The Catawba (also known as Issa or Esaw) are a tribe of Native Americans that traditionally lived in the Southeast United States, along the border between North and South Carolina. Despite their small number, Catawbas served as patriots in the American Revolutionary War, fighting alongside other American revolutionaries against the British in battles such as Guilford Court House. Though their contribution to the Revolution was greatly appreciated in South Carolina, the population and land holdings of the Catawbas continued to dwindle as white Americans flourished around them.
As of 1996, about 1,400 Catawbas remain, most in South Carolina, with smaller groups in Oklahoma, Colorado, and elsewhere. The Catawa State Reserve, located in York County, South Carolina, has a population of 124 (1990). The Catawba language, which is now being revived, is part of the Siouan language family. Most Catawabas today are members of the Mormon Church.
The Catawba (also known as Issa or Esaw, but most commonly Iswa) are a tribe of Native Americans, in the Southeast United States, along the border between North and South Carolina.
The Catawba State Reserve, located in York County, South Carolina, has a population of 124 (1990).
The Catawbalanguage, which is now being resurrected, is part of the Siouan-Catawban family (Catawban branch).
Some languages, such as those in Indonesia may have tens of thousands of speakers but be endangered because children are no longer learning them, or speakers are in the process of shifting to using the national language Indonesian (or a local Malay variety) in place of local languages.
In contrast, a language with only 100 speakers might be considered very much alive if it is the primary language of a community, and is the first (or only) language of all children in that community (most of Andaman languages, actually spoken).
Language revitalization is the process by which a language community through political, community, and educational means attempts to increase the number of active speakers of the endangered language.
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