Shawnee
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A language of United States
Alternate Names
Savannah, Sewanee, Shawano
User Population
260 (2015 census), decreasing. Ethnic population: 11,500 (Golla 2007). 2,000 members of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe around Shawnee town (more than 100 speakers); 1,500 members of Eastern Shawnee Tribe in Ottawa County (a few elderly speakers). 8,000 members of the Loyal Shawnee in Cherokee region of Oklahoma around Whiteoak (fewer than 12 speakers) (Golla 2007).
Location
Oklahoma: central and northeast.
Language Maps
Language Status
8a (Moribund). Language of registered tribe: Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe.
Typology
Polysynthetic language; fairly free word order.
Language Use
Older adults only. Shifted to English [eng].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1842–1929.