Yuchi language

language
name=Yuchi
nativename=Tsoyaha
familycolor=Isolate
states=United States
region=East central Oklahoma
speakers=~5
family=Language isolate
iso2=nai|iso3=yuc

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. However, speakers of the Yuchi language were forcibly relocated to Oklahoma in the early 1800s. Due to assimilation into Muscogee and English-speaking culture, only a few elderly speakers of the Yuchi language remain.

Classification

Yuchi is classified as a language isolate because it is not known to be related to any other language. Some linguists have tried to prove links to other American language families such as Siouan, but no conclusive evidence has emerged.

Geographic distribution

Yuchi is primarily spoken in the northeastern Oklahoma region. In 1997 there were 12-19 elderly speakers out of an estimated population of 1500. In 2007 there are only 3 fluent speakers left.

Phonology

Consonants

The consonants of Yuchi are listed below (with IPA notation in brackets):

History

Yuchi people were originally native to various areas of the southeastern United States. However, speakers of the Yuchi language were forcibly relocated with the Muscogee (Creek) people to Oklahoma prior to the Trail of Tears.

Presence in popular literature

The Yuchi people and language are the subject of a chapter in "", a book on endangered languages by Mark Abley.

External links

* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=yuc Ethnologue report for Yuchi]

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