Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Sahaptian languages

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Geographic distribution
  
Pacific Northwest

Glottolog
  
saha1239

Subdivisions
  
Nez Perce Sahaptin

Linguistic classification
  
Plateau Penutian Sahaptian

Sahaptian (also Sahaptianic, Sahaptin, Shahaptian) is a two-language branch of the Plateau Penutian family spoken by Native American peoples in the Columbia Plateau region of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in the northwestern United States.

Contents

Family division

Sahaptian includes 2 languages:

1. Nez Perce (AKA Nez Percé, Nezperce)
  • Upper Nez Perce
  • Lower Nez Perce
    • 2. Sahaptin (Sħáptənəxw)
  • Northern Sahaptin group
  • Northwest Sahaptin dialect cluster
  • Northeast Sahaptin dialect cluster
  • Southern Sahaptin group (AKA Columbia River cluster)

    • Nez Perce has two main varieties (Upper and Lower). Sahaptin has considerably greater internal diversity with several different varieties.

    Note that the terms Sahaptian (the family) and Sahaptin (the language) have often been confused and used interchangeably in the literature.

    Tribes

  • Upper Cowlitz or Taidnapam
  • Kittitas (Upper Yakima, Pshwanwapam, Pswanwapam)
  • Klickitat
  • Nez Percé
  • Nez Percé language
  • Palus (Palouse)
  • Tenino (Warm Springs)
  • Tygh (Upper Deschutes)
  • Wyam (Lower Deschutes)
  • Skinpah (Skin)
  • Umatilla
  • Walla Walla
  • Wanapum
  • Wauyukma (Lower Snake)
  • Yakama

    • References

    Sahaptian languages Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA