Kashaya language

Kashaya
Kʼahšá:ya
Native toUnited States
RegionSonoma County, California
EthnicityKashia
Native speakers
~12 (2021)[1]
Hokan ?
Language codes
ISO 639-3kju
Glottologkash1280
ELPKashaya
The seven Pomoan languages with an indication of their pre-contact distribution within California
Kashaya is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
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Kashaya (also Southwestern Pomo, Kashia) is the critically endangered language of the Kashia band of the Pomo people. The Pomoan languages have been classified as part of the Hokan language family (although the status of Hokan itself is controversial). The name Kashaya corresponds to words in neighboring languages with meanings such as "skillful" and "expert gambler". It is spoken by the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria.[2]

In 2021, the number of speakers was estimated to be around 12.

  1. ^ "Kashaya". UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger. UNESCO. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  2. ^ About Us. Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of Stewarts Point Rancheria. (retrieved 28 July 2009)