Chitimacha language
Language isolate of southern Louisiana, US / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Chitimacha (/ˌtʃɪtɪməˈʃɑː/ CHIT-i-mə-SHAH[4] or /tʃɪtɪˈmɑːʃə/ chit-i-MAH-shə,[5] Sitimaxa[6]) is a language isolate historically spoken by the Chitimacha people of Louisiana, United States. It became extinct in 1940 with the death of the last fluent speaker, Delphine Ducloux.
Chitimacha | |
---|---|
Sitimaxa Čitimaaša | |
Pronunciation | t͡ʃitimaːʃa |
Native to | USA |
Region | Southern Louisiana |
Ethnicity | Chitimacha |
Extinct | 1940[1] with the death of Delphine Ducloux[2] |
Revival | In progress, language learned by children through immersion program[3] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | ctm |
Glottolog | chit1248 |
ELP | Chitimacha |
Distribution of Chitimacha language |
Although no longer spoken, it is fairly extensively documented in the early 20th-century work (mostly unpublished) of linguists Morris Swadesh[7][8] and John R. Swanton. Swadesh in particular wrote a full grammar and dictionary, and collected numerous texts from the last two speakers, although none of this is published.
Language revitalization efforts are underway to teach the language to a new generation of speakers.[9][10][11] Tribal members have received Rosetta Stone software for learning the language. As of 2015, a new Chitimacha dictionary is in preparation, and classes are being taught on the Chitimacha reservation.[12]