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Encyclopedia > List of endangered languages

A list of endangered languages (with fewer than 1000 speakers or in rapid decline). An endangered language is a language with so few surviving speakers that it is in danger of falling out of use. ...


In order to judge if a language is endangered, the number of speakers is less important than the age distribution; there may be 500,000 speakers of the Breton over 50 years of age, but fewer than 2,000 under 25 years of age - it is likely Breton will die out in the next half-century. There are languages in Indonesia reported to be in a similar situation with as many as two million native speakers alive now, but all of advancing age, with practically no transmission to the young. On the other hand, while there are 30,000 Ladin speakers left, almost all children still learn it as their mother tongue, thus Ladin is not endangered in the 21st century. Similarly, the Hawaiian language has only about 1,000 speakers but it has stabilized at this number, and now has school instruction in the language from kindergarten through college. Breton (Breton: Brezhoneg) is a Celtic language spoken by some of the inhabitants of Brittany (Breizh) and Loire-Atlantique (historically part of Brittany) in France. ... Ladin (Ladino in Italian, Ladin in Ladin, Ladinisch in German) is a Rhaetian language spoken in the Dolomite mountains in Italy, between the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. ... The 21st century is the present century of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hawaiian language is an Austronesian language that takes its name from that of the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. ...


While there are somewhere around six or seven thousand languages on Earth today, about half of them have fewer than about 3,000 speakers. Experts predict that even in a good scenario, about half of today's languages will go extinct within the next fifty to one hundred years. Accordingly, the list below presents only a sample of the approximately 3,000 currently endangered languages.

Contents

Africa

Anfillo is a Northern Omotic language spoken in Western Ethiopia by a few hundred people. ... Animere (sometimes Anyimere or Kunda, the latter being a toponym) is a language spoken in Ghana, in the Kecheibe and Kunda villages of the Benimbere people. ... The B languages are spoken in south-eastern C dIvoire. ... Bikya (also known as Furu) is a language of the Niger-Congo family that is spoken in Cameroon. ... The Bom language is an endangered language of Sierra Leone. ... The Bullom So language, also called Mmani or Mandingi, is an endangered language spoken near the border between Guinea and Sierra Leone. ... The Bung language is a nearly extinct language of Cameroon spoken by 3 people (in 1995) at the village of Boung on the Adamawa Plateau. ... Bussa (or Muusiye) is a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the Dirashe region in the South West of Ethiopia. ... Dahalo is an endangered South Cushitic language spoken by about 400 people in Kenya. ... The Defaka (sometimes called Afakani) are a small ethnic group of south-western Nigeria, numbering less than a thousand people. ... Deti is a Khoisan language of Botswana. ... Jalaa (autonym bàsàrə̀n dà jàlààbè̩) is an endangered language of northeastern Nigeria (Loojaa settlement in Balanga Local Government Area, Bauchi State), of uncertain (possibly Niger-Congo) origins. ... The Karon language is an endangered language of Senegal and Gambia. ... Korana is an endangered or even extinct Khoisan language of South Africa. ... The Laal language is a still-unclassified language spoken by 749 people (as of 2000) in three villages in the Moyen-Chari prefecture of Chad on opposite banks of the Chari River, called Gori (lá), Damtar (É“ual), and Mailao. ... The Lufu language of Nigeria is a nearly extinct language still spoken by some elders among the 2,000-3,000 Lufu in Takum Local Government Authority, Taraba State; its speakers have mostly shifted to Jukun. ... Nkoroo is a Niger Congo language spoken by about 4500 ethnic Nkoroo in Rivers State, Nigeria. ... Okiek (also known as Akiek) is a Southern Nilotic language cluster of the Kalenjin family spoken or once spoken by the Okiek peoples, scattered groups of hunter-gatherers in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. ... Ongamo (or Ngasa) is an endangered or extinct Eastern Nilotic language of Tanzania. ... The Sherbro language (also known as Southern Bullom, Shiba, Amampa, Mampa, and Mampwa) is an endangered language of Sierra Leone. ... Terik may refer to: The Terik language The Terik people This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Xiri is a Khoisan language of South Africa, originally spoken by a small group of Coloureds. ...

Americas

  • Bolivia
    • Baure. 13 speakers in 2000.
    • Itonama. 10 speakers in 2000.
    • Leco. 20 speakers in 2001.
    • Pacahuara. 17 speakers in 2000.
    • Reyesano. Possibly a few speakers. Ethnic population about 4,000.
    • Uru. 2 speakers in 2000.
  • Brazil
    • Amanayé. Ethnic population: 60.
    • Anambé. 7 speakers in 1991.
    • Apiacá. 2 speakers in 1986.
    • Arikapú. 6 speakers in 1998.
    • Aruá. 12 speakers in 1990.
    • Arutani. 17 speakers in Brazil in 1986.
    • Aurá. 2 speakers in 2004 SIL).
    • Cafundo Creole. 40 speakers in 1978.
    • Guató. 40 speakers in 1993.
    • Himarimã. 40 speakers.
    • Jabutí. 5 speakers in 1990.
    • Jumá. 4 speakers in 1998. There were 300 in 1940.
    • Karahawyana. 40 speakers in 1995.
    • Karipuná. 12 to 15 speakers in 2000.
    • Katawixi. 10 speakers in 1986.
    • Katukína. 1 speaker in 1976. Ethnic population: 360.
    • Kreye. 30 speakers in 1995.
    • Mapidian. 50 in speakers in Brazil in 1986.
    • Matipuhy. 40 speakers in 1995.
    • Mondé. 30 speakers in 1995.
    • Ofayé. 15 speakers in 2002.
    • Omagua. There may be none left in Brazil since 1995.
    • Oro Win. 5 speakers in 1996.
    • Pirahã. 150 speakers in 2004. Ethnic population: 200.
    • Puruborá. 2 speakers in 2002.
    • Sikiana. 33 speakers in Brazil in 1986.
    • Tariano. 100 speakers in Brazil in 1996.
    • Torá. 40 speakers in 1990.
    • Tremembé.
    • Xetá. 3 speakers in 1990.
    • Xipaya. 2 speakers in 2000.
  • Canada
    • Abenaki. 20 speakers in 1991.
    • Beaver, 300 speakers in 1991.
    • Bella Coola. 20 speakers in 2002.
    • Cayuga, 40 to 60 speakers in 2002.
    • Chinook Wawa. 83 speakers in Canada in 1962.
    • Haida, Northern and Southern dialects, fewer than 40 speakers in Canada in 1995.
    • Haisla. 25 speakers in 1991.
    • Han. 7 or 8 speakers in Canada in 1997.
    • Kutenai. 6 speakers in Canada in 2002.
    • Michif.About 600 speakers in 1998.
    • Munsee. 7 or 8 speakers in 1991.
    • Oneida, fewer than 250 speakers in 1991.
    • Onondaga. 50 to 100 speakers in 1991.
    • Potawatomi, 100 speakers
    • Straits Salish. 20 speakers in Canada in 2002.
    • Sechelt. 40 speakers in 1990.
    • Sekani. 30 to 40 speakers in 1997.
    • Seneca. 25 speakers in 1991.
    • Squamish. 15 speakers in 2002.
    • Tagish. 2 speakers in 1995.
    • Tahltan. 35 speakers in 2002.
    • Tlingit. 145 speakers in Canada in 1998.
    • Tsuu T'ina or Sarsi. 50 speakers in 1991.
    • Tuscarora. 7 or 8 speakers in Canada in 1991.
  • Colombia
    • Cabiyarí. 50 speakers in 1976.
    • Tariano. Ethnic population: 332 in Colombia in 1998.
    • Tinigua. 2 speakers in 2000).
    • Totoro. 4 speakers in 1998.
    • Tunebo Angosturas. 50 speakers.
  • Ecuador
    • Záparo. 1 speaker in 2000.
  • Panama
    • San Miguel Creole French. 3 speakers in 1999.
  • Peru
    • Cahuarano. 5 speakers in 1976.
    • Chamicuro. 2 speakers in 2000.
    • Iñapari. 4 speakers in 1999.
    • Iquito. 35 speakers in 2002.
    • Isconahua. 82 speakers in 2000.
    • Jebero.
    • Mascho Piro. 20 to 100 speakers in 1976.
    • Muniche. 3 speakers in 1988.
    • Omagua. 10 to 100 speakers in 1976.
    • Resígaro. 14 speakers in 1976.
    • Taushiro. 1 speaker in 2002.
  • Suriname
    • Akurio. 10 speakers in 2000.
    • Sikiana. 15 speakers in Suriname in 2001.
  • United States
    • Achumawi. 10 nonfluent speakers in 1997.
    • Ahtena. 80 speakers in 1995.
    • Kiowa Apache. 18 speakers in 1990.
    • Lipan Apache. 2 or 3 speakers in 1981.
    • Arikara. 20 speakers in 1997.
    • Atsugewi. 3 speakers in 1994.
    • Caddo. 25 speakers in 1997.
    • Cahuilla. 7 to 20 speakers in 1994.
    • Chetco. 5 speakers in 1962.
    • Chinook. 12 speakers of Kiksht dialect in 1996.
    • Chinook Wawa. 17 speakers in the USA in 1990.
    • Clallam. 10 speakers in 1997.
    • Coeur d'Alene. 5 speakers in 1999.
    • Coos. 1 or 2 speakers in 1962.
    • Degexit'an. 20 to 30 speakers in 1997.
    • Dena'ina (Tanaina). 75 speakers in 1997.
    • Eyak. 1 speaker in 2006.
    • Gros Ventre. 10 speakers in 1977.
    • Northern Haida. 15 speakers in the USA in 1995.
    • Han. 7 or 8 speakers in Alaska in 1995.
    • Holikachuk. 12 speakers in 1995.
    • Hupa. 8 speakers in 1998.
    • Kalapuya. 1 or 2 speakers in 1962.
    • Kansa. 19 speakers in 1990.
    • Karok. 10 speakers in 1997.
    • Kashaya. 45 speakers in 1994.
    • Kawaiisu. 8 to 10 speakers in 2000.
    • Klamath-Modoc. 1 speaker in 1998.
    • Upper Kuskokwim. 40 speakers in 1995.
    • Kutenai. 6 speakers in the USA in 2002.
    • Luiseño. 30 to 40 speakers in 2000.
    • Lushootseed. 60 speakers in 1990.
    • Northeastern Maidu. 1 to 2 speakers in 1994.
    • Northwestern Maidu. 3 to 6 speakers in 1994.
    • Mandan. 6 speakers in 1992.
    • Menominee. 39 speakers.
    • Central Sierra Miwok. 12 speakers in 1994.
    • Lake Miwok. 1 to 2 speakers in 1994.
    • Northern Sierra Miwok. 6 speakers in 1994.
    • Plains Miwok. 1 speaker in 1962.
    • Southern Sierra Miwok. 7 speakers in 1994.
    • Mono. 37 to 41 speakers in 1994.
    • Nisenan. 1 speaker in 1994.
    • Osage. 5 speakers in 1991.
    • Panamint. 20 speakers.
    • Pawnee. 20 speakers in 1997.
    • Central Pomo. 2 to 5 speakers in 1997.
    • Southeastern Pomo. 5 speakers in 1994.
    • Southern Pomo. 1 speaker in 1994.
    • Potawatomi. 50 speakers in 1995.
    • Quapaw. 34 speakers in 1990.
    • Quileute. 10 speakers in 1977.
    • Salish (Flathead Reservation). 57 speakers in 2006.
    • Straits Salish.
    • Seneca. 150 speakers in 1998.
    • Serrano. 1 speaker in 1994.
    • Snohomish. 10 speakers in 1998.
    • Tanacross. 35 speakers in 1997.
    • Lower Tanana. 30 speakers in 1995.
    • Tolowa. 4 to 5 speakers in 1994 Hinton.
    • Texas German. Near extinction.
    • Tlingit. less than 400 in the USA in 2006.
    • Tubatulabal. 6 speakers.
    • Tuscarora. 4 to 5 speakers in the USA in 1997.
    • Tututni. 10 speakers in 1962.
    • Wasco-Wishram. 69 speakers in 1990.
    • Washo. 10 speakers in 1998.
    • Wichita. 3 speakers in 2000.
    • Wintu. 5 or 6 speakers in 1997.
    • Yokuts. 78 speakers of Northern Foothill Yokuts in 1990.
    • Yuchi. 10 to 12 speakers in 1997.
    • Yurok. 12 speakers in 2002.
  • Venezuela
    • Arutani. 2 speakers in Venezuela in 2002.
    • Mapoyo. 3 speakers in 2000.
    • Pémono. 1 speaker in 2000.
    • Sapé. 5 speakers in 1977.
    • Sikiana.
    • Yabarana. 20 to 50 speakers in 1977.

Ona is a language that was once spoken in Chile, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. ... The Puelche are an extinct tribe of South American Indians. ... Tehuelche is a nearly extinct Chon language spoken by 4 people in Argentina out of an ethnic group of 200. ... Vilela is a nearly extinct Lule-Vilela language which is only spoken by native Indians in two areas in the world: in the Resistencia province of Argentina and in the eastern Chaco near the Paraguayan border. ... Baure is a nearly extinct Arawakan language spoken by only 13 of 200 ethnic tribal Baure people of the Beni department of northwest of Magdalena, Bolivia. ... Itonama is a moribund language isolate of Bolivia. ... Leco is a language isolate that is spoken by about 20 individuals in areas east of Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. ... Pacahuara is a nearly extinct Panoan language spoken by only 17 of 18 ethnic tribal Pacahuara people of the Beni department of northwest of Magdalena, Bolivia. ... Reyesano is a Tacanan language that was spoken by only a few speakers, including children, in 1961 in Venezuela. ... The Uru language was spoken in the year 2000 by 2 individuals out of an ethnic group of 100 to 150 people in the Oruro Department, Atahuallpa Province, near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. ... Amanayé is a Tupi language spoken by about 60 individuals in the São Domingos do Capim Municipality on the Capim River in Brazil. ... Anambé is a Tupi language spoken by about seven of the 77 individuals in the ethnic Anambé group in Pará, on the Cairari River in Brazil. ... Apiacá is a Tupi language that in 1986 was spoken by only two of the 90 individuals in the ethnic Apiacá group in the upper Rio Tapajos area of Matto Grosso, Brazil. ... Arikapú is a Macro-Gê language that in 1998 was spoken by only six individuals in Rondônia, Brazil, at the headwaters of the Rio Branco. ... Aruá is an extinct language of Brazil. ... Arutani is an Arutani-Sape language spoken by only 17 individuals in Roraima, Brazil and two others in the Karum River area of Bolivar State, Venezuela. ... Aurá is a Tupi language spoken by two individuals in Maranhão, Brazil. ... Karahawyana is a language spoken by about 40 individuals near Waiwai, Amazonas, Brazil. ... Karipuná is a Tupi language spoken by 12-15 individuals in Rondônia, Brazil, though it is unknown how many speakers live in the forest. ... Katawixi is a Katukinian language spoken by about 10 individuals in Amazonas, Brazil. ... Katukína is a Katukinian language spoken by only one person in 1976 in Acre, Brazil. ... Kreye is a Macro-Gê language that is spoken by about 30 individuals in Maranhão and Pará, Brazil. ... Omagua is a language which is spoken by less than 100 South American natives in Omaguas near Iquitos, Peru. ... Oro Win is a moribund Chapacuran language spoken in Brazil. ... The Pirahã language is a language spoken by Pirahã people of Brazil. ... Sikiana is a Carib language that was spoken by 33 people in Brazil and 15 people in Suriname. ... Tariana (also Tariano) is an endangered Maipurean language spoken in Amazonas, Brazil by approximately 100 people. ... Xipaya is an endangered language spoken in the Pará region of Brazil. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Abenakis. ... An unidentified Dunneza, in the Peace River country, 1911 The Dunneza (also Dunne-za, Beaver, Tasttine) are Athapaskan Aboriginal peoples whose traditional territory is around the Peace River of Alberta, Canada. ... Nuxálk (also Bella Coola) is a Salishan language spoken in the Canadian town Bella Coola, British Columbia by approximately 20-30 elders. ... Cayuga (In Cayuga Goyogohó:nǫ’) is a Northern Iroquoian language of the Iroquois Proper (a. ... Chinook Jargon was a trade language (or pidgin) of the Pacific Northwest, which spread quickly up the West Coast from Oregon, through Washington, British Columbia, and as far as Alaska. ... Pre-contact distribution of Haida The Haida language is the language of the Haida people. ... The Haisla language is a First Nations language spoken by the Haisla people of the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, who are based in the town of Kitimat at the head of the Douglas Channel, a 120km fjord that serves as a waterway for the... Chief Isaac of the Han people The Hän language is a Native American endangered language spoken in only two places: Eagle, Alaska and Dawson City, Yukon. ... Kootenai language The Kootenai language (also Kutenai or Ktunaxa language) is named after and is spoken by some of the Kootenai Native American/First Nations people who are indigenous to the area of North America that is now Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia. ... Michif is the indigenous language of the Métis people of Canada. ... Lenape (also called Delaware) is a language in the Algonquian language family spoken by the Lenape people. ... Oneida is an Iroquoian language spoken primarily in the American states of New York and Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario. ... Onondaga (Onundagaono or People of the Hills) is the language of the Onondaga First Nation, one of the original five constituent tribes of the League of the Iroquois (Hodenosaunee) This language is spoken in the United States and Canada, primarily on reservations in western New York state, and near Brantford... Potawatomi (also spelled Pottawatomie; in Potawatomi Bodéwadmimwen or Bodéwadmi Zheshmowen or Neshnabémwen) is a Central Algonquian language and is spoken around the Great Lakes in Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as in Kansas in the United States, and in southern Ontario in Canada, by fewer than 50... The Coast Salish are a Salishan-speaking First Nations/Native American culture that inhabited an area centered in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and western Washington in the United States for several millennia up to the time of arrival of the Europeans in the 19th century. ... The Shishalh (Sechelt) people, at the time of the first European contact had a population near 26,000. ... Sikanni is the name of an Athabaskan First Nations people and language in the northern interior of British Columbia. ... Seneca is the language of the Seneca Native Band, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League. ... The Squamish First Nation are a major Salishan-speaking people of southwestern British Columbia. ... Tagish is an endangered Northern Athabaskan language spoken by the Tagish people in the Yukon Territory in Canada. ... Tahltan (also Nahanni) refers to a Northern Athabaskan people that live in northern British Columbia around Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake, and Iskut. ... The Tlingit language (Eng. ... Tsuu T’ina (also Sarcee, Sarsi, Tsu T’ina) belongs to the Athabaskan language family, which include the Navajo and Chiricahua of the south, and the Chipewyan and TłįchÇ« of the north. ... Tuscarora or Skarure is an Iroquoian language of the Tuscarora people, spoken in Canada and the United States, in western New York and southern Ontario. ... Kawésqar (also Qawasqar, Alacaluf, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Alakaluf, Kawaskar, Kawesqar, Qawashqar, Halakwalip, Hekaine, Kaueskar, Aksanás) is a language isolate spoken in southern Chile. ... Yagán (variously spelled as Yahgan, Yaghan, Jagan, Iakan), also known as Yámana and Háusi Kúta, is one of the indigenous languages of Tierra del Fuego, spoken by the Yagán people. ... Tariana (also Tariano) is an endangered Maipurean language spoken in Amazonas, Brazil by approximately 100 people. ... The Boruca language (also known as Bronka or Bronca) is the native language of the Boruca people of Costa Rica. ... Zaparoan (also Sáparoan, Záparo, Zaparoano, Zaparoana) is a endangered language family of Peru and Ecuador with less than 700 speakers. ... The Lenca language is an unclassified indigenous language of Mesoamerica, spoken (or formerly spoken) by the indigenous Lenca peoples in a region encompassed by western Honduras and portions of El Salvador, Central America. ... Pipil or Nawat is the language originally spoken by the Pipils of western El Salvador and still remembered by some of them, mostly elderly. ... Itza (Itza, Petén Itzá Maya) is a Mayan language spoken only by a few elderly adults in communities to the north of Lake Itzá in Guatemala. ... Berbice Creole Dutch is a highly endangered creole language spoken on the coast of Guyana. ... The Lenca language is an unclassified indigenous language of Mesoamerica, spoken (or formerly spoken) by the indigenous Lenca peoples in a region encompassed by western Honduras and portions of El Salvador, Central America. ... The Kiliwa are an aboriginal people of northern Baja California, Mexico. ... Mocho or Mototzintlec is a language belonging to Kanjobalan-Chujean family of Mayan languages spoken in Mexico. ... Cocopa is a Native American tribe which emigated from Baja California and settled on the lower reaches of the Colorado River. ... The Tektiteko language (Tectiteco, Teco) is a member of the Quichean-Mamean branch of the Mayan language family. ... The Paipai (Pai pai, Paipai, Akwaala, Yakakwal) are an aboriginal people of northern Baja California, Mexico. ... Ixcatec is a language spoken by the people of the Mexican village of Santa María Ixcatlán, in the northern part of the state of Oaxaca. ... Chiapanec is the name of an indigenous Mexican language of the Oto-Manguean linguistic family. ... The Matlatzinca language which is also called Tlahuica or Ocuiltec, is an indigenous language of Mexico spoken by the Matlatzinca people in the southern part of the State of Mexico. ... The Matlatzinca language which is also called Tlahuica or Ocuiltec, is an indigenous language of Mexico spoken by the Matlatzinca people in the southern part of the State of Mexico. ... Oluta Popoluca also called Olutec is a moribund Mixe-Zoquean language of the Mixean branch spoken by a few elderly people in the town of Oluta in Southern Vera Cruz, Mexico. ... Ã’pata (Also Eudeve, Heve, Dohema) is the name of the Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Opata people of northern central Sonora in Mexico. ... The Otomi language is an indigenous language of Mexico, spoken across a number of central Mexican states by the ethnic group widely known as the Otomi but who refer to themselves as Hñähñu (or similar, depending on the language variant). ... Sierra Popoluca also called Texistepec Zoque is a Mixe-Zoquean language of the Zoquean branch spoken by around 400 indigenous Popoluca people in and around the town of Texistepec in Southern Vera Cruz, Mexico. ... Rama is one of the indigenous languages of the Chibchan family spoken by the Rama people on the island of Rama Cay and south of lake Bluefields on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. ... Piro (also Mashco Piro, Cujareno, Cujareño, Mashco) is a Southern Maipurean language (Southern Outlier branch) spoken in Brazil and Peru. ... Munichi (Ethnologue code MYR) is a recently extinct language which was spoken in the village of Munichis, about 10 miles/ 16 km West of Yurimaguas, Loreto Region, Peru. ... Omagua is a language which is spoken by less than 100 South American natives in Omaguas near Iquitos, Peru. ... Sikiana is a Carib language that was spoken by 33 people in Brazil and 15 people in Suriname. ... Achumawi is a nearly extinct Hokan language spoken in northeastern California by perhaps ten speakers out of an estimated ethnic group of 1500. ... Lipan Apache are also known as Nde buffalo hunters, called by anthropologists and historians for many years as Eastern Apache, Apache de los Llanos, Lipan, Ipande, and other names. ... The language of the Arikara Native Americans, who lived on the Missouri River region in North and South Dakota. ... Atsugewi is a moribund Palaihnihan language of northeastern California spoken by the Atsugewi people. ... Caddo is a Caddoan language of the Southern Plains. ... Oregon Penutian is a language family in the Penutian language phylum comprising languages spoken at one time by several groups of Native Americans in present-day western Oregon and western Washington in the United States. ... Chinook Jargon was a trade language (or pidgin) of the Pacific Northwest, which spread quickly up the West Coast from Oregon, through Washington, British Columbia, and as far as Alaska. ... Klallam (also Clallam) is a Straits Salishan language natively called NÉ™xÊ·sƛ̕ayÌ•É™múcÉ™n, spoken by Klallam peoples. ... Coeur dAlene is a Salishan language spoken by only five of the 800 individuals in the Coeur dAlene Tribe on the Coeur dAlene Reservation in northern Idaho, United States. ... Deg Hitan (also Deg Xinag, Deg Xitan, Deg Hitan, Degexitan, Ingalik, Ingalit, Inkaliten, Inkality, Kaiyuhkhotana) is a group of Athabaskan peoples in Alaska. ... Denaina (also Tanaina) is the Athabaskan language of Eklutna, Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. ... Eyak is a moribund Na-Dené language that was historically spoken in southcentral Alaska, near the mouth of the Copper River. ... Pre-contact distribution of Haida The Haida language is the language of the Haida people. ... Chief Isaac of the Han people The Hän language is a Native American endangered language spoken in only two places: Eagle, Alaska and Dawson City, Yukon. ... Holikachuk (also Innoko, Organized Village of Grayling, Innoka-khotana, Tlëgon-khotana) are an Athabascan people native to western Alaska. ... A smoky day at the Sugar Bowl Edward Curtis, photographer The Hupa are an Athabaskan tribe which inhabit northwestern California. ... Karuk Karuk (also Karok) are an indigenous people of California in the United States. ... Kashaya (also Southwestern Pomo, Kashia) is a severely endangered Pomoan language spoken on the Northern California coast in Sonoma County, California by one of the several Pomo peoples. ... Elderly Klamath woman by Edward S. Curtis, 1924 A Klamath man; a full image is available here This article is about a Native American tribe. ... Kootenai language The Kootenai language (also Kutenai or Ktunaxa language) is named after and is spoken by some of the Kootenai Native American/First Nations people who are indigenous to the area of North America that is now Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia. ... The Luiseño language is an Uto-Aztecan language of California. ... Lushootseed (also xwÉ™lÅ¡ucid, dxwləšúcid, Puget Salish, Puget Sound Salish, Skagit-Nisqually) is the language or dialect continuum of several Salish Native American groups of modern-day Washington state. ... Maidu (also Northeastern Maidu, Mountain Maidu) is a severely endangered Maiduan language spoken by Maidu peoples traditionally in the mountains east and south of Lassen Peak in the American and Feather river drainages. ... Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, are a Native American group comprised of a union of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara peoples, whose native lands ranged across the Missouri River basin in the Dakotas. ... The Menominee language is an Algonquian language spoken on the Menominee (Menomini) Nation lands in Northern Wisconsin in the United States. ... Utian (also Miwok-Costanoan) is language family consisting of Miwokan languages and Costanoan languages. ... Utian (also Miwok-Costanoan) is language family consisting of Miwokan languages and Costanoan languages. ... Utian (also Miwok-Costanoan) is language family consisting of Miwokan languages and Costanoan languages. ... Utian (also Miwok-Costanoan) is language family consisting of Miwokan languages and Costanoan languages. ... Utian (also Miwok-Costanoan) is language family consisting of Miwokan languages and Costanoan languages. ... The Mono language (also Monachi) is an Native American, Uto-Aztecan language of the Mono Indians (Shoshonean) of east-central California that is nearly extinct in the modern day. ... Nisenan (or alternatively, Southern Maidu, Neeshenam, Nishinam, Pujuni, or Wapumni) is a nearly extinct Maiduan language spoken by Maidu peoples traditionally in central California in the foothills of the Sierras, in the whole of the American, Bear and Yuba river drainages. ... The Osage are American Indian People of the central Midwest. ... The Timbisha language (also called Panamint and spelled Tümpisa) is the language of the Native American people who inhabited the region in and around Death Valley, California in late prehistoric times. ... Pawnee language The Pawnee language is a Caddoan language spoken today by the Pawnee people in Oklahoma in the United States. ... Potawatomi (also spelled Pottawatomie; in Potawatomi Bodéwadmimwen or Bodéwadmi Zheshmowen or Neshnabémwen) is a Central Algonquian language and is spoken around the Great Lakes in Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as in Kansas in the United States, and in southern Ontario in Canada, by fewer than 50... The Coast Salish are a Salishan-speaking First Nations/Native American culture that inhabited an area centered in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and western Washington in the United States for several millennia up to the time of arrival of the Europeans in the 19th century. ... Seneca is the language of the Seneca Native Band, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League. ... The Serrano language is a language in the Uto-Aztecan family spoken by the Serrano people of Southern California. ... Tanacross is an endangered Athabaskan language spoken near Tanana Crossing in Alaska. ... Lower Tanana (also Tanana) is an endangered Athabaskan language spoken in eastern Interior Alaska and adjacent areas of Canadas Yukon Territory. ... The Tolowa language (also called Smith River) is a language of the Tolowa-Galice language group. ... Texas German is a dialect of the German language that is spoken by descendants of German immigrants who founded the town of Fredericksburg, Texas in 1846. ... The Tlingit language (Eng. ... Tubatulabal (also Tübatulabal) is an endangered Uto-Aztecan language spoken by some elders in southern California. ... Hoxie Simmons, a Rogue River Indian, c. ... Pre-contact distribution of the Washo language The Washo language (also Washoe) is an endangered Native American language isolate spoken by the Washoe on the California-Nevada border in the drainages of Truckee and Carson rivers, especially around Lake Tahoe. ... Wichita is a moribund Caddoan language spoken in Oklahoma. ... Wintu is an endangered Wintuan language spoken by the Wintu peoples of Northern California. ... Pre-contact distribution of Yokutsan languages Yokutsan (also Yokuts) is an endangered language family spoken in the interior of southern California in and around the San Joaquin valley by the Yokut tribe. ... Pre-contact distribution of the Yuchi Language The Yuchi language is the language of the Yuchi people living in the southeastern United States, including eastern Tennessee, western Carolinas, northern Georgia and Alabama, in the period of early European colonization. ... Yurok (also Weitspekan) is a moribund Algic language. ... Arutani is an Arutani-Sape language spoken by only 17 individuals in Roraima, Brazil and two others in the Karum River area of Bolivar State, Venezuela. ... Mapoyo is a Carib language that was spoken by three individuals in 2000 along Suapure River, Venezuela. ... Pémono is a Carib language that was spoken by only woman when discovered in 1998 in Venezuela. ... Sapé is an Arutani-Sape language spoken by only five individuals that lived along the Paragua and Karuna rivers in 1977. ... Sikiana is a Carib language that was spoken by 33 people in Brazil and 15 people in Suriname. ... Yabarana is a Carib language that was spoken by 20 - 50 people in 1977 in Venezuela. ...

Asia

The Ainu language (Ainu: , aynu itak; Japanese: ainu-go) is spoken by the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō. It was once spoken in the Kurile Islands, the northern part of HonshÅ«, and the southern half of Sakhalin. ... Aramaic is a group of Semitic languages with a 3,000-year history. ... Bathari is a language spoken in Yemen and Oman by about 200 speakers. ... The Chong language (also referred to as Chawng, Shong, or Xong) is an endangered language spoken in Cambodia and southeastern Thailand. ... Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics), a Christian linguistic service organization which studies lesser-known languages primarily to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language. ... The Chukchi language (лыгъоравэтлъан йилйил, lygoravetlan jiljil) also known as Luoravetlan, Chukot and Chukcha is a Palaeosiberian language spoken by ~10,400 people (2001) (Chukchi) in the easternmost extremity of Siberia, mainly in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. ... Siberian Federal District (darker red) and the broadest definition of Siberia (red) arctic northeast Siberia Udachnaya pipe Siberia (Russian: , Sibir; Tatar: ) is a vast region of Russia constituting almost all of Northern Asia and comprising a large part of the Euro-Asian Steppe. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chulyum also known as Chulym-Turkic , Chulym Tatar (not at all related to the Tatar language), or Küerik is a language of Chulyms. ... Harsusi is a Semitic language closely related to Mehri. ... The Ket language, formerly known as Yenisei Ostyak, is a Siberian language isolate, the sole surviving language of a Yeniseian language family, spoken along the middle Yenisei Basin by the Kets. ... Krasnoyarsk Krai (Russian: ) (2002 pop. ... The Yenisei-Ostyak language family is spoken in central Siberia. ... Papiá Kristang (Christian language) is a creole language. ... State motto: Bersatu Teguh State anthem: Melaka Maju Jaya Capital Malacca Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Yang di-Pertua Negeri Mohd Khalil Yaakob  - Ketua Menteri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam History    - Malacca Sultanate 13th century   - Portuguese control 24 August 1511   - Dutch control 1641   - British control 17 March 1824   - Japanese Occupation 1942-1946... The Laz language (lazuri in Laz; ლაზური, lazuri, or ჭანური, chanuri, in Georgian) is spoken by an ethnic group of the same name on the Southeast shore of the Black Sea. ... Macanese or Macao Creole (Patuá to its speakers) is a creole language derived mainly from Malay, Sinhalese, Cantonese, and Portuguese, which was originally spoken by the Macanese community of the Portuguese colony of Macao. ... The Manchu language is a Tungusic language spoken by Manchus in Manchuria; it is the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus. ... Approximate extent Northeast China (Simplified Chinese: 东北; Traditional Chinese: 東北; pinyin: Dōngběi; literally east-north), historically known as Manchuria, is the name of a region (ca. ... Mehri or Mahri is a Semitic language spoken by minority populations in the eastern part of Yemen and western Oman and is a remnant of the ancient indigenous language group spoken in the southern Arabian Peninsula before the spread of Arabic along with the Islamic religion in the 7th century... This list is based solely on territory; the peoples listed here do not belong to a single language family or ethnicity: they are Finno-Ugric, Turkic, Eskimo-Aleut, and other groups. ... Ratagnon or (Datagnon or Latagnon) is one of the eight indigenous groups of Mangyan in the southernmost tip of Occidental Mindoro and the Mindoro Islands along the Sulu Sea. ... Beach in Northern Mindoro Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. ... Nuristani languages form a language sub-family of the Indo-Iranian languages localized between the Iranian languages and the Indo-Aryan languages Ashkun language Kamviri language Kati language (Bashgali) Prasuni language (Wasi-Weri) Tregami language Waigali language (Kalasha-Ala) Categories: Language stubs | Indo-Iranian languages ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Soqotri is the native language of the island of Socotra off the southern coast of Yemen. ... Map of the Socotra archipelago Socotra or Soqotra (Arabic سقطرى ; Suquá¹­ra) is a small archipelago of four islands and islets in the Indian Ocean off the coast Somalia some 350 km south of the Arabian peninsula. ... The Ulch language, or Olcha, is a language spoken by the Ulch people in Siberia. ...

Australia and Pacific

The Australian Aboriginal languages comprise several language families and isolates native to Australia and a few nearby islands, but by convention excluding Tasmania. ... The Yanyuwa (also Yanyula, Anyula) language is spoken by the Yanyuwa people around the settlement of Borroloola (Yanyuwa burrulula) in the Northern Territory, Australia. ... Auslan is the sign language used by the Australian Deaf community. ... The Susuami language is a heavily endangered Papuan language, spoken in the resettlement village of Manki along the upper Watut River, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. ...

Europe

This inscription in Alsatian on a window in Eguisheim, Alsace, reads: Dis Hausz sted in Godes Hand - God bewar es vor Feyru (This house stands in Gods hand - God beware it for fire) Alsatian (French Alsacien, German Elsässisch) is a Low Alemannic German dialect spoken in Alsace, a... Languages distribution in Aragon (Aragonese in red). ... Aromanian (also known as Macedo-Romanian, Arumanian or Vlach in most other countries; in Aromanian: limba aromână, limba armânească, armâneashti or armãneshce) is an Eastern Romance language spoken in Southeastern Europe. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Arvanitika or Arvanitic (Greek: Αρβανίτικα; native name: Arbëríshte, spelled in the Greek-based Arvanitic alphabet) is the variety of Albanian traditionally spoken by the Arvanites, a population group in Greece. ... Breton (Breton: Brezhoneg) is a Celtic language spoken by some of the inhabitants of Brittany (Breizh) and Loire-Atlantique (historically part of Brittany) in France. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Corsican (Corsu or Lingua Corsa) is a Romance language spoken on the island of Corsica (France), alongside French, which is the official language. ... East Frisian Low Saxon, is a West Low German dialect spoken in the Eastern Friesland peninsula of northwestern Lower Saxony. ... Friulian (friulano in Italian, Furlan in Friulian) is a Romance language belonging to the Rhaetian languages family, spoken in the north-east of Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia province) by about 600,000 people. ... Griko, sometimes spelled Grico, is a Modern Greek dialect which is spoken by people in the Magna Graecia region in southern Italy and Sicily, and it is otherwise known as the Grecanic language. ... Italkian is a Jewish-Italian dialect that combines Hebrew and Italian, it has been spoken mainly between the 10th and the 17th centuries in Rome and in central and northern Italy (notably in Livorno). ... Kashubian or Cassubian (Kashubian: kaszëbsczi jãzëk, pòmòrsczi jãzëk, kaszëbskò-słowińskô mòwa) is one of the Lechitic languages, which are a group of Slavic languages. ... Stefan Ramułts Dictionary of the Pomeranian (Kashubian) language, published in Kraków, 1893 Pomeranian language edition of Wikipedia Pomeranian is a group of Lechitic dialects which were spoken in the Middle Ages on the territory of Pomerania, between the Oder and Vistula rivers. ... The Karaim language is a Turkic language with Hebrew influences, in a similar manner to Yiddish or Ladino. ... Leonese (Llïonés in Leonese) is a Romance language spoken in some parts of the provinces of León, Zamora and Salamanca in Spain. ... Livonian (Līvõ kēļ) belongs to the Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. ... Luxembourgish (Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuergesch, French: , German: , Walloon: ), also spelled Luxemburgish, is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ... Molise Slavic language is actually a distinct dialect of Croatian language spoken in the Molise region in Italy. ... Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. ... This article is about the British dependencies, for the islands off Southern California, please see Channel Islands of California. ... North Frisian is a minority language of Germany, spoken by about 10,000 people in North Frisia. ... Occitan, known also as Lenga dòc or Langue doc (Occitan: occitan, lenga dòc) is a Romance language spoken in Occitania (i. ... Romansh (also spelled Rumantsch, Romansch or Romanche) is one of the four national languages of Switzerland, along with German, Italian and French. ... Sami is a general name for a group of Uralic languages spoken in parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and extreme northwestern Russia, in Northern Europe. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe and includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ... Samogitian is a dialect of the Lithuanian language spoken mostly in Samogitia (in the west part of Lithuania). ... // Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tsakonian (also Tsakonic) (Standard Greek Τσακωνική Διάλεκτος — Tsakonic language — is a dialect of, or language closely related to, Standard Modern Greek, spoken in the Tsakonian region of the Peloponnese, Greece. ... Lower Sorbian (dolnoserbšćina) is a Slavic minority language spoken in eastern Germany in the historical province of Lower Lusatia, today part of Brandenburg. ... Upper Sorbian (hornjoserbsce) is a minority language of Germany spoken in the historical province of Upper Lusatia, today part of Saxony. ... Wymysorys or Wilamowicean (Wymysöryś) is a Central German dialect spoken in the small town of Wilamowice (Wymysoj in Wymysorys), on the border between Silesia and Lesser Poland. ... Jèrriais is the form of the Norman language spoken in Jersey, in the Channel Islands. ... Dgèrnésiais, also known as Guernésiais, Guernsey French, Guernsey Norman French, is the variety of Norman language spoken in Guernsey. ... Sercquiais also known as Sarkese or Sark-French is the Norman dialect of the Channel Island of Sark. ... This article is about the British dependencies, for the islands off Southern California, please see Channel Islands of California. ... Sercquiais also known as Sarkese or Sark-French is the Norman dialect of the Channel Island of Sark. ... Istro-Romanian is a Romance language used in a few villages in the peninsula of Istria, on the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, in Croatia. ... Map of Istria Istria (Croatian and Slovenian: Istra, Italian: Istria) is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. ... Krimchak is the language of the Krimchak Jews, a very small Jewish group on the Crimean peninsula. ... Erzyan (Эрзянь Кель (Erzjanj Kelj)) is spoken in the northern and eastern parts of the republic of Mordovia and adjacent Nizhniy Novgorod, Chuvashia, Penza, Samara, Saratov, Orenburg, Ulyanovsk, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in Russia. ... The Mokshan language (Moksha), мокшень кяль (Mokshanj kälj) is spoken in West part of the Republic of Mordovia and adjacent Penza, Ryazan, Tambov, Saratov, Samara, Orenburg oblasts, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan republics, Siberia, Far East of Russia and also in Armenia and USA. The number of speakers is around 500,000. ... Votic or Votian is the language spoken by the Votes of Ingria. ...

See also

An endangered language is a language with so few surviving speakers that it is in danger of falling out of use. ... This is a list of languages that underwent language death and currently have no native speakers. ... Revived languages are those which, having experienced near or complete extinction as either a spoken or written language, were intentionally revived and in the end regained some of their former status. ... Current distribution of Human Language Families Most languages are known to belong to language families (families hereforth). ... Many countries have a language policy designed to favour or discourage the use of a particular language or set of languages. ... The Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire is a book about the small nations of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the Russia of today. ...

External links

  • List of more than 500 nearly extinct languages in SIL's Ethnologue Report (print version 2005: ISBN 1-55671-159-X).
  • UNESCO Red Book of Endangered Languages

 

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