CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE PEOPLE

DESERT INTERIOR

Languages

NUMIC LANGUAGE FAMILY

The Numic languages were spoken over a vast fanshaped area of the intermountain west. Of these, only one (Monache or Western Mono) was spoken within the California culture area. Monache speakers lived on the western side of the Sierra crest in the south-central foothills. Several other Numic languages were spoken by peoples who resided in what would become the political entity 'California,' but who were culturally either a mix of California and the Great Basin or primarily Great Basin

• Eastern Mono - Perhaps as many as 2,000. Today at least 50 fluent speakers.
• Kawaiisu - Unknown. Today, perhaps 10 fluent speakers
• Chemehuevi - Perhaps as many as 1,600 to 3,000 speakers originally; today less than 20 fluent speakers.

TAKIC LANGUAGE FAMILY

• Serrano - Some 2,000 - 3,000 speakers in pre-Euroamerican times; today certainly no more than 10.
• Kitanemuk - Perhaps as many as 1,500 - 2,000 speakers aboriginally. Today, perhaps no more than 5 who are still somewhat conversant in the language.
• Tataviam - Unknown.
• Vanyume - Unknown.
• Cahuilla - At least 2,000, with perhaps as many as 6,000 speakers. There were three dialects: Pass, Mountain, and Desert. Today, more than 25 people are still fluent in Cahuilla
• Kupa (or Cupeño) - Numbered about 500+ speakers originally. At present, at least 5 Kupa are fluent in their native language.

YUMAN LANGUAGE FAMILY

• Tipai - At least 3,000 speakers, although their efficient seasonal exploitation of their territory's varied ecological niches could have supported three times that many people, and, indeed, may have. Several dialects were spoken. Today, more than 200 people are fluent in Tipai, using it as their primary means of communication with other Tipai speakers.

For additional information on the Desert Interior Region,
please select a topic most applicable to your interests:

Language | Subsistence | Settlement Patterns | Sociopolitical Organization | Religion

Northwest Coast | Northeast | Central Coast and Central Valley
East of the Sierra Divide | Interior Desert | Southern Coastal

Native Peoples of California - Topics

To comment on this page please send email to Chuck Smith at crsmith@cabrillo.cc.ca.us.

Page last updated: 23 August 1999