List of extinct languages of North America
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| Language Endangerment Status | |
|---|---|
| Extinct (EX) | |
| |
| Endangered | |
| Safe | |
| |
Other categories | |
Related topics | |
 UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger categories | |
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[edit]
Indigenous languages
| Language name | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beothuk | unclassified | 1829 | ||
| Laurentian | Iroquoian | late 16th century | ||
| Pentlatch | Salishan | 1940 | currently being revived | [1] |
European language dialects
| Language or dialect name | Dialect parent language | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland Irish | Irish | Indo-European | 20th century |
Pidgin languages
| Language name | Pidgin parent language(s) | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquian–Basque pidgin | Basque, Algonquian | approx. 1711 |
Caribbean[edit]
Indigenous languages
| Language name | Language family | Extinction date | Locations | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caquetio | Arawakan | 1862 | ABC islands (Leeward Antilles) | |
| Guanahatabey | unclassified | 16th century | Cuba | |
| Shebaya | Arawakan | 19th century | Trinidad | |
| Taino | Arawakan | 19th century | Widespread throughout Caribbean |
Central America[edit]
Indigenous languages
| Language name | Language family | Extinction date | Locations | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cacaopera | Misumalpan | 20th century | El Salvador | |
| Chiquimulilla | Xincan | 1996 | Guatemala | |
| Guazacapán | Xincan | 1997 | Guatemala | |
| Jumaytepeque | Xincan | 1997 | Guatemala | |
| Mangue/Chorotega | Oto-Manguean | 19th century | Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica | |
| Sinacantán | Xincan | 20th century | Guatemala | |
| Subtiaba | Oto-Manguean | 20th century | Nicaragua | |
| Yupiltepeque | Xincan | 1920s | Guatemala |
Greenland[edit]
European language dialects
| Language name | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenlandic Norse | North Germanic | 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[edit]
Indigenous languages
| Language or dialect name | Dialect parent language | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cazcan/Caxcan/Kaskán | Uto-Aztecan | 16th or 17th century | |||
| Chiapanec | Oto-Manguean | 20th century | |||
| Chicomuceltec | Mayan | 1970s or 1980s | |||
| Cochimí | Yuman–Cochimí | early 20th century | |||
| Comecrudo language | Pakawan | 19th century | |||
| Cuitlatec/Cuitlateco | Language isolate | 1960s | |||
| Classical Náhuatl | Nahuatl | Uto-Aztecan | late 15th century | used as the lingua franca of the Aztec Empire until its collapse | |
| Mamulique | Pakawan | 19th century | |||
| Southern Pame | Pame | Oto-Manguean | mid 20th century | ||
| Pochutec | Uto-Aztecan | 20th century | |||
| Solteco Zapotec | Oto-Manguean | 19th century | |||
| Tapachultec | Mixe–Zoque | 1930s | |||
| Tepecano | Uto-Aztecan | 20th century | |||
| Tubar | Uto-Aztecan | 20th century | |||
| Waikuri | unclassified | before 1800 |
United States[edit]
Indigenous languages[edit]
| Language or dialect name | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adai | unclassified | 19th century | ||
| Ais | unclassified | 18th century | ||
| Carolina Algonquian/Pamlico/Croatoan | Algic | 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 | 18th century - Revival Attempt | ||
| Atakapa | Language isolate | 20th century | ||
| Atsina/Gros Ventre | Algic | 2007 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Atsugewi | Palaihnihan | 1988 | ||
| Awaswas | Utian | formerly known as "Santa Cruz" | ||
| Barbareño/Ineseño | Chumashan | 1965 | Revival attempts underway. Barbareño and Ineseño may be related dialects of the same language or closely related languages | |
| Biloxi | Siouan | 1930s | ||
| Cahto/Kato | Na-Dene | 1960s | ||
| Calusa | unclassified | 19th century | ||
| Catawba | Siouan | 1959 | ||
| Cayuse | unclassified | 1930s | ||
| Chalon | Utian | |||
| Chehalis | Salishan | 2001 | ||
| Chemakum/Chimakum/Chimacum | Chimakuan | 19th century | ||
| Chico/Valley Maidu | Maiduan | |||
| Chimariko | Language isolate | 1950s | ||
| Chitimacha/Sitimaxa | Language isolate | 1940 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Chiwere/Iowa-Otoe-Missouria/Báxoje-Jíwere-Ñút'achi | Siouan | 1996 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Chochenyo | Utian | 1934 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Coahuilteco | Pakawan | 18th century | ||
| Columbia-Moses | Salishan | 2 May 2023 | [2] | |
| Cowlitz | Salishan | 20th century | Revival attempts underway | |
| Cruzeño/Isleño/Island Chumash | Chumashan | 1915 | ||
| Cupeño | Uto-Aztecan | 1987 | ||
| Esselen | Language isolate | 19th century | ||
| Etchemin | Algic | 17th century | ||
| Eyak | Na-Dene | 2008 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Galice/Galice-Applegate/Upper Rogue River | Na-Dene | 1963 | ||
| Hanis/Coos | Coosan | 1972 | ||
| Holikachuk | Na-Dene | 2012 | ||
| Central Kalapuya | Kalapuyan | 1954 | ||
| Kansa | Siouan | 1982 | ||
| Karankawa | unclassified | 1858 | ||
| Karkin | Utian | 1950s | ||
| Kathlamet | Chinookan | 1930s | ||
| Kiksht/Upper Chinook/Columbia Chinook/Wasco-Wishram | Chinookan | 2012 | ||
| Kitanemuk | Uto-Aztecan | 1940s | ||
| Kitsai | Caddoan | 1940 | ||
| Klallam/Clallam/Ns'Klallam/S'klallam | Salishan | 2014 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Klamath/Klamath–Modoc/Lutuamian | Plateau Penutian | 2003 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Kwalhioqua-Clatskanie | Na-Dene | 20th century | ||
| Loup | Algic | 18th century | ||
| Luiseño | Uto-Aztecan | 2010s | ||
| Lushootseed | Coast Salish | 2008 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Mandan | Siouan | 2016 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Massachusett/Natick/Wôpanâak/Pokanoket/Nonantum/Indian | Algic | 19th century | Revival attempts underway | |
| Mattole/Mattole-Bear River | Na-Dene | |||
| Miami-Illinois | Algic | 20th century | Revival attempts underway | |
| Miluk/ Lower Coquille | Coosan | 1939 | ||
| Bay Miwok | Utian | |||
| Coast Miwok | Utian | 1970 | ||
| Mohican/Mahican | Algic | 1940s | Revival attempts underway | |
| Mohegan-Pequot/Mohegan-Pequot-Montauk/Secatogue/Shinnecock-Poosepatuck | Algic | 1908 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Molala | Plateau Penutian | 1958 | ||
| Mutsun | Utian | 1930 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Nanticoke | Algic | 1840s | ||
| Narragansett | Algic | 18th-19th century | ||
| Natchez | Language isolate | 1957 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Nawathinehena | Algic | 19th century | ||
| Nicoleño | Uto-Aztecan | 1853 | ||
| Nooksack | Salishan | 1988 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Northern Kalapuyan | Kalapuyan | 1937 | ||
| Nottoway/Cheroenhaka | Iroquoian | 1838 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Obispeño | Chumashan | 1917 | ||
| Ofo | Siouan | 20th century | ||
| Osage | Siouan | 2005 | As of 2009, 15-20 2L speakers and ongoing revival | |
| Piro Pueblo | Tanoan | 1900 | ||
| Plains Apache | Na-Dene | 2008 | ||
| Central Pomo | Pomoan | 20th century | ||
| Eastern Pomo/Clear Lake Pomo | Pomoan | |||
| Northeastern Pomo | Pomoan | 1961 | ||
| Powhatan/Virginia Algonquian | Algic | 18th century | ||
| Purisimeño | Chumashan | |||
| Quileute | Chimakuan | 1999 | ||
| Quiripi/Mattabesic/Quiripi-Unquachog/Quiripi-Naugatuck/Wampano | Algic | 20th century | ||
| Ramaytush | Utian | 1915 | ||
| Rumsen/Rumsien/San Carlos Costanoan/Carmeleno | Utian | 1939 | ||
| Salinan | 1958 | |||
| Serrano | 2002 | Revival attempts underway | ||
| Shasta | 20th century | |||
| Siuslaw | Language isolate | 1960 | ||
| Susquehannock/Conestoga | Iroquoian | 18th century | ||
| Takelma | 1934 | |||
| Tamien | Utian | |||
| Tataviam | Uto-Aztecan | 1916 | ||
| Tillamook | Salishan | 1972 | ||
| Timucua | Language isolate | 18th century | ||
| Tongva/Gabrielino/Gabrieleño | Uto-Aztecan | 20th century | Revival attempts underway | |
| Tonkawa | Language isolate | 1940s | ||
| Tübatulabal | Uto-Aztecan | 2008 | Revival attempts underway[3] | |
| Tunica/Luhchi Yoroni/Tonica/Yuron | Language isolate | 1948 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Tuscarora | Iroquoian | 2020 | ||
| Tutelo/Tutelo–Saponi | Siouan | 1982 | ||
| Tututni/(Lower) Rogue River/Upper Coquille/Nuu-wee-ya | Na-Dene | 1983 | Revival attempts underway | |
| Twana/Skokomish | Salishan | 1980 | ||
| Upper Umpqua | Na-Dene | 1950s | ||
| Unami | Algonquian | 2002 | ||
| Vanyume | Uto-Aztecan | |||
| Ventureño | Chumashan | 20th century | ||
| Wailaki/Eel River Athabaskan | Na-Dene | 1960s | ||
| Wappo | Yuki–Wappo | 1990 | ||
| Wichita | Caddoan | 2016 | ||
| Wintu | Wintuan | Revival attempts underway | ||
| Wiyot/Wishosk/Soulatluk | Algic | 1962 | ||
| Yana/Yanan | Language isolate | 1916 | ||
| Yoncalla/Southern Kalapuya/Yonkalla | Kalapuyan | 1930s | ||
| Yurok/Chillula/Mita/Pekwan/Rikwa/Sugon/Weitspek/Weitspekan | Algic | 2013 |
European languages or dialects[edit]
| Language name | Language family | Extinction date | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Dutch | Indo-European | 20th century |
Creole languages or dialects[edit]
| Language name | Creole parent language(s) | Extinction date | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohawk Dutch | Dutch creole and Mohawk |
Pidgin languages[edit]
| Language name | Pidgin parent language(s) | Extinction date | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Oghibbeway | Ottawa Ojibwe and Fox | ||
| Pidgin Delaware | Delaware | 19th century | |
| Mobilian Jargon | Muskogean | 1950s |
Sign languages[edit]
| 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[edit]
Creole languages
| Language name | Creole parent language(s) | Extinction date | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negerhollands | Dutch creole, Danish, English, French, Spanish, and African | 1987 |
United States and Canada[edit]
Indigenous languages
| Language or dialect name | Dialect parent language | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Abnaki dialect | Abnaki language | Algonquian | 1993 | [4] | |
| Wyandot | Iroquoian | 1972 | Revival attempts underway by the Wyandotte Nation (United States) and Huron-Wendat Nation (Canada) | [5] | |
| Tsetsaut | Na-Dene |
United States and Mexico[edit]
Indigenous languages
| Language or dialect name | Language family | Extinction date | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotoname | Pakawan | 20th century | ||
| Garza | Pakawan | 19th century | ||
| Ópata | Uto-Aztecan | 20th century | Revival attempts underway among Opata people |
See also[edit]
- List of extinct Uto-Aztecan languages
- List of extinct languages of South America
- Extinct languages of the Marañón River basin
References[edit]
- ^ "Maclean's - November 2020". magazine.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ "Last Fluent Speaker of Nxamxcin Language Dies at 96". The Spokesman. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Pahka'anil (Tübatulabal) Text Project - Home". web.csulb.edu.
- ^ "Penobscot". Native Languages of the Americas. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
- ^ Pulte, William. 1999. "The Last Speaker of Wyandot". Algonquian and Iroquoian Linguistics 24(4):43-44.
