What is the Siouan language family, also known as Siouan-Catawban?

The Siouan, or Siouan-Catawban, language family is a group of languages primarily found in central North America, spanning the Great Plains, the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, and southeastern North America, with some languages extending further east.

Where is the primary geographic distribution of the Siouan language family?

The Siouan language family is primarily distributed across central North America, specifically in the Great Plains, the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, and the southeastern parts of the continent.

How is the Siouan language family linguistically classified?

The Siouan language family is classified as one of the world's primary language families, indicating its significant historical presence and structure.

What is the reconstructed proto-language for the Siouan family?

The reconstructed proto-language for the Siouan family is known as Proto-Siouan.

What are the two main subdivisions of the Siouan language family?

The Siouan language family is divided into two main branches: the Catawban languages (Eastern) and the Siouan proper languages (Western).

What are the alternative terms used by linguists to distinguish the branches of the Siouan family?

Linguists sometimes refer to the branches as Western Siouan and Eastern Siouan, or as "Siouan-proper" and "Catawban." Some scholars restrict the term "Siouan" to the western branch and use "Siouan-Catawban" for the entire family, though "Siouan" is often used without distinction.

Approximately how many languages and dialects constitute the Siouan family?

The Siouan family is comprised of approximately 20 languages and various dialects.

What are the primary groups within the Western Siouan languages?

The Western Siouan languages are typically grouped into Missouri River languages (like Crow and Hidatsa), Mandan, Mississippi River languages (including Dakotan, Chiwere-Winnebago, and Dhegihan languages), and Ohio Valley Siouan languages.

Which languages are classified under the Missouri River group of Western Siouan?

The Missouri River group of Western Siouan languages includes Crow (also known as Absaroka or Apsaalooke) and Hidatsa (also known as Minitari).

What languages are part of the Mississippi Valley subdivision of Western Siouan?

The Mississippi Valley subdivision of Western Siouan includes Dakotan (Sioux-Assiniboine-Stoney), Chiwere-Winnebago, and the Dhegihan languages.

Which languages are grouped under the Dakotan branch of the Mississippi Valley Siouan?

The Dakotan branch includes Nakoda (Assiniboine and Stoney) and Sioux languages (Lakota and Dakota).

What languages are part of the Dhegihan group within the Mississippi Valley Siouan?

The Dhegihan group includes Omaha-Ponca, Kansa-Osage, and Quapaw languages.

What languages are classified under the Ohio Valley Siouan group?

The Ohio Valley Siouan group includes languages such as Biloxi, Ofo, and Tutelo.

What languages form the Eastern Siouan, or Catawban, branch?

The Eastern Siouan, or Catawban, branch consists of the Catawba language and the Woccon language.

Which Siouan languages are marked as extinct in the provided classification?

The following Siouan languages are marked as extinct: Mandan, Mitchigamea, Chiwere, Kansa, Quapaw, Tutelo, Moneton, Biloxi, Ofo, and Woccon.

What is the approximate number of speakers for the Crow language?

The Crow language has approximately 3,500 speakers.

How many speakers does the Hidatsa language have?

The Hidatsa language has approximately 200 speakers.

What is the estimated number of speakers for the Sioux language?

The Sioux language is spoken by approximately 25,000 people.

How many speakers are estimated for the Lakota language?

The Lakota language has an estimated 2,100 speakers.

What is the speaker count for the Dakota language?

The Dakota language is spoken by approximately 290 people.

How many speakers does the Winnebago language have?

The Winnebago language has approximately 250 speakers.

What is the speaker count for the Omaha-Ponca language?

The Omaha-Ponca language has approximately 85 speakers.

What did Charles F. Voegelin establish regarding the Catawban languages?

Charles F. Voegelin established, based on linguistic evidence, that the Catawban languages were sufficiently divergent from other Siouan languages to be considered a distinct branch.

How did Voegelin categorize the languages Biloxi, Ofo, and Tutelo?

Voegelin proposed that Biloxi, Ofo, and Tutelo constitute a group he termed "Ohio Valley Siouan."

What other terms are used to collectively refer to Siouan languages historically spoken in Appalachia and the Piedmont regions?

Siouan languages from Appalachia and the Piedmont are sometimes grouped under the terms Tutelo, Tutelo-Saponi, or Yesah, referring to the language historically spoken by groups like the Monacan, Manahoac, Haliwa-Saponi, and Occaneechi peoples.

What is Proto-Siouan?

Proto-Siouan is the reconstructed ancestor language from which all modern Siouan languages are believed to have descended.

What were some of the earliest significant comparative works on Siouan languages?

Early comparative work on Siouan languages includes the studies by Wolff (1950-51), who reconstructed the proto-Siouan system, and Matthews (1958), who further modified this system.

What was the nature of the consonant reconstruction in Matthews' 1958 proposal for Proto-Siouan?

Matthews' 1958 proposal reconstructed consonants including plosives *p, *t, *k, *ʔ, fricatives *s, *ʃ, *x, *h, nasals *m, *n, and approximants *w, *r, *j. It also included five oral vowels and three nasal vowels.

What did Wolff reconstruct regarding consonantal clusters in Proto-Siouan?

Wolff reconstructed several consonantal clusters for Proto-Siouan, such as *tk, *kʃ, *ʃk, and *sp.

What is the current proposal for the Proto-Siouan phonemic system, and who developed it?

The current proposal for the Proto-Siouan phonemic system was developed through collaborative work involving Siouanists, starting at the 1984 Comparative Siouan Workshop, and is represented by Rankin et al. (2015).

How does the current proposal for Proto-Siouan consonants differ from previous ones?

The current proposal introduces multiple stop series (plain, glottalized, preaspirated, postaspirated) and includes glottalized fricatives, differing from earlier proposals that posited only a single stop series and lacked these features. It also posits obstruentized versions of sonorants.

What is the difference in the treatment of nasal consonants between earlier proposals and the current one for Proto-Siouan?

Unlike earlier proposals by Wolff and Matthews, the current proposal by Rankin et al. (2015) posits no nasal consonants in Proto-Siouan, suggesting they developed in daughter languages.

How does the current proposal explain the presence of consonant clusters found in earlier reconstructions?

The current proposal explains many consonant clusters by attributing them to the syncopation (loss) of short vowels that occurred before stressed syllables in the development from Proto-Siouan to its daughter languages.

What is the proposed Proto-Siouan vowel system according to Rankin et al. (2015)?

The current proposal expands on earlier vowel reconstructions by positing a distinction between short and long vowels for five oral vowels (*i, *e, *a, *o, *u) and three nasal vowels (*ĩ, *ã, *ũ), resulting in a system with both oral and nasal vowels of varying lengths.

What is the closest known relative to the Siouan-Catawban family?

The Yuchi isolate is considered the closest known relative to the Siouan-Catawban family, based on both sound changes and morphological comparisons.

What historical hypotheses have been proposed regarding the wider relationships of the Siouan languages?

In the 19th century, Robert Latham suggested a relationship between Siouan, Caddoan, and Iroquoian languages. Later work by Louis Allen, Wallace Chafe, and Marianne Mithun explored these potential links, leading to the "Macro-Siouan" hypothesis.

What is the current linguistic consensus on the Macro-Siouan hypothesis?

The Macro-Siouan hypothesis, suggesting a genetic relationship between Siouan, Caddoan, and Iroquoian languages, is not currently considered proven. The similarities might be due to the languages belonging to a sprachbund, or linguistic area, rather than a direct common ancestor.

What does the asterisk (*) preceding a symbol in the Proto-Siouan reconstructions signify?

The asterisk (*) preceding a symbol, such as *p or *a, indicates that it is a reconstructed form, meaning it is a hypothetical element of the ancestral language that has been inferred through linguistic analysis.

What is the significance of the term "Siouan-Catawban"?

The term "Siouan-Catawban" is used by some linguists to refer to the entire language family, distinguishing the Catawban branch from the rest of the Siouan languages, though "Siouan" is often used for the whole family.

What does the dagger symbol (†) indicate in the classification of Siouan languages?

The dagger symbol (†) indicates that a language is considered extinct.

What is the primary difference between the IPA transcription and Americanist phonetic transcription mentioned in the text?

The text notes that in Siouanist literature, Americanist phonetic transcriptions are common, where symbols like IPA *s are represented as Americanist *sh (written as *š), and IPA *j is represented as Americanist *y, among other differences.

What does the term "sprachbund" refer to in the context of language relationships?

A "sprachbund" refers to a group of languages that have influenced each other due to geographical proximity and prolonged contact, leading to shared linguistic features, rather than necessarily being genetically related.

What is the purpose of the "Authority control databases" section at the end of the article?

The "Authority control databases" section provides links to external databases (like Library of Congress, BNF, Wikidata) that catalog information about the Siouan languages, helping to standardize and organize data about the topic.

What does the term "obstruentized versions of their corresponding sonorants" refer to in the context of Proto-Siouan consonants?

This refers to a set of sounds in the proposed Proto-Siouan consonant system that are believed to have developed from or are related to sonorant consonants (like *w, *r) but have characteristics of obstruents, with their exact phonetic value being a subject of debate among linguists.

What is the significance of the term "primary language families" in the infobox?

Classifying Siouan as a "primary language family" suggests it is a major, well-established grouping of languages with a long history, rather than a minor or newly proposed one.

What does the term "divergent" mean when describing the Catawban languages in relation to other Siouan languages?

"Divergent" means that the Catawban languages have developed distinct characteristics and have moved away from the common ancestral form more significantly than other branches of the Siouan family, warranting their classification as a separate branch.

What does the term "syncope" mean in phonology?

Syncope, in phonology, refers to the loss of a sound, typically a vowel, within a word, often occurring before a stressed syllable, as mentioned in the context of explaining Proto-Siouan consonant clusters.

What is the role of the "Comparative Siouan Dictionary" project mentioned in the text?

The Comparative Siouan Dictionary project, initiated in 1984, aimed to create a comprehensive dictionary that includes reconstructions of Proto-Siouan, contributing to a more refined understanding of the family's phonemic system.

What is the significance of the IPA symbols like *p, *t, *k, *s, *h, *m, *n, *w, *r, *j, *ʃ, *ʔ in linguistic reconstruction?

These symbols, part of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) or similar phonetic notation systems, represent the sounds of a reconstructed proto-language. Their presence indicates the hypothesized phonemic inventory of Proto-Siouan, allowing linguists to trace sound changes and relationships between languages.

What does the term "glottalized" refer to in the context of consonants like *pʼ, *tʼ, *kʼ?

Glottalized consonants are produced with a simultaneous closure of the glottis, creating a distinct sound often described as "popping" or "ejective." The presence of these in the Proto-Siouan reconstruction indicates a more complex consonant system than previously thought.

What does the term "preaspirated" refer to in the context of consonants like *ʰp, *ʰt, *ʰk?

Preaspirated consonants are sounds that are preceded by a brief puff of air (aspiration) originating from the glottis. Their inclusion in the Proto-Siouan consonant system suggests a more intricate phonological structure.

Siouan Languages Wiki: Echoes of the Plains: A Linguistic Cartography of the Siouan Family

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Overview

Geographic Distribution

The Siouan–Catawban language family is primarily situated across central North America, with significant presence in the Great Plains, the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, and extending into southeastern North America. A few languages also appeared in the eastern regions.

Linguistic Classification

Siouan is recognized as one of the world's primary language families. It is linguistically classified as a distinct family, with its proto-language reconstructed as Proto-Siouan. The family is broadly divided into two main branches: Catawban (Eastern) and Siouan proper (Western).

Naming Conventions

Scholars often distinguish between the Western Siouan languages and the Eastern Siouan (or Catawban) languages. Some researchers restrict the term "Siouan" to the western branch, using "Siouan–Catawban" for the entire family. However, "Siouan" is commonly used without such distinctions.

Family Structure

Branching Classification

The Siouan family comprises approximately 20 languages, each with various dialects. The primary division is into Western Siouan and Eastern Siouan (Catawban) branches.

The family's structure is complex, with several proposed subgroupings:

Western Siouan:

Missouri River Siouan (e.g., Crow, Hidatsa)
Mandan (extinct)
Mississippi Valley Siouan (e.g., Dakota, Lakota, Omaha–Ponca, Kansa–Osage, Chiwere–Winnebago)
Ohio Valley Siouan (e.g., Ofo, Biloxi, Tutelo - all extinct)

Eastern Siouan/Catawban:

Catawba (extinct)
Woccon (extinct)

Note: Languages marked as extinct are indicated by a dagger symbol (ߤ).

Language Status

Many languages within the Siouan family are critically endangered or have become extinct. For instance, Mandan, Chiwere, Kansa, Osage, Quapaw, Catawba, and Woccon are listed as extinct. Several others, like Crow, Hidatsa, and various Dakota dialects, have a limited number of living speakers, highlighting the urgent need for language preservation efforts.

Proto-Siouan Reconstruction

Reconstructing the Ancestor

Proto-Siouan represents the reconstructed common ancestor of all modern Siouan languages. Linguistic reconstruction involves analyzing sound correspondences and grammatical patterns across related languages to infer the features of their ancestral form. Early work by scholars like Wolff and Matthews laid foundational groundwork, which has been refined by subsequent research, notably by Rankin et al.

Phonemic Inventory

Reconstructions of Proto-Siouan phonology have evolved. While earlier models proposed a simpler system, current proposals, such as that by Rankin et al. (2015), account for multiple stop series (plain, glottalized, pre-aspirated, post-aspirated) and distinctions in vowel length and nasality. This detailed analysis reflects the complexity observed in descendant languages.

Proto-Siouan Consonants (Rankin et al. 2015)

		Labial	Coronal	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Plosive	plain	*p	*t		*k	*ʔ
	glottalized	*pʼ	*tʼ		*kʼ
	preaspirated	*ʰp	*ʰt		*ʰk
	postaspirated	*pʰ	*tʰ		*kʰ
Fricative	plain		*s	*ʃ	*x	*h
Fricative	glottalized		*sʼ	*ʃʼ	*xʼ
Sonorant		*w	*r	*j
Obstruent		*W	*R

Proto-Siouan Vowels (Rankin et al. 2015)

		Front		Central		Back
		short	long	short	long	short	long
High	oral	*i	*iː			*u	*uː
High	nasal	*ʗ	*ʗː			*ʉ	*ʉː
Mid		*e	*eː			*o	*oː
Low	oral			*a	*aː
Low	nasal			*ã	*ãː

External Relations & Hypotheses

Yuchi Connection

The Yuchi language, often considered a linguistic isolate, shows potential close relationships with the Siouan–Catawban family. Evidence suggests this connection based on both sound changes and morphological comparisons, indicating a possible shared linguistic ancestry.

Macro-Siouan Hypothesis

In the past, proposals have suggested broader genetic relationships between Siouan languages and others, such as the Caddoan and Iroquoian families, collectively termed "Macro-Siouan." While comparative work has been conducted, this hypothesis remains largely unproven. The observed similarities might alternatively stem from prolonged contact within a linguistic area (sprachbund) rather than direct genetic descent.

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References

Rankin, Robert L., Carter, Richard T. & Jones, A. Wesley (n.d.). Proto-Siouan Phonology and Grammar. Ms. University of Kansas.

Rankin, Robert L., Carter, Richard T. & Jones, A. Wesley. (n.d.). Proto-Siouan Phonology and Grammar. Ms. University of Kansas.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Siouan languages Wikipedia page

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This content has been generated by an AI model for educational and informational purposes, drawing upon publicly available data. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to academic standards, the information is based on a snapshot of knowledge and may not encompass all nuances or the latest research in the field of linguistics.

This is not professional linguistic advice. The information provided should not substitute consultation with qualified linguists or cultural experts. Always consult primary sources and academic literature for definitive research.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented herein.

Echoes of the Plains

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Overview ℹ️

🌍 Geographic Distribution

🔗 Linguistic Classification

📜 Naming Conventions

Family Structure 🧩

🌳 Branching Classification

🗣️ Language Status

Proto-Siouan Reconstruction 🔬

💡 Reconstructing the Ancestor

🔊 Phonemic Inventory

Proto-Siouan Consonants (Rankin et al. 2015)

Proto-Siouan Vowels (Rankin et al. 2015)

External Relations & Hypotheses 🤝

🌱 Yuchi Connection

🌐 Macro-Siouan Hypothesis

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Overview

Geographic Distribution

Linguistic Classification

Naming Conventions

Family Structure

Branching Classification

Language Status

Proto-Siouan Reconstruction

Reconstructing the Ancestor

Phonemic Inventory

External Relations & Hypotheses

Yuchi Connection

Macro-Siouan Hypothesis

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Academic Disclaimer

Important Notice