Wintuan languages

Language family of Northern California, US

Wintun

Copeh
Geographic
distribution| California
Ethnicity| Wintun people
Linguistic classification| Penutian ?

* Wintun

Early form

Proto-Wintuan

Subdivisions|

* Northern
* Southern

Language codes
Glottolog| `wint1258`

Pre-contact distribution of Wintuan languages

Wintuan (also Wintun, Wintoon, Copeh, Copehan) is a family of languages spoken in the Sacramento Valley of central Northern California.

All Wintuan languages are either extinct or severely endangered.

## Classification

[edit]

### Family division

[edit]

William F. Shipley listed three Wintuan languages in his encyclopedic overview of California Indian languages.[1] More recently, Marianne Mithun split Southern Wintuan into a Patwin language and a Southern Patwin language, resulting in the following classification.[2]

* Wintuan
* Northern Wintuan
* Wintu (a.k.a. Wintu proper, Northern Wintu) †
* Nomlaki (a.k.a. Noamlakee, Central Wintu) †
* Southern Wintuan
* Patwin (a.k.a. Patween)
* Southern Patwin †

Wintu became extinct with the death of the last fluent speaker in 2003.[3] As of 2010[update], Nomlaki has at least one partial speaker.[3] One speaker of Patwin (Hill Patwin dialect) remained in 2003.[4] Southern Patwin, once spoken by the Suisun local tribe just northeast of San Francisco Bay, became extinct in the early 20th century and is thus poorly known.[5][2] Wintu proper is the best documented of the four Wintuan languages.

Pitkin estimated that the Wintuan languages were about as close to each other as the Romance languages.[6] They may have diverged from a common tongue only 2,000 years ago. A comparative study including a reconstruction of Proto-Wintuan phonology, morphology and lexicon was undertaken by Shepherd.[7]

### Possible relations to external language families

[edit]

The Wintuan family is usually considered to be a member of the hypothetical Penutian language phylum[8] and was one of the five branches of the original California kernel of Penutian proposed by Roland B. Dixon and Alfred L. Kroeber.[9][10] However, recent studies suggest that the Wintuans independently entered California about 1,500 years ago from an earlier location somewhere in Oregon.[11] The Wintuan pronominal system closely resembles that of Klamath, while there are numerous lexical resemblances between Northern Wintuan and Alsea that appear to be loans.[12][13][14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Shipley 1978, p. 89.
2. ^ a b Mithun 1999.
3. ^ a b Golla 2011, p. 143.
4. ^ Golla 2011, p. 145.
5. ^ Golla 2011, p. 146.
6. ^ Pitkin 1984.
7. ^ Shepherd 2006.
8. ^ Golla 2011, pp. 128–168.
9. ^ Dixon & Kroeber 1913a.
10. ^ Dixon & Kroeber 1913b.
11. ^ Golla 2007, pp. 75–78.
12. ^ Golla 1997.
13. ^ DeLancey & Golla 1997.
14. ^ Liedtke 2007.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* DeLancey, Scott; Golla, Victor (1997). "The Penutian hypothesis: Retrospect and prospect". International Journal of American Linguistics. 63: 171–202\. doi:10.1086/466318.
* Dixon, Roland B.; Kroeber, Alfred L. (1913a). "New linguistic families in California". American Anthropologist. 15 (4): 647–655\. doi:10.1525/aa.1913.15.4.02a00050.
* Dixon, Roland B.; Kroeber, Alfred L. (1913b). "Relationship of the Indian languages of California". Science. 37 (945): 225. Bibcode:1913Sci....37..225D. doi:10.1126/science.37.945.225. PMID 17796266.
* Golla, Victor (1997). "The Alsea-Wintu connection". International Journal of American Linguistics. 63: 157–170\. doi:10.1086/466317.
* Golla, Victor (2007). "Linguistic Prehistory". In Jones, Terry L.; Klar, Kathryn A. (eds.). California Prehistory: Colonization, Culture, and Complexity. New York: Altamira Press. pp. 71–82\. ISBN 978-0-7591-0872-1.
* Golla, Victor (2011). California Indian languages. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26667-4.
* Liedtke, Stefan (2007). The Relationship of Wintuan to Plateau Penutian. LINCOM studies in Native American linguistics. Vol. 55\. Munich: Lincom Europa. ISBN 978-3-89586-357-8.
* Mithun, Marianne (1999). The languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-23228-7.
* Pitkin, Harvey (1984). Wintu grammar. University of California publications in linguistics. Vol. 94\. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-09612-6.
* Shepherd, Alice (2006). Proto-Wintun. University of California publications in linguistics. Vol. 137\. Berkeley: University of California Press.
* Shipley, William F. (1978). "Native Languages of California". In Sturtevant, William C.; Heizer, Robert F. (eds.). Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 8: California. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 80–90\. ISBN 0-16-004578-9.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Dixon, Roland B.; Kroeber, Alfred L. (1903). "The native languages of California". American Anthropologist. 5: 1–26\. doi:10.1525/aa.1903.5.1.02a00020.
* Dixon, Roland B.; Kroeber, Alfred L. (1919). "Linguistic families of California". University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology. 16. Berkeley: University of California: 47–118.
* Grant, Anthony (1997). "Coast Oregon Penutian". International Journal of American Linguistics. 63: 144–156\. doi:10.1086/466316.
* Pitkin, Harvey (1985). Wintu dictionary. University of California publications in linguistics. Vol. 95\. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-09613-4.
* Schlichter, Alice (1981). Wintu Dictionary (Report). Survey of California and Other Indian Languages. Vol. 2\. Berkeley: University of California.
* Shepherd, Alice (1989). Wintu texts. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-09748-3.
* Whistler, Kenneth W. (February 19–21, 1977). "Wintun Prehistory: An Interpretation based on Linguistic Reconstruction of Plant and Animal Nomenclature". Proceedings of the Third Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society. 3. Berkeley: 157–174\. doi:10.3765/bls.v3i0.3287.
* Whistler, Kenneth W. (1980). Proto-Wintun kin classification: A case study in reconstruction of a complex semantic system (PhD thesis). Berkeley: University of California.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wintuan languages.

Wiktionary has a list of reconstructed forms at Appendix:Proto-Wintun reconstructions

* Native Tribes, Groups, Language Families and Dialects of California in 1770 (map after Kroeber)
* Morphological Parallels between Klamath and Wintu (Scott DeLancey)
* The Wintu Language Project
* Wintu (Wintun)
* Wintu vocabulary words

* v
* t
* e

Penutian languages

Chinookan|

* Kathlamet
* Lower Chinook
* Upper Chinook

Coast Oregon|

* Alsean
* Coosan
* Hanis
* Miluk
* Siuslaw

Plateau|

* Klamath
* Molala
* Sahaptian
* Nez Perce
* Sahaptin
* Umatilla

Takelma|

* Takelma

Kalapuyan|

* Central Kalapuya
* Northern Kalapuya
* Yoncalla

Maiduan|

* Chico
* Konkow
* Maidu
* Nisenan

Tsimshianic|

* Coast Tsimshian
* Gitksan
* Nisga’a
* Southern Tsimshian

Wintuan|

* Nomlaki
* Patwin
* Southern Patwin
* Wintu

Yok-Utian|

| Yokuts|

* Palewyami Yokuts

| General Yokuts|

* Buena Vista Yokuts
* Tulamni
* Hometwoli

| Nim|

* Tule–Kaweah Yokuts
* Wukchumni
* Yawdanchi

| Northern Yokuts|

* Gashowu Yokuts
* Kings River Yokuts
* Choynimni
* Valley Yokuts
* Delta Yokuts
* Northern Valley Yokuts
* Chukchansi
* Southern Valley Yokuts
* Tachi Yokuts
* Yawelmani Yokuts

|

Utian|

| Miwok|

| Western|

* Coast Miwok
* Lake Miwok

|

Eastern|

* Plains Miwok
* Bay Miwok

| Sierra Miwok|

* Northern Sierra Miwok
* Central Sierra Miwok
* Southern Sierra Miwok

|

Ohlone|

* Karkin

| Northern|

* Awaswas
* Chalon

| San Fransisco Bay|

* Tamien
* Ramaytush
* Chochenyo

|

Southern|

* Mutsun
* Rumsen

Italics indicate extinct languages

* v
* t
* e

Primary language families

Africa|

* Afroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Khoe–Kwadi
* Kx'a
* Niger–Congo
* Nilo-Saharan(?)
* Tuu
* Dogon?
* Ijoid?
* Kadu?
* Katla?
* Kru?
* Lafofa?
* Mande?
* Rashad?
* Songhay?
* Talodi–Heiban?
* Ubangian?

Isolates|

* Bangime
* Gule
* Hadza
* Jalaa
* Sandawe
* Laal?
* Mimi of Decorse?
* Ongota?
* Shabo?

Eurasia
(Europe
and Asia)|

* Afroasiatic
* Ainu
* Austroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Chukotko-Kamchatkan
* Dravidian
* Eskaleut
* Great Andamanese
* Hmong–Mien
* Hurro-Urartian
* Indo-European
* Japonic
* Kartvelian
* Koreanic
* Kra–Dai
* Mongolic
* Nivkh
* Northeast Caucasian
* Northwest Caucasian
* Ongan
* Sino-Tibetan
* Tungusic
* Turkic
* Tyrsenian
* Uralic
* Yeniseian
* Yukaghir
* Arunachal?
* Digaro?
* Kho-Bwa?
* Mijiic?
* Miju?
* Siangic?

Isolates|

* Basque
* Burushaski
* Elamite
* Hattic
* Kusunda
* Nihali
* Rutulian
* Sumerian
* Vedda
* Bugun?
* Eteocretan?
* Eteocypriot?
* Hruso?
* Kenaboi?
* Minoan?
* Puroik?
* Shompen?
* Tambora?

New Guinea
and the Pacific|

* Arai–Samaia
* Austronesian
* Berau Gulf
* Binanderean–Goilalan
* Border
* Bulaka River
* Central Solomons
* Chimbu–Wahgi
* Demta–Sentani
* Doso–Turumsa
* East Geelvink Bay
* East New Britain
* East Strickland
* Eleman
* Engan
* Fas
* Foja Range
* Gogodala–Suki
* Hatam–Mansim
* Kaure–Kosare
* Kiwaian
* Kutubuan
* Lakes Plain
* Lower Mamberamo
* Lower Sepik
* Madang
* Mairasi
* Mantion–Meax
* North Bougainville
* North Halmahera
* Pauwasi
* Ramu
* Senagi
* Senu River
* Sepik
* Skou
* South Bougainville
* Teberan–Pawaian
* Torricelli
* Trans-Fly
* Trans–New Guinea
* Turama–Kikorian
* Upper Yuat
* West Bird's Head
* Yam
* Yawan
* Yuat
* Northwest Papuan?
* Papuan Gulf?
* West Papuan?

Isolates|

* Abinomn
* Abun
* Burmeso
* Kol
* Kuot
* Maybrat
* Mpur
* Porome
* Anêm?
* Ata?
* Sulka?
* Taiap?
* Tambora?
* Yele?

Australia|

* Bunuban
* Eastern Daly
* Eastern Tasmanian
* Garawan
* Gunwinyguan
* Iwaidjan
* Jarrakan
* Maningrida
* Mirndi
* Northeastern Tasmanian
* Northern Tasmanian
* Nyulnyulan
* Pama–Nyungan
* Southern Daly
* Tangkic
* Wagaydyic (Northern Daly?)
* Western Daly
* Western Tasmanian
* Worrorran
* Arnhem/Macro-Gunwinyguan?
* Darwin Region?
* Marrku–Wurrugu?
* Yangmanic (incl. Wagiman)?

Isolates|

* Giimbiyu
* Malak-Malak (Northern Daly?)
* Tiwi
* Gaagudju?
* Kungarakany?

North
America|

* Algic
* Caddoan
* Chimakuan
* Chinookan
* Chumashan
* Comecrudan
* Coosan
* Eskaleut
* Iroquoian
* Kalapuyan
* Maiduan
* Muskogean
* Na-Dene
* Palaihnihan
* Plateau Penutian
* Pomoan
* Salishan
* Shastan
* Siouan
* Tanoan
* Tsimshianic
* Utian
* Uto-Aztecan
* Wakashan
* Wintuan
* Yuki–Wappo
* Yuman–Cochimí

Isolates|

* Alsea
* Atakapa
* Cayuse
* Chimariko
* Chitimacha
* Coahuilteco
* Cotoname
* Esselen
* Haida
* Karuk
* Keres?
* Kutenai
* Natchez
* Salinan
* Seri
* Siuslaw
* Takelma
* Timucua
* Tonkawa
* Tunica
* Waikuri
* Washo
* Yana
* Yokuts?
* Yuchi
* Zuni

Mesoamerica|

* Arawakan
* Chibchan
* Jicaquean
* Lencan
* Mayan
* Misumalpan
* Mixe–Zoque
* Oto-Manguean
* Tequistlatecan
* Totonacan
* Uto-Aztecan
* Xincan

Isolates|

* Cuitlatec
* Huave
* Tarascan/Purépecha

South
America|

* Alacalufan
* Andoque–Urequena
* Araucanian
* Arawakan
* Arawan
* Aymaran
* Barbacoan
* Boran
* Bororoan
* Cahuapanan
* Cañari–Puruhá
* Cariban
* Chapacuran
* Charruan
* Chibchan
* Chicham
* Choco
* Chonan
* Guaicuruan
* Guajiboan
* Harákmbut–Katukinan
* Hibito–Cholón
* Huarpean
* Jirajaran
* Kakwa-Nukak
* Kariri
* Lule–Vilela
* Macro-Jê
* Mascoian
* Matacoan
* Nadahup
* Nambikwaran
* Otomákoan
* Pano-Tacanan
* Peba–Yaguan
* Piaroa–Saliban
* Quechuan
* Ticuna–Yuri
* Timotean
* Tiniguan
* Tucanoan
* Tupian
* Uru–Chipaya
* Witotoan
* Xukuruan
* Yanomaman
* Zamucoan
* Zaparoan
* Catacaoan?

Isolates|

* Aikanã
* Arutani
* Betoi
* Camsá
* Candoshi-Shapra
* Canichana
* Cayubaba
* Chimane
* Chiquitano
* Chono
* Cofán
* Culle
* Esmeralda
* Guachí
* Guamo
* Guató
* Hodï/Joti
* Iatê
* Irantxe
* Itonama
* Kanoê
* Kunza
* Kwaza
* Leco
* Maku/Jukude
* Matanawi
* Mochica
* Movima
* Munichi
* Mura-Pirahã
* Omurano
* Otí
* Páez
* Payaguá
* Puinave
* Purian
* Puquina
* Sape
* Sechura
* Tallán
* Taruma
* Taushiro
* Tequiraca
* Trumai
* Urarina
* Waorani/Huaorani
* Warao
* Yaruro
* Yahgan
* Yuracaré
* Yurumangui
* Katembri?
* Sanavirón?

Sign
languages|

* Arab
* Australian Aboriginal
* BANZSL
* Chinese
* Francosign
* Germanosign
* Hand Talk
* Indo-Pakistani
* Japanese
* Original Thai
* Swedish
* Paraguay–Uruguay?
* Providencia–Cayman?
* Sudanese?
* Tanzanian?

Isolates|

* See list of sign languages
* Village sign languages

See also|

* Constructed languages
* Creoles
* Language isolates
* Mixed languages
* Pidgins
* Spurious languages
* Unclassified languages
* Whistled languages

* Families with question marks (?) are disputed or controversial.
* Families in italics have no living members.
* Families with more than 30 languages are in bold.

* v
* t
* e

Indigenous language families and isolates of North America

Language families
and isolates|

* Chumashan †
* Yuki–Wappo †
* Adai †
* Beothuk †
* Bidai †
* Cayuse †
* Haida
* Kutenai
* Nansemond †
* Pamunkey †
* Pericú †
* Timucua †
* Waikuri †

| Eskaleut|

* Aleut
* Eskimoan

|

Na-Dene|

* Eyak †
* Tlingit
* Athabaskan

Algic|

* Wiyot †
* Yurok †
* Algonquian

Mosan ?|

* Chimakuan †
* Salishan
* Wakashan

Macro-Siouan ?|

* Caddoan
* Iroquoian
* Siouan
* Yuchi †

Penutian ?|

* Chinookan †
* Maiduan
* Plateau
* Tsimshianic
* Wintuan

| Yok-Utian ?|

* Yokuts
* Utian

|

Coast Oregon ?|

* Alsean †
* Coosan †
* Siuslaw †

Takelma–Kalapuyan ?|

* Takelma †
* Kalapuyan †

Hokan ?|

* Jicaquean
* Palaihnihan †
* Pomoan
* Shastan †
* Tequistlatecan
* Yuman
* Chimariko †
* Esselen †
* Karuk
* Salinan †
* Seri
* Washo
* Yana †

Pueblo
linguistic area|

* Tanoan
* Keres
* Zuni

Coahuiltecan
linguistic area|

* Aranama †
* Coahuilteco †
* Cotoname †
* Karankawa †
* Maratino †
* Naolan †
* Quinigua †
* Solano †
* Tonkawa †
* Comecrudan †

Gulf ?|

* Muskogean
* Atakapa †
* Chitimacha †
* Natchez †

| Calusa–Tunica ?|

* Calusa †
* Tunica †

|

Mesoamerican
linguistic area|

* Chibchan
* Jicaquean
* Lencan †
* Mayan
* Misumalpan
* Mixe–Zoque
* Oto-Manguean
* Tequistlatecan
* Totonacan
* Uto-Aztecan
* Xincan †
* Alagüilac ? †
* Cueva †
* Cuitlatec †
* Huave
* Otomi of Jalisco †
* Purépecha
* Zapotec of Jalisco †

Caribbean
linguistic area|

* Arawakan
* Cariban

| Pre-Arawakan|

* Ciguayo †
* Guanahatabey †
* Macorix †

|

Proposed groupings|

* Amerind
* Algonquian–Wakashan
* Aztec–Tanoan
* Macro-Mayan
* Macro-Chibchan
* Tolatecan
* Totozoquean
* Waroid

Lists|

* Classification
* Extinct languages
* Unclassified languages
* Linguistic areas

† indicates an extinct language, italics indicates independent status of a language, bold indicates that a language family has at least 6 members

Authority control databases

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[†]: Extinct
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