Tachi Yokuts Explained

Tachi
Familycolor:American
Fam1:Yok-Utian ?
Fam2:Yokutsan
Fam3:General Yokuts
Fam4:Nim
Fam5:Northern Yokuts
Fam6:Valley Yokuts
Fam7:Southern
Fam8:Nutunutu–Tachi
Speakers:"a few"
Date:2007
Glotto:none
Isoexception:dialect

Tachi is an endangered dialect of Southern Valley Yokuts historically spoken north of Tulare Lake in the Central Valley of California. A. L. Kroeber estimated that Tachi was, at one point, one of the most widely spoken Yokutsan dialects.[1]

As of 2019, a few individuals of the Santa Rosa Rancheria are reportedly able to speak Tachi.[2] [3]

Grammar

Tachi has been described as following a subject–verb–object word order though may allow for verb-initial order. The dialect uses dative case and lacks possessed case.[4]

Status

Speakers

In 1988, an estimated 30 individuals spoke Tachi, including a number who spoke Tachi as a first language.[5] [6]

Revival efforts

In 1987, the Santa Rosa Rancheria piloted a language renewal program, Tachi as a Second Language, through the tribe's Head Start language program. The program sought to increase language exposure among young children within the tribe.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kroeber, A. L.. Handbook of the Indians of California.. 1925. Washington. Government Printing Office. 484. 906067458. 2027/mdp.39015006584174.
  2. Book: Atlas of the World's Languages. Asher. R. E.. Moseley. Christopher. 2018-04-19. Routledge. 9781317851080. 25. en.
  3. Book: Moseley, Christopher. Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages. 2008-03-10. Routledge. 9781135796402. en.
  4. Rhodes. Ryan. 2013. Clausal architecture of chukchansi yokuts. en-US.
  5. Britsch-Devany. Susan. 1988. The Collaborative Development of a Language Renewal Program for Preschoolers. Human Organization. 47. 4. 297–302. 0018-7259. 44126734. 10.17730/humo.47.4.d3178g8w7w23h170.
  6. Britsch. Susan. 1989. Research Currents: The Contribution of the Preschool to a Native American Community. Language Arts. 66. 1. 52–57. 10.58680/la198924848 . 0360-9170. 41411354.