Southern Sierra Miwok | |
---|---|
Yosemite | |
Native to | United States |
Region | California, western slopes of Sierra Nevada |
Ethnicity | Valley and Sierra Miwok |
Native speakers | 3 (2019)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | skd |
Glottolog | sout2985 |
ELP | Sierra Miwok (shared) |
Southern Sierra Miwok is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Southern Sierra Miwok (also known as Meewoc, Mewoc, Me-Wuk, Miwoc, Miwokan, Mokélumne, Moquelumnan, San Raphael, Talatui, Talutui, and Yosemite) is a Utian language spoken by the Native American people called the Southern Sierra Miwok of Northern California. Southern Sierra Miwok is a member of the Miwok language family. The Miwok languages are a part of the larger Utian family. The original territory of the Southern Sierra Miwok people is similar to modern day Mariposa County, California. The Southern Sierra Miwok language is nearly extinct with only a few speakers existing today.[2] However, as of 2012, an active revitalization program is underway.[3]
The name Miwok comes from the Sierra Miwok word miwwik meaning "people" or "Indians". It was originally used in 1877 for the Plains and Sierra Miwok people, but was later reassigned to its current usage in 1908 to describe the set of Utian languages distinct from the western Coastanoan (Ohlone) languages.[2]