- Yuchi language
language
name=Yuchi
nativename=Tsoyaha
familycolor=Isolate
states=United States
region=East centralOklahoma
speakers=~5
family=Language isolate
iso2=nai|iso3=yucThe Yuchi language is the language of the
Yuchi people living in the southeasternUnited 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 toOklahoma 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 southeasternUnited States . However, speakers of the Yuchi language were forcibly relocated with the Muscogee (Creek) people toOklahoma prior to theTrail of Tears .Presence in popular literature
The Yuchi people and language are the subject of a chapter in "", a book on
endangered languages byMark Abley .External links
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=yuc Ethnologue report for Yuchi]
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