Valley Yokuts
RegionSan Joaquin Valley, California
EthnicityYokuts
Native speakers
unknown (2007)[1]
20–25 fluent and semi-speakers[1]
Yok-Utian ?
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3(included in Yokuts [yok])
Glottologvall1251
Historical distribution with dialects

Valley Yokuts is a dialect cluster of the Yokutsan language family of California.

Chukchansi, which is still spoken natively, has language classes and a preschool for children. It is also taught at a local elementary school. Though there are no longer any native speakers, Tachi has a Headstart language program.

Divisions of Valley Yokuts

Varieties

Valley Yokuts is sometimes considered three languages.[2]

Yachikumne (a.k.a. Chulamni)
Chalostaca
Lakisamni
Tawalimni
Nopṭinṭe
Chawchila
Chukchansi
Kechayi
Dumna
Wechihit
Nutunutu–Tachi
Chunut (a.k.a. Sumtache)
Wo’lasi–Choynok
Wowol
Telamni
Koyeti–Yawelmani

Of these, Yawelmani /jɑːwɛlˈmɑːni/,[3] also known as Yowlumni, is the best known. See also Chukchansi dialect.

Grammar

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2008)
deeyi 'to lead'
deeyen 'he will lead'
deyhin 'he led'
diyhatinhin 'he wanted to lead'
diyee’iy 'place where one got the lead' (subjective)
diyaa’an 'he is leading'
deydiyen 'he will lead repeatedly'
diyidyiisaahin ’anam 'they led each other repeatedly'
diyeediyic’ 'one who is leading repeatedly' (subjective)
deyday 'act of leading repeatedly' (subjective)
’ɔɔṭ’hun 'he stole' - ’ɔɔṭ’uṭ’hun 'he stole often'
’ɔɔṭ’al 'he might steal' - ’ɔɔṭ’uṭ’al 'he might steal often'

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b Golla 2007.
  2. ^ Northern Valley is sometimes called "Northern Foothill". However, in Gamble's 1988 classification, Foothill Yokuts is a cover term for Gashowu–Kings River, Tule-Kaweah, and Buena Vista Yokuts.
  3. ^ Laurie Bauer, 2007, The Linguistics Student’s Handbook, Edinburgh