnamese Italics indicate extinct languages

Languages of Arizona Indigenous Athabaskan Navajo Western Apache Tanoan Tewa Uto-Aztecan Hopi O'odham Southern Paiute Yaqui Yuman-Cochimí Cocopah Havasupai Hualapai Maricopa Mojave Quechan Yavapai Language isolate Zuni Non-Indigenous Indo-European English Spanish