Arikara

Print

Primary tabs

A language of United States

ISO 639-3
ari
Alternate Names
Arikaree, Arikari, Arikaris, Ree, Ris, Sáhniš
User Population

10 (Golla 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 94 (2000 census).

Location

North Dakota: Fort Berthold Reservation, mostly Parshall and White Shield.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct). Language of registered tribe: Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.

Classification
Caddoan, Northern Caddoan, Kitsai-Proto-Pawnee, Proto-Pawnee
Typology

SOV; polysynthetic language; tonal.

Language Use

Elderly only. Shifted to English [eng].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. The annual Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Summer Institute (MHASI) supports Arikara language teachers and encourages new teachers to help in revitalization efforts. Agency: Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Language Project.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Arikara
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Reportedly a group Lewis and Clark met in 1804 in North Dakota. 30,000 were reduced to 6,000 due to smallpox.