Ute-Southern Paiute

UTE

threatened

Alternate Names: Ute-Chemehuevi

Dialects: Chemehuevi, Southern Paiute, Ute.

Genealogy:

Uto-Aztecan
Northern Uto-Aztecan
Numic
Southern

Demographics: 920 (Golla 2007). 3 Chemehuevi on Chemehuevi Reservation, 10 on Colorado River Reservation (Hinton 1994). 20 monolinguals (1990 census). Ethnic population: 6,230 (Golla 2007). Ute: 4,800; Southern Paiute: 1,430 (Golla 2007). L2 users: Few if any L2 speakers.

Language Use: Tribally sponsored language programs in Ute. No language programs in Southern Paiute. Arizona Chemehuevis have started revitalization program but few materials and no agreement on orthography (Golla 2007). Mainly adults but children in San Juan are still acquiring Southern Paiute as L1 (Golla 2007). Also use English [eng].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2006.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: United States