Cheyenne

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A language of United States

ISO 639-3
chy
Alternate Names
Tsisinstsistots, Tsitsistas
Autonym
Tsėhesenėstsestȯtse
User Population

380 (2018 W. Leman), decreasing. Spoken by 350 in Montana, 30 in Oklahoma (2018 W. Leman). Ethnic population: 4,000 (Golla 2007). In Montana.

Location

Montana: Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation; central Oklahoma.

Language Maps
Language Status

8a (Moribund). Language of registered tribe: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Classification
Algic, Algonquian
Typology

Polysynthetic language; pragmatic word order; grammatical animacy; tonal.

Language Use

Conversation and prayer. Older adults only. Middle-aged or older. All shifted to English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 100% in English [eng]. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1902–2007. Summer camps for children in Montana where Cheyenne taught by fluent speakers. Taught in Dull Knife Memorial College and at reservation schools in Montana (2018 W. Leman).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Cheyenne
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

‘Tsitsistas’ is the ethnic autonym used by the Cheyenne. Christian, traditional religion.