Choynimni dialect explained

Choynimni
Familycolor:American (areal)
Fam1:Yok-Utian
Fam2:Yokutsan
Fam3:General Yokuts
Fam4:Nim
Fam5:Northern Yokuts
Fam6:Kings River Yokuts
Extinct:2022 with the death of Jennie Irene Oliver
Ethnicity:Choinumni
Region:California
Date:2022

Choynimni (also spelled Choinumne) is a dialect of Kings River Yokuts historically spoken along the Kings River between Sanger and Mill Creek (near Piedra). The language is the best documented dialect of Kings River Yokuts.[1] Information on the language was collected by Clinton Hart Merriam and Stanley Newman.

Fluent speakers

Jennie Irene Oliver, one of the last fully fluent speaker of Choynimni died in 2022 at the age of 83. Living members of the tribe retain knowledge of Choynimni including an estimated half dozen speakers.[2] [3]

Revitalization effort

Efforts to revitalize the language have been organized through the California State University, Fresno Department of Linguistics.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Golla, Victor. California Indian Languages. 2011-08-02. University of California Press. 9780520266674. 151. en.
  2. Cites surviving children and family of Mrs. Oliver.
  3. Web site: Survey of California and Other Indian Languages. cla.berkeley.edu. 2019-08-31.
  4. Web site: Indigenous Languages Group. www.fresnostate.edu. 2019-08-30.