Colonel William A. Phillips

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This is a list of extinct languages of North America, languages which have undergone language death, have no native speakers and no spoken descendant, most of them being languages of former Native American tribes.

There are 108 languages listed.

Canada

Indigenous languages

Language name Language family Extinction date Notes References
Beothuk unclassified language family 1829
Laurentian Iroquoian languages late 16th century
Pentlatch Salishan languages 1940 [1]

European language dialects

Language or dialect name Dialect parent language Language family Extinction date Notes References
Newfoundland Irish Irish Indo-European languages 20th century

Pidgin languages

Language name Pidgin parent language(s) Extinction date Notes References
Algonquian–Basque pidgin Basque, Algonquian languages approx. 1711

Caribbean

Indigenous languages

Language name Language family Extinction date Locations References
Caquetio Arawakan languages 1862 ABC islands (Leeward Antilles)
Guanahatabey unclassified 16th century Cuba
Shebaya Arawakan languages 19th century Trinidad
Taino Arawakan languages 19th century Widespread throughout Caribbean

Central America

Indigenous languages

Language name Language family Extinction date Locations References
Cacaopera Misumalpan languages 20th century El Salvador
Chiquimulilla Xincan languages 1996 Guatemala
Guazacapán Xincan languages 1997 Guatemala
Jumaytepeque Xincan languages 1997 Guatemala
Mangue/Chorotega Oto-Manguean languages 19th century Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica
Sinacantán Xincan languages 20th century Guatemala
Subtiaba Oto-Manguean languages 20th century Nicaragua
Yupiltepeque Xincan languages 1920s Guatemala

Greenland

European language dialects

Language name Language family Extinction date Notes References
Greenlandic Norse North Germanic language late 15th or early 16th century

Pidgin languages

Language name Pidgin parent language(s) Extinction date Notes References
West Greenlandic Pidgin Greenlandic 19th century

Mexico

Indigenous languages

Language or dialect name Dialect parent language Language family Extinction date Notes References
Cazcan/Caxcan/Kaskán Uto-Aztecan languages 16th or 17th century
Chiapanec Oto-Manguean languages 20th century
Chicomuceltec Mayan language 1970s or 1980s
Cochimí Yuman–Cochimí early 20th century
Comecrudo language Pakawan languages 19th century
Cuitlatec/Cuitlateco language isolate 1960s
Classical Náhuatl Nahuatl Uto-Aztecan language late 15th century used as the lingua franca of the Aztec Empire until its collapse
Mamulique Pakawan languages 19th century
Southern Pame Pame Oto-Manguean language mid 20th century
Pochutec Uto-Aztecan languages 20th century
Solteco Zapotec Oto-Manguean languages 19th century
Tapachultec Mixe–Zoque languages 1930s
Tepecano Uto-Aztecan language 20th century
Tubar Uto-Aztecan language 20th century
Waikuri unclassified language family before 1800

United States

Indigenous languages

Language or dialect name Language family Extinction date Notes References
Adai unclassified 19th century
Ais unclassified 18th century
Carolina Algonquian/Pamlico/Croatoan Algic languages 1790s
Alsea/Yaquina Language isolate 1942 Alsea and Yaquina are thought to be either two related languages or two dialects of the same language
Apalachee Muskogean languages 18th century - Revival Attempt
Atakapa Language isolate 20th century
Atsina/Gros Ventre Algic languages 2007 Revival attempts underway
Atsugewi Palaihnihan languages 1988
Awaswas Utian languages formerly known as "Santa Cruz"
Barbareño/Ineseño Chumashan languages 1965 Revival attempts underway. Barbareño and Ineseño may be related dialects of the same language or closely related languages
Biloxi Siouan languages 1930s
Cahto/Kato Na-Dene languages 1960s
Calusa unclassified 19th century
Catawba Siouan languages 1959
Cayuse unclassified 1930s
Chalon Utian languages
Chehalis Salishan languages 2001
Chemakum/Chimakum/Chimacum Chimakuan languages 19th century
Chico/Valley Maidu Maiduan languages
Chimariko language isolate 1950s
Chitimacha/Sitimaxa language isolate 1940 Revival attempts underway
Chiwere/Iowa-Otoe-Missouria/Báxoje-Jíwere-Ñút'achi Siouan languages 1996 Revival attempts underway
Chochenyo Utian languages 1934 Revival attempts underway
Coahuilteco Pakawan languages 18th century
Cowlitz Salishan languages 20th century Revival attempts underway
Cruzeño/Isleño/Island Chumash Chumashan languages 1915
Cupeño Uto-Aztecan languages 1987
Esselen language isolate 19th century
Etchemin Algic languages 17th century
Eyak Na-Dene languages 2008 Revival attempts underway
Galice/Galice-Applegate/Upper Rogue River Na-Dene languages 1963
Hanis/Coos Coosan languages 1972
Holikachuk Na-Dene languages 2012
Central Kalapuya Kalapuyan languages 1954
Kansa Siouan languages 1982
Karankawa unclassified 1858
Karkin Utian languages 1950s
Kathlamet Chinookan languages 1930s
Kiksht/Upper Chinook/Columbia Chinook/Wasco-Wishram Chinookan languages 2012
Kitanemuk Uto-Aztecan languages 1940s
Kitsai Caddoan languages 1940
Klallam/Clallam/Ns'Klallam/S'klallam Salishan languages 2014 Revival attempts underway
Klamath/Klamath–Modoc/Lutuamian Plateau Penutian languages 2003 Revival attempts underway
Kwalhioqua-Clatskanie Na-Dene languages 20th century
Loup Algic languages 18th century
Luiseño Uto-Aztecan languages 2010s
Lushootseed Coast Salish languages 2008 Revival attempts underway
Mandan Siouan languages 2016 Revival attempts underway
Massachusett/Natick/Wôpanâak/Pokanoket/Nonantum/Indian Algic languages 19th century Revival attempts underway
Mattole/Mattole-Bear River Na-Dene languages
Miami-Illinois Algic languages 20th century Revival attempts underway
Miluk/ Lower Coquille Coosan languages 1939
Bay Miwok Utian languages
Coast Miwok Utian languages 1970
Mohican/Mahican Algic languages 1940s Revival attempts underway
Mohegan-Pequot/Mohegan-Pequot-Montauk/Secatogue/Shinnecock-Poosepatuck Algic languages 1908 Revival attempts underway
Molala Plateau Penutian languages 1958
Mutsun Utian languages 1930 Revival attempts underway
Nanticoke Algic languages 1840s
Narragansett Algic languages 18th-19th century
Natchez language isolate 1957 Revival attempts underway
Nawathinehena Algic languages 19th century
Nicoleño Uto-Aztecan languages 1853
Nooksack Salishan languages 1988 Revival attempts underway
Northern Kalapuyan Kalapuyan languages 1937
Nottoway/Cheroenhaka Iroquoian languages 1838 Revival attempts underway
Obispeño Chumashan languages 1917
Ofo Siouan languages 20th century
Osage Siouan languages 2005 As of 2009, 15-20 2L speakers and ongoing revival
Piro Pueblo Tanoan languages 1900
Plains Apache Na-Dene languages 2008
Central Pomo Pomoan languages 20th century
Eastern Pomo/Clear Lake Pomo Pomoan languages
Northeastern Pomo Pomoan languages 1961
Powhatan/Virginia Algonquian Algic languages 18th century
Purisimeño Chumashan languages
Quileute Chimakuan languages 1999
Quiripi/Mattabesic/Quiripi-Unquachog/Quiripi-Naugatuck/Wampano Algic languages 20th century
Ramaytush Utian languages 1915
Rumsen/Rumsien/San Carlos Costanoan/Carmeleno Utian languages 1939
Salinan 1958
Serrano 2002 Revival attempts underway
Shasta 20th century
Siuslaw language isolate 1960
Susquehannock/Conestoga Iroquoian languages 18th century
Takelma 1934
Tamien Utian languages
Tataviam Uto-Aztecan languages 1916
Tillamook Salishan languages 1972
Timucua language isolate 18th century
Tongva/Gabrielino/Gabrieleño Uto-Aztecan languages 20th century Revival attempts underway
Tonkawa language isolate 1940s
Tübatulabal Uto-Aztecan languages 2008 Revival attempts underway[2]
Tunica/Luhchi Yoroni/Tonica/Yuron language isolate 1948 Revival attempts underway
Tuscarora Iroquoian languages 2020
Tutelo/Tutelo–Saponi Siouan languages 1982
Tututni/(Lower) Rogue River/Upper Coquille/Nuu-wee-ya Na-Dene languages 1983 Revival attempts underway
Twana/Skokomish Salishan languages 1980
Upper Umpqua Na-Dene languages 1950s
Unami Algonquian languages 2002
Vanyume Uto-Aztecan languages
Ventureño Chumashan languages 20th century
Wailaki/Eel River Athabaskan Na-Dene languages 1960s
Wappo Yuki–Wappo languages 1990
Wichita Caddoan languages 2016
Wintu Wintuan languages Revival attempts underway
Wiyot/Wishosk/Soulatluk Algic languages 1962
Yana/Yanan language isolate 1916
Yoncalla/Southern Kalapuya/Yonkalla Kalapuyan languages 1930s
Yurok/Chillula/Mita/Pekwan/Rikwa/Sugon/Weitspek/Weitspekan Algic languages 2013

European languages or dialects

Language name Language family Extinction date References
Jersey Dutch Indo-European languages 20th century

Creole languages or dialects

Language name Creole parent language(s) Extinction date References
Mohawk Dutch Dutch creole and Mohawk language

Pidgin languages

Language name Pidgin parent language(s) Extinction date References
Broken Oghibbeway Ottawa Ojibwe language and Fox language
Pidgin Delaware Delaware language 19th century
Mobilian Jargon Muskogean language 1950s

Sign languages

Language name Extinction date References
Henniker Sign Language 20th century
Martha's Vineyard Sign Language 1952
Plateau Sign Language 18th century
Sandy River Valley Sign Language 19th century

U.S. Virgin Islands

Creole languages

Language name Creole parent language(s) Extinction date References
Negerhollands Dutch creole, Danish, English, French, Spanish, and African languages 1987

United States and Canada

Indigenous languages

Language or dialect name Dialect parent language Language family Extinction date Notes References
Eastern Abnaki dialect Abnaki language Algonquian language 1993 [3]
Wyandot Iroquoian language 1972 Revival attempts underway by the Wyandotte Nation (United States) and Huron-Wendat Nation (Canada) [4]
Tsetsaut Na-Dene language

United States and Mexico

Indigenous languages

Language or dialect name Language family Extinction date Notes References
Cotoname Pakawan languages 20th century
Garza Pakawan languages 19th century
Ópata Uto-Aztecan language 20th century Revival attempts underway among Opata people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maclean's - November 2020". magazine.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  2. ^ "Pahka'anil (Tübatulabal) Text Project - Home". web.csulb.edu.
  3. ^ "Penobscot". Native Languages of the Americas. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  4. ^ Pulte, William. 1999. "The Last Speaker of Wyandot". Algonquian and Iroquoian Linguistics 24(4):43-44.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_languages_of_North_America