Tohono O’odham

A language of United States

Nebome, Nevome, O’odham, O’othham, Papago-Pima, Tohono O’otham, Upper Piman

Oʼodham ha-ñeʼokĭ, Oʼodham ñiok

14,000 in United States (Golla 2007). 180 monolinguals (1990 census). Ethnic population: 33,000 (Ichihashi-Nakayama 2004), including 20,000 Papago, 13,000 Pima ({Ichihashi-Nakayama 2004}). Total users in all countries: 14,200.

Location

Arizona: south central. 60 villages on 7 reservations.

Language Maps

Mexico

Western United States of America

Language Status

6b (Threatened). Language of registered tribe: Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona.

Classification

Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Pimic

Dialects

Tohono O’odam (“Papago” (pej.)), Akimel O’odham (Pima).

Language Use

Vigorous in the west and south. Some young people, all adults. Most also use English [eng].

Language Development

Taught as subject in primary and secondary schools; schools of the Tohono O’odham Nation teach the language. Taught at the University of Arizona (Golla 2007). Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1975.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Tohono O’odham

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Different from Pima Bajo [pia] of Mexico.