Uto-Aztecan languages | Native American, Indigenous, Mesoamerican | Britannica (original) (raw)

Uto-Aztecan languages, family of American Indian languages, one of the oldest and largest—both in terms of extent of distribution (Oregon to Panama) and number of languages and speakers. The Uto-Aztecan languages are generally recognized by modern linguists as falling into seven branches: Numic, Takic, Hopi, and Tübatulabal, which some scholars consider to make up Northern Uto-Aztecan; and Piman, Taracahitic, Corachol-Aztecan, which some consider to be Southern Uto-Aztecan.

The languages of the Northern division (all of which are or were spoken in the United States) are as follows:

• Numic
  • Western Numic: Monache (Mono) and Northern Paiute (includes Paviotso, Bannock, and Snake)
  • Central Numic: Comanche, Panamint, and Shoshone-Goshiute
  • Southern Numic: Chemehuevi, Kawaiisu, Southern Paiute, and Ute
• Takic
  • Serrano-Kitanemuk
  • Cahuilla- Cupeño
  • Luiseño-Juaneño
  • Gabrieleño-Fernandeño
• Tübatulabal

The languages of the Southern Uto-Aztecan division are as follows:

Britannica Quiz Languages & Alphabets

• Piman (Tepiman)
  • Pima-Papago (aka O’odham)
  • Pima Bajo
  • Northern Tepehuan-Southern Tepehuan
  • Tepecano
• Taracahitic
  • Tarahumaran: Tarahumara and Guarijío
  • Cahitan: Yaqui, Mayo, and Cahita
  • Tubar
  • Ópatan: Eudeve and Ópata
• Corachol-Aztecan
  • Cora-Huichol: Cora and Huichol
  • Aztecan (aka Nahuan): Pochutec (extinct) and Core Nahua (consisting of Nahuatl and Pipil [aka Nahuate, Nawat])

Lyle Campbell