Indigenous languages of the Americas

The Indigenous languages of the Americas are the languages that were used by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas before the arrival of non-Indigenous peoples. Over a thousand of these languages are still used today, while many more are now extinct. The Indigenous languages of the Americas are not all related to each other; instead, they are classified into a hundred or so language families and isolates, as well as several extinct languages that are unclassified due to the lack of information on them.

Yucatec Maya writing in the Dresden Codex, ca. 11–12th century, Chichen Itza

Many proposals have been made to relate some or all of these languages to each other, with varying degrees of success. The most widely reported is Joseph Greenberg's Amerind hypothesis, which, however, nearly all specialists reject because of severe methodological flaws; spurious data; and a failure to distinguish cognation, contact, and coincidence.

According to UNESCO, most of the Indigenous languages of the Americas are critically endangered, and many are dormant (without native speakers but with a community of heritage-language users) or entirely extinct. The most widely spoken Indigenous languages are Southern Quechua (spoken primarily in southern Peru and Bolivia) and Guarani (centered in Paraguay, where it shares national language status with Spanish), with perhaps six or seven million speakers apiece (including many of European descent in the case of Guarani). Only half a dozen others have more than a million speakers; these are Aymara of Bolivia and Nahuatl of Mexico, with almost two million each; the Mayan languages Kekchi, Quiché, and Yucatec of Guatemala and Mexico, with about 1 million apiece; and perhaps one or two additional Quechuan languages in Peru and Ecuador. In the United States, 372,000 people reported speaking an Indigenous language at home in the 2010 census. In Canada, 133,000 people reported speaking an Indigenous language at home in the 2011 census. In Greenland, about 90% of the population speaks Greenlandic, the most widely spoken Eskaleut language.

Background

Over a thousand known languages were spoken by various peoples in North and South America prior to their first contact with Europeans. These encounters occurred between the beginning of the 11th century (with the Nordic settlement of Greenland and failed efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador) and the end of the 15th century (the voyages of Christopher Columbus). Several Indigenous cultures of the Americas had also developed their own writing systems, the best known being the Maya script. The Indigenous languages of the Americas had widely varying demographics, from the Quechuan languages, Aymara, Guarani, and Nahuatl, which had millions of active speakers, to many languages with only several hundred speakers. After pre-Columbian times, several Indigenous creole languages developed in the Americas, based on European, Indigenous and African languages.

The European colonizing nations and their successor states had widely varying attitudes towards Native American languages. In Brazil, friars learned and promoted the Tupi language. In many Spanish colonies, Spanish missionaries often learned local languages and culture in order to preach to the natives in their own tongue and relate the Christian message to their Indigenous religions. In the British American colonies, John Eliot of the Massachusetts Bay Colony translated the Bible into the Massachusett language, also called Wampanoag, or Natick (1661–1663); he published the first Bible printed in North America, the Eliot Indian Bible.

The Europeans also suppressed use of Indigenous languages, establishing their own languages for official communications, destroying texts in other languages, and insisted that Indigenous people learn European languages in schools. As a result, Indigenous languages suffered from cultural suppression and loss of speakers. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, and Dutch, brought to the Americas by European settlers and administrators, had become the official or national languages of modern nation-states of the Americas.

Many Indigenous languages have become critically endangered, but others are vigorous and part of daily life for millions of people. Several Indigenous languages have been given official status in the countries where they occur, such as Guaraní in Paraguay. In other cases official status is limited to certain regions where the languages are most spoken. Although sometimes enshrined in constitutions as official, the languages may be used infrequently in de facto official use. Examples are Quechua in Peru and Aymara in Bolivia, where in practice, Spanish is dominant in all formal contexts.

In the North American Arctic region, Greenland in 2009 elected Kalaallisut as its sole official language. In the United States, the Navajo language is the most spoken Native American language, with more than 200,000 speakers in the Southwestern United States. The US Marine Corps recruited Navajo men, who were established as code talkers during World War II.

Origins

In American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America (1997), Lyle Campbell lists several hypotheses for the historical origins of Amerindian languages.

• A single, one-language migration (not widely accepted)
• A few linguistically distinct migrations (favored by Edward Sapir)
• Multiple migrations
• Multilingual migrations (single migration with multiple languages)
• The influx of already diversified but related languages from the Old World
• Extinction of Old World linguistic relatives (while the New World ones survived)
• Migration along the Pacific coast instead of by the Bering Strait

Roger Blench (2008) has advocated the theory of multiple migrations along the Pacific coast of peoples from northeastern Asia, who already spoke diverse languages. These proliferated in the New World.

Numbers of speakers and political recognition

Countries like Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Guyana recognize most Indigenous languages. Bolivia and Venezuela give all Indigenous languages official status. Canada, Argentina, and the U.S. allow provinces and states to decide. Brazil limits recognition to localities.

• Bolivia: Official status for all Indigenous languages.
• Venezuela: Official status for all Indigenous languages.
• Mexico: Recognizes all Indigenous languages.
• Guatemala: Recognizes all Indigenous languages.
• Guyana: Recognizes most Indigenous languages.
• Colombia: Local recognition at the department level.
• Canada: Bill C-91 and Indigenous languages recognition in Parliament.
• Argentina: Provincial determination of language policies.
• United States: State determination of language policies.
• Brazil: Local recognition of Indigenous languages.

Canada

Bill C-91, passed in 2019, supports Indigenous languages through sustainable funding and the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages. The first Commissioner of Indigenous languages in Canada is .

Colombia

Colombia delegates local Indigenous language recognition to the department level according to the Colombian Constitution of 1991.

• Bullet points represent minority language status. Political entities with official language status are highlighted in bold.

List of Widely Spoken and Officially Recognized Languages

Language	Number of speakers	Official Recognition	Area(s) Language is spoken	Source
Guaraní	6,500,000	Paraguay (Official Language) Bolivia Corrientes, Argentina Tacuru, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Mercosur	Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil
Southern Quechua	5,000,000 (outdated figure)^[when?]	Bolivia (Official Language) Peru (Official Language) Jujuy, Argentina Chile Comunidad Andina	Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile
Nahuatl	1,700,000	Mexico	Mexico
Aymara	1,700,000	Bolivia (Official Language) Peru (Official Language) Chile Comunidad Andina	Bolivia, Peru, Chile
Qʼeqchiʼ	1,100,000	Guatemala Belize Mexico	Guatemala, Belize, Mexico
Kʼicheʼ	1,100,000	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Yucatec Maya	890,000	Mexico Belize	Mexico & Belize
Ancash Quechua	700,000 (outdated figure)		Peru
Mam	600,000	Guatemala Mexico Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (De facto), Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Tzeltal	560,000	Mexico Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (De facto), Mexico	Mexico
Mixtec	520,000	Mexico	Mexico
Tzotzil	490,000	Mexico Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (De facto), Mexico	Mexico
Zapotec	480,000	Mexico	Mexico
Kichwa	450,000	Ecuador Colombia (Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo)	Ecuador & Colombia (Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo)
Wayuu (Guajiro)	420,000	Venezuela La Guajira, Colombia	Venezuela & Colombia
Kaqchikel	410,000	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Otomi	310,000	Mexico	Mexico
Totonac	270,000	Mexico	Mexico
Mapuche	260,000	Cautín Province, La Araucanía, Chile (Galvarino, Padre Las Casas)	Cautín Province, La Araucanía, Chile (Galvarino, Padre Las Casas)
Ch'ol	250,000	Mexico Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (De facto), Mexico	Mexico
Mazateco	240,000	Mexico	Mexico
Qʼanjobʼal	170,000	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Huasteco	170,000	Mexico	Mexico
Navajo	170,000	Navajo Nation, United States	Southwestern United States
Mazahua	150,000	Mexico	Mexico
Miskito	140,000 (outdated figure)	North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua Honduras (Gracias a Dios)	Nicaragua, Honduras
Chinanteco	140,000	Mexico	Mexico
Mixe	130,000	Mexico	Mexico
Tlapaneco	130,000	Mexico	Mexico
Poqomchiʼ	130,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Purepecha/Tarasco	120,000	Mexico	Mexico
Achí	120,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Ixil	120,000	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Yaru Quechua	100,000 (circa; outdated figure)		Peru
Cree	96,000 [incl. Naskapi, Montagnais]	Northwest Territories, Canada Alberta Manitoba Ontario Quebec Saskatchewan	Canada
Tarahumara	74,000	Mexico	Mexico
Tz'utujil	72,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Kuna	61,000	Colombia (Chocó & Antioquia)	Colombia (Chocó & Antioquia)
Paez	60,000	Colombia (Cauca, Huila, Valle del Cauca)	Colombia (Cauca, Huila, Valle del Cauca)
Chuj	59,000	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Kalaallisut (Greenlandic)	57,000	Greenland	Greenland
Amuzgo	55,588	Mexico	Mexico
Tojolabʼal	51,733	Mexico Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (De facto), Mexico	Mexico
Garífuna	50,000 (circa; outdated figure)	Guatemala Belize North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua Honduras (Atlántida, Colón, Gracias a Dios)	Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras
Ojibwe	48,000	Canada United States	Canada & United States
Tikuna	47,000	Colombia (Leticia, Puerto Nariño, Amazonas)	Amazonas regions of Brazil and Colombia
Chatino	45,000	Mexico	Mexico
Huichol	44,800	Mexico	Mexico
Mayo	39,600	Mexico	Mexico
Inuktitut	39,475	Nunavut, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavik, Quebec Nunatsiavut, Newfoundland and Labrador Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Yukon	Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Quebec and Labrador, Canada
Chontal Maya	37,072	Mexico	Mexico
Wichi	36,135	Chaco, Argentina	Chaco, Argentina
Tepehuán	36,000	Mexico	Mexico
Soteapanec	35,050	Mexico	Mexico
Shuar	35,000	Ecuador	Ecuador
Blackfoot	34,394		Alberta, Canada & Montana, United States
Sikuani	34,000	Colombia (Meta, Vichada, Arauca, Guainía, Guaviare)	Colombia (Meta, Vichada, Arauca, Guainía, Guaviare)
Jakaltek	33,000	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala & Mexico
Kom	31,580	Chaco, Argentina	Chaco, Argentina
Poqomam	30,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Ch'orti'	30,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Kaiwá	26,500		Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Sioux	25,000	South Dakota, United States	US
Oʼodham	23,313	Tohono Oʼodham Nation, United States Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community, United States Mexico	Arizona, United States
Kaigang	22,000		Brazil
Guambiano	21,000	Cauca Department, Colombia	Cauca Department, Colombia
Cora	20,100	Mexico	Mexico
Yanomamö	20,000	Venezuela	Brazil & Venezuela
Nheengatu	19,000	São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, Brazil Venezuela	Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
Yup'ik (Central Alaskan) & (Siberian)	18,626	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Huave	17,900	Mexico	Mexico
Yaqui	17,546	Mexico	Mexico
Piaroa	17,000	Vichada, Colombia	Vichada, Colombia
Sakapultek	15,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Western Apache	14,012	San Carlos Apache Nation, United States Fort Apache Indian Reservation, United States	Arizona, United States
Xavante	13,300		Mato Grosso, Brazil
Keresan	13,073		New Mexico, United States
Cuicatec	13,000	Mexico	Mexico
Awa Pit	13,000	Nariño Department, Colombia	Nariño Department, Colombia
Karu	12,000	Venezuela Guaviare Department, Colombia São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, Brazil, (Baníwa language)	Guaviare, Colombia & Amazonas, Brazil, (Baníwa language)
Awakatek	11,607	Guatemala Mexico	Guatemala Mexico
Chipewyan	11,325	Northwest Territories, Canada	Northwest Territories, Canada
Pame	11,000	Mexico	Mexico
Wounaan	10,800	Colombia (Chocó, Cauca, Valle del Cauca)	Colombia (Chocó, Cauca, Valle del Cauca)
Choctaw	9,600	Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, United States	Oklahoma & Mississippi, United States
Moxo	10,000	Bolivia	Bolivia
Kogi	9,900	Magdalena, Colombia	Magdalena, Colombia
Zuni	9,620		New Mexico, United States
Guajajara	9,500		Maranhão, Brazil
Sumo	9,000	North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua	North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua
Mopán	9,000–12,000	Guatemala Belize	Guatemala & Belize
Tepehua	8,900	Mexico	Mexico
Mawé	8,900		Brazil (Para & Amazonas)
Terêna	8,200		Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Sipakapense	8,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Ika	8,000	Colombia (Cesar & Magdalena)	Colombia (Cesar & Magdalena)
Mi'kmaq	7,140		Canada and United States
Tukano	7,100	São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, Brazil Mitú, Vaupés, Colombia	Amazonas, Brazil & Vaupés, Colombia
Minica Huitoto	6,800	Amazonas, Colombia	Amazonas, Colombia
Hopi	6,780		Arizona, United States
Piapoco	6,400	Colombia (Guainía, Vichada, Meta)	Colombia (Guainía, Vichada, Meta)
Cubeo	6,300	Vaupés, Colombia	Vaupés, Colombia
Kayapo	6,200		Brazil (Pará & Mato Grosso)
Yukpa	6,000	Venezuela Cesar, Colombia	Venezuela, Colombia
Chiquitano	5,900	Bolivia	Brazil & Bolivia
Guarayu	5,900	Bolivia	Bolivia
Macushi	5,800	Venezuela Guyana	Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana
Chimané	5,300	Bolivia	Bolivia
Tewa	5,123		New Mexico, United States
Timbira	5,100		Brazil (Maranhão, Tocantins, Pará)
Sanumá	5,100	Venezuela	Brazil & Venezuela
Muscogee	5,072	Muscogee (Creek) Nation, OK, United States	United States (Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida)
Chontal of Oaxaca	5,039	Mexico	Mexico
Tektitek	5,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Barí	5,000	Colombia (Cesar & Norte de Santander)	Colombia (Cesar & Norte de Santander)
Camsá	4,000	Putumayo, Colombia	Putumayo, Colombia
Kulina	3,900		Brazil (Amazonas) & Peru
Crow	3,862		Montana, United States
Mohawk	3,875	Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne, Canada	Canada (Ontario & Quebec) and United States (New York)
Kashinawa	3,588		Brazil & Peru
Munduruku	3,563		Pará & Amazonas, Brazil
Tunebo/Uwa	3,550	Boyacá, Colombia	Boyacá, Colombia
Ayoreo	3,160	Bolivia	Bolivia
Desano	3,160	Bolivia	Bolivia
Wapishana	3,154	Bonfim, Roraima, Brazil Guyana	Bonfim, Roraima, Brazil Guyana
Yaminawa	3,129	Bolivia	Bolivia
Mocoví	3,000	Chaco, Argentina	Chaco, Argentina
Iñupiaq	3,000	Alaska, United States Northwest Territories, Canada	Alaska, United States & Northwest Territories, Canada
Puinave	3,000	Guainía, Colombia Venezuela	Guainía, Colombia & Venezuela
Cuiba	2,900	Colombia (Casanare, Vichada, Arauca)	Colombia (Casanare, Vichada, Arauca)
Tupi-Mondé	2,886		Rondônia, Brazil
Yuracaré	2,700	Bolivia	Bolivia
Wanano	2,600	Vaupés, Colombia	Vaupés, Colombia
Shoshoni	2,512		US
Bora	2,400	Amazonas, Colombia	Amazonas, Colombia
Cofán	2,400	Colombia (Nariño, Putumayo)	Colombia (Nariño, Putumayo)
Kanamari	2,298		Amazonas, Brazil
Fox (Mesquakie-Sauk-Kickapoo)	2,288	Sac and Fox Nation, United States Mexico	US & Mexico
Cherokee	2,320	Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, North Carolina, United States Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, United States	US (Oklahoma & North Carolina)
Waiwai	2,217	Guyana	Brazil, Guyana
Karajá	2,137		Brazil
Huarijio	2,136	Mexico	Mexico
Slavey	2,120	Northwest Territories, Canada	Northwest Territories, Canada
Chichimeca	2,100	Mexico	Mexico
Koreguaje	2,100	Caquetá, Colombia	Caquetá, Colombia
Tiriyó	2,100		Brazil, Suriname
Xerente	2,051		Tocantins, Brazil
Uspanteko	2,000	Guatemala	Guatemala
Fulniô	1,871		Pernambuco, Brazil
Pakaásnovos (wari)	1,854		Rondônia, Brazil
Wiwa	1,850	Cesar, Colombia	Cesar, Colombia
Weenhayek	1,810	Bolivia	Bolivia
Matlatzinca	1,800	Mexico	Mexico
Tacana	1,800	Bolivia	Bolivia
Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì	1,735	Northwest Territories, Canada	Northwest Territories, Canada
Cavineña	1,700	Bolivia	Bolivia
Jupda	1,700	Amazonas, Colombia	Amazonas, Colombia
Zacatepec Mixtec	1,500	Mexico	Mexico
Seneca	1,453	Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, Ontario, Canada	Ontario, Canada
Movima	1,400	Bolivia	Bolivia
Tlingit	1,360	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Inuinnaqtun	1,310	Nunavut, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada	Alaska, United States & Northwest Territories& Nunavut, Canada
Kiowa	1,274		Oklahoma, United States
Ka'apor	1,241		Maranhão, Brazil
Aleut	1,236	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Gwichʼin	1,217	Alaska, United States Northwest Territories, Canada	Alaska, United States & Northwest Territories, Canada
Inuvialuktun	1,150	Nunavut, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada	Nunavut, Canada & Northwest Territories, Canada
Arapaho	1,087		US
Macuna	1,032	Vaupés, Colombia	Vaupés, Colombia
Guayabero	1,000	Colombia (Meta, Guaviare)	Colombia (Meta, Guaviare)
Chocho	810	Mexico	Mexico
Maricopa/Piipaash	800	Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community, AZ, United States	Arizona, United States
Rama	740	North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua	North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua
Seri	729	Mexico	Mexico
Ese Ejja	700	Bolivia	Bolivia
Nukak	700	Guaviare, Colombia	Guaviare, Colombia
Pima Bajo	650	Mexico	Mexico
Cayuvava	650	Bolivia	Bolivia
Chácobo-Pakawara	600	Bolivia	Bolivia
Lacandon	600	Mexico	Mexico
Oneida	574	Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, Ontario, Canada Oneida Nation of the Thames, Ontario, Canada	Ontario, Canada
Cocopah	515	Mexico	Mexico
Sirionó	500	Bolivia	Bolivia
Siona	500	Putumayo, Colombia	Putumayo, Colombia
Havasupai–Hualapai	445	Havasupai Indian Reservation, AZ, United States	Arizona, United States
Kumeyaay	427 (525 including Ipai and Tiipai languages)	Mexico Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, CA, United States (Ballot Recognition)	Baja California, Mexico & California, United States
Tembé	420		Maranhão, Brazil
Yurok	414		California, United States
Alutiiq/Sugpiaq	400	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Tatuyo	400	Vaupés, Colombia	Vaupés, Colombia
Andoque	370	Caquetá, Colombia	Caquetá, Colombia
Guajá	365		Maranhão, Brazil
Chimila	350	Magdalena, Colombia	Magdalena, Colombia
Koyukon	300	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Hitnü	300	Arauca, Colombia	Arauca, Colombia
Mikasuki	290		United States (Florida, Georgia (Historical), Alabama (Historical), Oklahoma (Historical)
Quechan	290	Imperial County, CA, United States (Ballot Recognition) Yuma County, AZ, United States (Ballot Recognition)	California & Arizona, United States
Cabiyari	270	Colombia (Mirití-Paraná & Amazonas)	Colombia (Mirití-Paraná & Amazonas)
Reyesano	250	Bolivia	Bolivia
Achagua	250	Meta, Colombia	Meta, Colombia
Kakwa	250	Vaupés, Colombia	Vaupés, Colombia
Yavapai	245		Arizona, United States
Siriano	220	Vaupés, Colombia	Vaupés, Colombia
Mojave	200		Arizona, United States
Paipai	200	Mexico	Mexico
Toromono	200	Bolivia	Bolivia
Ixcatec	190	Mexico	Mexico
Ocaina	190	Amazonas, Colombia	Amazonas, Colombia
Haida	168	Alaska, United States Council of the Haida Nation, Canada	Alaska, United States and British Columbia, Canada
Muinane	150	Amazonas, Colombia	Amazonas, Colombia
Deg Xinag	127	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Warázu	125	Bolivia	Bolivia
Araona	110	Bolivia	Bolivia
Upper Tanana	100	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Itene	90	Bolivia	Bolivia
Ahtna	80	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Tsimshian	70	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Tanacross	65	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Cayuga	61	Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, Ontario, Canada Cattaraugus Reservation, New York, United States	Ontario, Canada, and New York, United States
Denaʼina	50	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Onondaga	50	Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, ON, Canada	Ontario, Canada
Bauré	40	Bolivia	Bolivia
Upper Kuskokwim	40	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Tanana	30	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Ayapaneco	24	Mexico	Mexico
Leco	20	Bolivia	Bolivia
Xincan	16	Guatemala	Guatemala
Hän	12	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Holikachuk	12	Alaska, United States	Alaska, United States
Comanche	9		US
Carijona	6	Colombia (Amazonas, Guaviare)	Colombia (Amazonas, Guaviare)
Itonama	5	Bolivia	Bolivia
Kiliwa	4	Mexico	Mexico
Selk'nam	1		Tierra del Fuego, Chile/Argentina (Extinct)
Nonuya	0	Amazonas, Colombia	Colombia, Peru
Yahgan	0		Tierra del Fuego, Chile/Argentina (Extinct)
Taíno languages	0		Formerly all of the Caribbean
Cochimí	0	Mexico (Extinct, but retains recognition)
Kallawaya	0	Bolivia (Extinct, but retains recognition)
Eyak	0	Alaska, United States (Extinct, but retains recognition)
Tuscarora	0	Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, Ontario, Canada Tuscarora Reservation, New York, United States	Ontario, Canada, and New York, United States

Language families and unclassified languages

Notes:

• Extinct languages or families are indicated by: †.
• The number of family members is indicated in parentheses (for example, Arauan (9) means the Arauan family consists of nine languages).
• For convenience, the following list of language families is divided into three sections based on political boundaries of countries. These sections correspond roughly with the geographic regions (North, Central, and South America) but are not equivalent. This division cannot fully delineate Indigenous culture areas.

Northern America

Indigenous languages of North America
(geographic)
Geographic distribution	North America
Ethnicity	Indigenous peoples of North America
Linguistic classification	Not a family
Subdivisions	52 distinct families
Language codes
ISO 639-2 / 5	nai
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	None
Pre-contact distribution of North American language families, including northern Mexico

Bilingual stop sign in English and the Cherokee syllabary (transcription: ᎠᎴᏫᏍᏗᎭ – "alehwisdiha"), Tahlequah, Oklahoma

There are approximately 296 spoken (or formerly spoken) Indigenous languages north of Mexico, 269 of which are grouped into 29 families (the remaining 27 languages are either isolates or unclassified).^{[citation needed]} The Na-Dené, Algic, and Uto-Aztecan families are the largest in terms of number of languages. Uto-Aztecan has the most speakers (1.95 million) if the languages in Mexico are considered (mostly due to 1.5 million speakers of Nahuatl); Na-Dené comes in second with approximately 200,000 speakers (nearly 180,000 of these are speakers of Navajo), and Algic in third with about 180,000 speakers (mainly Cree and Ojibwe). Na-Dené and Algic have the widest geographic distributions: Algic currently spans from northeastern Canada across much of the continent down to northeastern Mexico (due to later migrations of the Kickapoo) with two outliers in California (Yurok and Wiyot); Na-Dené spans from Alaska and western Canada through Washington, Oregon, and California to the U.S. Southwest and northern Mexico (with one outlier in the Plains). Several families consist of only 2 or 3 languages. Demonstrating genetic relationships has proved difficult due to the great linguistic diversity present in North America. Two large (super-) family proposals, Penutian and Hokan, look particularly promising. However, even after decades of research, a large number of families remain.

North America is notable for its linguistic diversity, especially in California. This area has 18 language families comprising 74 languages (compared to five families in Europe: Indo-European, Uralic, Turkic, Kartvelian, and Afroasiatic and one isolate, Basque).

Another area of considerable diversity appears to have been the Southeastern Woodlands;^{[citation needed]} however, many of these languages became extinct from European contact and as a result they are, for the most part, absent from the historical record.^{[citation needed]} This diversity has influenced the development of linguistic theories and practice in the US.

Due to the diversity of languages in North America, it is difficult to make generalizations for the region. Most North American languages have a relatively small number of vowels (i.e. three to five vowels). Languages of the western half of North America often have relatively large consonant inventories. The languages of the Pacific Northwest are notable for their complex phonotactics (for example, some languages have words that lack vowels entirely). The languages of the Plateau area have relatively rare pharyngeals and epiglottals (they are otherwise restricted to Afroasiatic languages and the languages of the Caucasus). Ejective consonants are also common in western North America, although they are rare elsewhere (except, again, for the Caucasus region, parts of Africa, and the Mayan family).

Head-marking is found in many languages of North America (as well as in Central and South America), but outside of the Americas it is rare. Many languages throughout North America are polysynthetic (Eskaleut languages are extreme examples), although this is not characteristic of all North American languages (contrary to what was believed by 19th-century linguists). Several families have unique traits, such as the inverse number marking of the Tanoan languages, the lexical affixes of the Wakashan, Salishan and Chimakuan languages, and the unusual verb structure of Na-Dené.

The classification below is a composite of Goddard (1996), Campbell (1997), and Mithun (1999).

• Adai †
• Algic (30)
• Alsea (2) †
• Atakapa †
• Beothuk †
• Caddoan (5)
• Cayuse †
• Chimakuan (2) †
• Chimariko †
• Chinookan (3) †
• Chitimacha †
• Chumashan (6) †
• Coahuilteco †
• Comecrudan (United States & Mexico) (3) †
• Coosan (2) †
• Cotoname †
• Eskaleut (7)
• Esselen †
• Haida
• Iroquoian (11)
• Kalapuyan (3) †
• Karankawa †
• Karuk
• Keresan (2)
• Kutenai
• Maiduan (4)
• Muskogean (9)
• Na-Dené (United States, Canada & Mexico) (39)
• Natchez †
• Palaihnihan (2) †
• Plateau Penutian (4) (also known as Shahapwailutan)
• Pomoan (7)
• Salinan †
• Salishan (23)
• Shastan (4) †
• Siouan (19)
• Siuslaw †
• Solano †
• Takelma †
• Tanoan (7)
• Timucua †
• Tonkawa †
• Tsimshianic (2)
• Tunica †
• Utian (15) (also known as Miwok–Costanoan)
• Uto-Aztecan (33)
• Wakashan (7)
• Wappo †
• Washo
• Wintuan (4)
• Yana †
• Yokutsan (3)
• Yuchi †
• Yuki †
• Yuman–Cochimí (11)
• Zuni

Central America and Mexico

Pre-contact distribution of native American languages in New Spain (Mexico, United States southwest, Central America).

The Indigenous languages of Mexico that have more than 100,000 speakers today.

The Chibchan languages

In Central America the Mayan languages are among those used today. Mayan languages are spoken by at least six million Indigenous Maya, primarily in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize and Honduras. In 1996, Guatemala formally recognized 21 Mayan languages by name, and Mexico recognizes eight more. The Mayan language family is one of the best documented and most studied in the Americas. Modern Mayan languages descend from Proto-Mayan, a language thought to have been spoken at least 4,000 years ago; it has been partially reconstructed using the comparative method.

• Alagüilac (Guatemala) †
• Chibchan (Central America & South America) (22)
• Coahuilteco †
• Comecrudan (Texas & Mexico) (3) †
• Cotoname †
• Cuitlatec (Mexico: Guerrero) †
• Epi-Olmec (Mexico: language of undeciphered inscriptions) †
• Guaicurian (8) †
• Huave
• Jicaquean (2)
• Lencan (2) †
• Maratino (northeastern Mexico) †
• Mayan (31)
• Misumalpan (5)
• Mixe–Zoquean (19)
• Naolan (Mexico: Tamaulipas) †
• Oto-Manguean (27)
• Pericú †
• Purépecha
• Quinigua (northeast Mexico) †
• Seri
• Solano †
• Tequistlatecan (3)
• Totonacan (2)
• Uto-Aztecan (United States & Mexico) (33)
• Xincan (5) †
• Yuman (United States & Mexico) (11)

Indigenous languages of South America
(geographic)
Geographic distribution	South America
Ethnicity	Indigenous peoples of North America
Linguistic classification	Not a family
Subdivisions	Over 100 distinct families
Language codes
ISO 639-2 / 5	sai
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	None
Pre-contact distribution of major South American language families, excluding Quechuan and Aymaran

South America and the Caribbean

Some of the greater families of South America: dark spots are language isolates or quasi-isolate, grey spots unclassified languages or languages with doubtful classification. (Note that Quechua, the family with most speakers, is not displayed.)

A Urarina shaman, 1988

Although both North and Central America are very diverse areas, South America has a linguistic diversity rivalled by only a few other places in the world with approximately 350 languages still spoken and several hundred more spoken at first contact but now extinct. The situation of language documentation and classification into genetic families is not as advanced as in North America (which is relatively well studied in many areas). Kaufman (1994: 46) gives the following appraisal:

Since the mid 1950s, the amount of published material on SA [South America] has been gradually growing, but even so, the number of researchers is far smaller than the growing number of linguistic communities whose speech should be documented. Given the current employment opportunities, it is not likely that the number of specialists in SA Indian languages will increase fast enough to document most of the surviving SA languages before they go out of use, as most of them unavoidably will. More work languishes in personal files than is published, but this is a standard problem.

It is fair to say that SA and New Guinea are linguistically the poorest documented parts of the world. However, in the early 1960s fairly systematic efforts were launched in Papua New Guinea, and that area – much smaller than SA, to be sure – is in general much better documented than any part of Indigenous SA of comparable size.

As a result, many relationships between languages and language families have not been determined and some of those relationships that have been proposed are on somewhat shaky ground.

The list of language families, isolates, and unclassified languages below is a rather conservative one based on Campbell (1997). Many of the proposed (and often speculative) groupings of families can be seen in Campbell (1997), Gordon (2005), Kaufman (1990, 1994), Key (1979), Loukotka (1968), and in the Language stock proposals section below.

• Aguano †
• Aikaná (Brazil: Rondônia) (also known as Aikanã, Tubarão)
• Andaquí (also known as Andaqui, Andakí) †
• Andoque (Colombia, Peru) (also known as Andoke)
• Andoquero †
• Arauan (9)
• Arawakan (South America & Caribbean) (64) (also known as Maipurean)
• Arutani
• Aymaran (3)
• Baenan (Brazil: Bahia) (also known as Baenán, Baenã) †
• Barbacoan (8)
• Betoi (Colombia) (also known as Betoy, Jirara) †
• Bororoan
• Botocudoan (3) (also known as Aimoré)
• Cahuapanan (2) (also known as Jebero, Kawapánan)
• Camsá (Colombia) (also known as Sibundoy, Coche)
• Candoshi (also known as Maina, Kandoshi)
• Canichana (Bolivia) (also known as Canesi, Kanichana)
• Carabayo
• Cariban (29) (also known as Caribe, Carib)
• Catacaoan (also known as Katakáoan) †
• Cayubaba (Bolivia)
• Chapacuran (9) (also known as Chapacura-Wanham, Txapakúran)
• Charruan (also known as Charrúan) †
• Chibchan (Central America & South America) (22)
• Chimuan (3) †
• Chipaya–Uru (also known as Uru–Chipaya)
• Chiquitano
• Choco (10) (also known as Chocoan)
• Chon (2) (also known as Patagonian)
• Chono †
• Coeruna (Brazil) †
• Cofán (Colombia, Ecuador)
• Cueva †
• Culle (Peru) (also known as Culli, Linga, Kulyi) †
• Cunza (Chile, Bolivia, Argentina) (also known as Atacama, Atakama, Atacameño, Lipe, Kunsa) †
• Esmeraldeño (also known as Esmeralda, Takame) †
• Fulnió
• Gamela (Brazil: Maranhão) †
• Gorgotoqui (Bolivia) †
• Guaicuruan (7) (also known as Guaykuruan, Waikurúan)
• Guajiboan (4) (also known as Wahívoan)
• Guamo (Venezuela) (also known as Wamo) †
• Guató
• Harakmbut (2) (also known as Tuyoneri)
• Hibito–Cholon †
• Himarimã
• Hodï (Venezuela) (also known as Jotí, Hoti, Waruwaru)
• Huamoé (Brazil: Pernambuco) †
• Huaorani (Ecuador, Peru) (also known as Auca, Huaorani, Wao, Auka, Sabela, Waorani, Waodani)
• Huarpe (also known as Warpe) †
• Irantxe (Brazil: Mato Grosso)
• Itonama (Bolivia) (also known as Saramo, Machoto)
• Jabutian
• Je (13) (also known as Gê, Jêan, Gêan, Ye)
• Jeikó †
• Jirajaran (3) (also known as Hiraháran, Jirajarano, Jirajarana) †
• Jivaroan (2) (also known as Hívaro)
• Kaimbe
• Kaliana (also known as Caliana, Cariana, Sapé, Chirichano)
• Kamakanan †
• Kapixaná (Brazil: Rondônia) (also known as Kanoé, Kapishaná)
• Karajá
• Karirí (Brazil: Paraíba, Pernambuco, Ceará) †
• Katembrí †
• Katukinan (3) (also known as Catuquinan)
• Kawésqar (Chile) (Kaweskar, Alacaluf, Qawasqar, Halawalip, Aksaná, Hekaine)
• Kwaza (Koayá) (Brazil: Rondônia)
• Leco (Lapalapa, Leko)
• Lule (Argentina) (also known as Tonocoté)
• Máku (Maku of Auari)
• Malibú (also known as Malibu)
• Mapudungun (Chile, Argentina) (also known as Araucanian, Mapuche, Huilliche)
• Mascoyan (5) (also known as Maskóian, Mascoian)
• Matacoan (4) (also known as Mataguayan)
• Matanawí †
• Maxakalían (3) (also known as Mashakalían)
• Mocana (Colombia: Tubará) †
• Mosetenan (also known as Mosetén)
• Movima (Bolivia)
• Munichi (Peru) (also known as Muniche)
• Muran (4)
• Mutú (also known as Loco)
• Nadahup (5)
• Nambiquaran (5)
• Natú (Brazil: Pernambuco) †
• Nonuya (Peru, Colombia)
• Ofayé
• Old Catío–Nutabe (Colombia) †
• Omurano (Peru) (also known as Mayna, Mumurana, Numurana, Maina, Rimachu, Roamaina, Umurano) †
• Otí (Brazil: São Paulo) †
• Otomakoan (2) †
• Paez (also known as Nasa Yuwe)
• Palta †
• Pankararú (Brazil: Pernambuco) †
• Pano–Tacanan (33)
• Panzaleo (Ecuador) (also known as Latacunga, Quito, Pansaleo) †
• Patagon † (Peru)
• Peba–Yaguan (2) (also known as Yaguan, Yáwan, Peban)
• Pijao†
• Pre-Arawakan languages of the Greater Antilles (Guanahatabey, Macorix, Ciguayo) † (Cuba, Hispaniola)
• Puelche (Chile) (also known as Guenaken, Gennaken, Pampa, Pehuenche, Ranquelche) †
• Puinave (also known as Makú)
• Puquina (Bolivia) †
• Purian (2) †
• Quechuan (46)
• Rikbaktsá
• Saliban (2) (also known as Sálivan)
• Sechura (Atalan, Sec) †
• Tabancale † (Peru)
• Tairona (Colombia) †
• Tarairiú (Brazil: Rio Grande do Norte) †
• Taruma †
• Taushiro (Peru) (also known as Pinchi, Pinche)
• Tequiraca (Peru) (also known as Tekiraka, Avishiri) †
• Teushen † (Patagonia, Argentina)
• Ticuna (Colombia, Peru, Brazil) (also known as Magta, Tikuna, Tucuna, Tukna, Tukuna)
• Timotean (2) †
• Tiniguan (2) (also known as Tiníwan, Pamiguan) †
• Trumai (Brazil: Xingu, Mato Grosso)
• Tucanoan (15)
• Tupian (70, including Guaraní)
• Tuxá (Brazil: Bahia, Pernambuco) †
• Urarina (also known as Shimacu, Itukale, Shimaku)
• Vilela
• Wakona †
• Warao (Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela) (also known as Guarao)
• Witotoan (6) (also known as Huitotoan, Bora–Witótoan)
• Xokó (Brazil: Alagoas, Pernambuco) (also known as Shokó) †
• Xukurú (Brazil: Pernambuco, Paraíba) †
• Yaghan (Chile) (also known as Yámana)
• Yanomaman (4)
• Yaruro (also known as Jaruro)
• Yuracare (Bolivia)
• Yuri (Colombia, Brazil) (also known as Carabayo, Jurí) †
• Yurumanguí (Colombia) (also known as Yurimangui, Yurimangi) †
• Zamucoan (2)
• Zaparoan (5) (also known as Záparo)

Language stock proposals

Hypothetical language-family proposals of American languages are often cited as uncontroversial in popular writing. However, many of these proposals have not been fully demonstrated, or even demonstrated at all. Some proposals are viewed by specialists in a favorable light, believing that genetic relationships are very likely to be established in the future (for example, the Penutian stock). Other proposals are more controversial with many linguists believing that some genetic relationships of a proposal may be demonstrated but much of it undemonstrated (for example, Hokan–Siouan, which, incidentally, Edward Sapir called his "wastepaper basket stock"). Still other proposals are almost unanimously rejected by specialists (for example, Amerind). Below is a (partial) list of some such proposals:

• Algonquian–Wakashan   (also known as Almosan)
• Almosan–Keresiouan   (Almosan + Keresiouan)
• Amerind   (all languages excepting Eskaleut & Na-Dené)
•   (Algic + Beothuk + Gulf)
• (macro-)Arawakan
• Arutani–Sape (Ahuaque–Kalianan)
• Aztec–Tanoan   (Uto-Aztecan + Tanoan)
• Chibchan–Paezan
• Chikitano–Boróroan
• Coahuiltecan   (Coahuilteco + Cotoname + Comecrudan + Karankawa + Tonkawa)
• Cunza–Kapixanan
• Dené–Caucasian
• Dené–Yeniseian
• Esmeralda–Yaruroan
• Ge–Pano–Carib
• Guamo–Chapacuran
• Gulf   (Muskogean + Natchez + Tunica)
• Macro-Kulyi–Cholónan
• Hokan   (Karok + Chimariko + Shastan + Palaihnihan + Yana + Pomoan + Washo + Esselen + Yuman + Salinan + Chumashan + Seri + Tequistlatecan)
• Hokan–Siouan   (Hokan + Keresiouan + Subtiaba–Tlappanec + Coahuiltecan + Yukian + Tunican + Natchez + Muskogean + Timucua)
• Je–Tupi–Carib
• Jivaroan–Cahuapanan
• Kalianan
• Kandoshi–Omurano–Taushiro
• (Macro-)Katembri–Taruma
• Keresiouan   (Macro-Siouan + Keresan + Yuchi)
• Lule–Vilelan
• Macro-Andean
• Macro-Carib
• Macro-Chibchan
• Macro-Gê   (also known as Macro-Jê)
• Macro-Jibaro
• Macro-Mayan
• Macro-Otomákoan
• Macro-Paesan
• Macro-Panoan
• Macro-Puinavean
• Macro-Siouan   (Siouan + Iroquoian + Caddoan)
• Macro-Tucanoan
• Macro-Waikurúan
• Macro-Warpean   (Muran + Matanawi + Huarpe)
• Mataco–Guaicuru
• Mosan   (Salishan + Wakashan + Chimakuan)
• Mosetén–Chonan
• Mura–Matanawian
• Sapir's Na-Dené including Haida   (Haida + Tlingit + Eyak + Athabaskan)
• Paezan (Andaqui + Paez + Panzaleo)
• Paezan–Barbacoan
• Penutian   (many languages of California and sometimes languages in Mexico)
  • California Penutian   (Wintuan + Maiduan + Yokutsan + Utian)
  • Oregon Penutian   (Takelma + Coosan + Siuslaw + Alsean)
  • Mexican Penutian   (Mixe–Zoque + Huave)
• Puinave–Maku
• Quechumaran
• Saparo–Yawan   (also known as Zaparo–Yaguan)
• Sechura–Catacao (also known as Sechura–Tallan)
• Takelman   (Takelma + Kalapuyan)
• Tequiraca–Canichana
• Ticuna–Yuri (Yuri–Ticunan)
• Totozoque   (Totonacan + Mixe–Zoque)
• Tunican   (Tunica + Atakapa + Chitimacha)
• Yok–Utian
• Yuki–Wappo

Good discussions of past proposals can be found in Campbell (1997) and Campbell & Mithun (1979).

Amerindian linguist Lyle Campbell also assigned different percentage values of probability and confidence for various proposals of macro-families and language relationships, depending on his views of the proposals' strengths. For example, the Germanic language family would receive probability and confidence percentage values of +100% and 100%, respectively. However, if Turkish and Quechua were compared, the probability value might be −95%, while the confidence value might be 95%.^{[clarification needed]} 0% probability or confidence would mean complete uncertainty.

Language Family	Probability	Confidence
Algonkian–Gulf	−50%	50%
Almosan (and beyond)	−75%	50%
Atakapa–Chitimacha	−50%	60%
Aztec–Tanoan	0%	50%
Coahuiltecan	−85%	80%
Eskaleut, Chukotan	−25%	20%
Guaicurian–Hokan	0%	10%
Gulf	−25%	40%
Hokan–Subtiaba	−90%	75%
Jicaque–Hokan	−30%	25%
Jicaque–Subtiaba	−60%	80%
Jicaque–Tequistlatecan	+65%	50%
Keresan and Uto-Aztecan	0%	60%
Keresan and Zuni	−40%	40%
Macro-Mayan	+30%	25%
Macro-Siouan	−20%	75%
Maya–Chipaya	−80%	95%
Maya–Chipaya–Yunga	−90%	95%
Mexican Penutian	−40%	60%
Misumalpan–Chibchan	+20%	50%
Mosan	−60%	65%
Na-Dene	0%	25%
Natchez–Muskogean	+40%	20%
Nostratic–Amerind	−90%	75%
Otomanguean–Huave	+25%	25%
Purépecha–Quechua	−90%	80%
Quechua as Hokan	−85%	80%
Quechumaran	+50%	50%
Sahaptian–Klamath–(Molala)	+75%	50%
Sahaptian–Klamath–Tsimshian	+10%	10%
Takelman	+80%	60%
Tlapanec–Subtiaba as Otomanguean	+95%	90%
Tlingit–Eyak–Athabaskan	+75%	40%
Tunican	0%	20%
Wakashan and Chimakuan	0%	25%
Yukian–Gulf	−85%	70%
Yukian–Siouan	−60%	75%
Zuni–Penutian	−80%	50%

Pronouns

It has long been observed that a remarkable number of Native American languages have a pronominal pattern with first-person singular forms in n and second-person singular forms in m. (Compare first-person singular m and second-person singular t across much of northern Eurasia, as in English me and thee, Spanish me and te, and Hungarian -m and -d.) This pattern was first noted by Alfredo Trombetti in 1905. It caused Sapir to suggest that ultimately all Native American languages would turn out to be related. Johanna Nichols suggests that the pattern had spread through diffusion. This notion was rejected by Lyle Campbell, who argued that the frequency of the n/m pattern was not statistically elevated in either area compared to the rest of the world. Zamponi found that Nichols's findings were distorted by her small sample size. Looking at families rather than individual languages, he found a rate of 30% of families/protolanguages in North America, all on the western flank, compared to 5% in South America and 7% of non-American languages – though the percentage in North America, and especially the even higher number in the Pacific Northwest, drops considerably if Hokan and Penutian, or parts of them, are accepted as language families. If all the proposed Penutian and Hokan languages in the table below are related, then the frequency drops to 9% of North American families, statistically indistinguishable from the world average.

Linguistic areas

Unattested languages

Several languages are only known by mention in historical documents or from only a few names or words. It cannot be determined that these languages actually existed or that the few recorded words are actually of known or unknown languages. Some may simply be from a historian's errors. Others are of known people with no linguistic record (sometimes due to lost records). A short list is below.

• Ais
• Akokisa
• Aranama
• Ausaima
• Avoyel
• Bayagoula
• Bidai
• Cacán (Diaguita–Calchaquí)
• Calusa – Mayaimi – Tequesta
• Cusabo
• Eyeish
• Grigra
• Guale
• Houma
• Koroa
• Mayaca (possibly related to Ais)
• Mobila
• Okelousa
• Opelousa
• Pascagoula
• Pensacola – Amacano - Chacato - Chine (Muscogean languages)
• Pijao language
• Pisabo (possibly the same language as Matsés)
• Quinipissa
• Taensa
• Tiou
• Yamacraw
• Yamasee
• Yazoo

Loukotka (1968) reports the names of hundreds of South American languages which do not have any linguistic documentation.

Pidgins and mixed languages

Various miscellaneous languages such as pidgins, mixed languages, trade languages, and sign languages are given below in alphabetical order.

1. American Indian Pidgin English
2. Algonquian-Basque pidgin (also known as Micmac-Basque Pidgin, Souriquois; spoken by the Basques, Micmacs, and Montagnais in eastern Canada)
3. Broken Oghibbeway (also known as Broken Ojibwa)
4. Broken Slavey
5. Bungee (also known as Bungi, Bungie, Bungay, or the Red River Dialect)
6. Callahuaya (also known as Machaj-Juyai, Kallawaya, Collahuaya, Pohena, Kolyawaya Jargon)
7. Carib Pidgin (also known as Ndjuka-Amerindian Pidgin, Ndjuka-Trio)
8. Carib Pidgin–Arawak Mixed Language
9. Catalangu
10. Chinook Jargon
11. Delaware Jargon (also known as Pidgin Delaware)
12. Eskimo Trade Jargon (also known as Herschel Island Eskimo Pidgin, Ship's Jargon)
13. Greenlandic Pidgin (West Greenlandic Pidgin)
14. Guajiro-Spanish
15. Güegüence-Nicarao
16. Haida Jargon
17. Inuktitut-English Pidgin (Quebec)
18. Jargonized Powhatan
19. Keresan Sign Language
20. Labrador Eskimo Pidgin (also known as Labrador Inuit Pidgin)
21. Lingua Franca Apalachee
22. Lingua Franca Creek
23. Lingua Geral Amazônica (also known as Nheengatú, Lingua Boa, Lingua Brasílica, Lingua Geral do Norte)
24. Lingua Geral do Sul (also known as Lingua Geral Paulista, Tupí Austral)
25. Loucheux Jargon (also known as Jargon Loucheux)
26. Media Lengua
27. Mednyj Aleut (also known as Copper Island Aleut, Medniy Aleut, CIA)
28. Michif (also known as French Cree, Métis, Metchif, Mitchif, Métchif)
29. Mobilian Jargon (also known as Mobilian Trade Jargon, Chickasaw-Chocaw Trade Language, Yamá)
30. Montagnais Pidgin Basque (also known as Pidgin Basque-Montagnais)
31. Nootka Jargon (spoken during the 18th–19th centuries; later replaced by Chinook Jargon)
32. Ocaneechi (also known as Occaneechee; spoken in Virginia and the Carolinas in early colonial times)
33. Pidgin Massachusett
34. Plains Indian Sign Language

Writing systems

While most Indigenous languages have adopted the Latin script as the written form of their languages, a few languages have their own unique writing systems after encountering the Latin script (often through missionaries) that are still in use. All pre-Columbian Indigenous writing systems are no longer used.

Indigenous Writing Systems of the Americas

Writing System	Type	Language(s)	Region(s)	Date in usage	Status	Inventor
Quipu	Logogram (Semasiography) Potentially phonetic during collnial period	Aymara, Quechua, Puquina, Mapuche and other Andean languages	Andean civilizations (Western South America)	2000s BCE – 1600s	Extinct
Olmec hieroglyphs	Undeciphered, likely logosyllabary	Likely Mixe–Zoque languages, but linguistic status remains debatable	Isthmus of Tehuantepec	1500 BCE – 400 BCE	Extinct
Zapotec script		Likely Zapotecan languages	Oaxaca	500 BCE – 700 CE	Extinct
Epi-Olmec script		Likely Zoque languages	Isthmus of Tehuantepec	400 BCE – 500 CE	Extinct
Izapan scripts	Undeciphered, in part logosyllabary	Likely an unknown Mixe–Zoquean language, Highland Mayan languages	Southern Guatemala	300s BCE - 100s CE (Late Preclassic)	Extinct
Maya script	Logogram Syllabary	Mayan languages: Chʼolan languages, specifically Chʼoltiʼ (Classic Maya standard) Tzeltalan languages^[citation needed] Yucatec	Maya civilization: Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Guatemala, & Belize	200s BCE – 1600s CE	Extinct
Teotihua script	Logogram Syllabary	Nahuatl, other	Central Mexico	100 BCE – 750 CE	Extinct
Mixtec script (Mixteca-Puebla script)	Logogram Syllabary	Mixtecan languages	Oaxaca, Puebla, Guerrero	1200s–1600s	Extinct
Aztec script (Mixteca-Puebla script)	Logogram Syllabary	Nahuatl	Central Mexico	1300s–1600	Extinct
Komqwejwi'kasikl (Miꞌkmaw Hieroglyphs)	Logogram	Mi'kmaq	Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, & New Brunswick	1675-1800s (as codified)	Extinct	Father Le Clercq (as codified)
Cherokee syllabary	Syllabary	Cherokee	Cherokee Nation, United States	1820s–present	Active	Sequoyah ᏍᏏᏉᏯ
Canadian Aboriginal syllabics	Abugida	Algonquian languages (Cree, Naskapi, Anishinaabemowin/Chippewa) Eskaleut languages (Inuktitut & Inuinnaqtun) Athabaskan languages (Dane-zaa, Slavey, Chipewyan (Denesuline)/Sayisi, & Sekani)	Canada Midwestern United States	1840s–present	Active	James Evans ᒉᐃᒻᔅ ᐁᕙᓐᔅ
Blackfoot Syllabics		Blackfoot	Alberta, Canada Montana, United States	1888-present	Endangered	John Tims
Carrier syllabics		Dakelh and some other Athabaskan languages	British Columbia, Canada	1885-1920s	Endangered	Adrien-Gabriel Morice
Great Lakes Algonquian syllabics	Alphasyllabary (much like Hangul)	Anishinaabemowin, Fox, Ho-Chunk, Potawatomi	Iowa, Michigan, & Nebraska, United States Coahuila, Mexico	1800s-present	Endangered
Yugtun script	Syllabary	Central Alaskan Yup'ik	Alaska	1900–present	Endangered	Uyaquq
Afaka syllabary	Syllabary	Ndyuka	Suriname, French Guiana	1910–present	Endangered	Afáka Atumisi
Saanich alphabet	Alphabet	North Straits Salish (Saanich dialect)	Southern Salish Sea Islands: British Columbia & Washington state	1978-present	Active	Dave Elliott
Osage script	Alphabet	Osage	Osage Nation, United States	2006–present	Active	Herman Mongrain Lookout

See also

• Indigenous peoples of the Americas portal
• Languages portal

• Amerind languages
• Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Classification of indigenous languages of the Americas
• Haplogroup Q-M242 (Y-DNA)
• Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Language families and languages
• Languages of Peru
• List of endangered languages in Canada
• List of endangered languages in Mexico
• List of endangered languages in the United States
• List of endangered languages with mobile apps
• List of indigenous languages of South America
• List of indigenous languages in Argentina
• Mesoamerican languages
• Native American Languages Act of 1990

References

1. Greenberg, Joseph (1987). Language in the Americas. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-1315-3.
2. Campbell, Lyle (2000). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford University Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-0-19-534983-2.
3. Gordon, Raymond G. Jr., ed. (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (15th ed.). Dallas: SIL International. ISBN 1-55671-159-X.. (Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com)
4. Schwartz, Saul (2018). "The predicament of language and culture: Advocacy, anthropology, and dormant language communities". Journal of Linguistic Anthropology. 28 (3): 332–355. doi:10.1111/jola.12204. S2CID 150209288.
5. "Census Shows Native Languages Count". Language Magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
6. "Population by Aboriginal mother tongue, Aboriginal language spoken most often at home and Aboriginal language spoken on a regular basis at home, for Canada, provinces and territories". Retrieved May 18, 2020.
7. Premm, Hanns J.; Riese, Berthold (1983). Coulmas, Florian; Ehlich, Konrad (eds.). "Autochthonous American writing systems: The Aztec and Mayan examples". Writing in Focus. Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs. 24. Berlin: Mouton Publishers: 167–186. doi:10.1515/9783110822830.167. ISBN 978-90-279-3359-1. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
8. Wichmann, Soren (2006). "Mayan Historical Linguistics and Epigraphy: A New Synthesis". Annual Review of Anthropology. 35: 279–294. doi:10.1146/annurev.anthro.35.081705.123257.
9. Shapiro, Judith (1987). "From Tupã to the Land without Evil: The Christianization of Tupi-Guarani Cosmology". American Ethnologist. 1 (14): 126–139. doi:10.1525/ae.1987.14.1.02a00080.
10. "Lov om Grønlands Selvstyre Kapitel 7 Sprog" [Law of Greenland Self-Determination Chapter 7 Language] (PDF). www.stm.dk. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
11. Campbell, Lyle (1997). "The Origin of American Indian Languages". American Indian languages: the historical linguistics of Native America. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 90–106. ISBN 0-19-509427-1..
12. Blench, Roger (2008). "Accounting for the Diversity of Amerindian Languages: Modelling the Settlement of the New World" (PDF). Paper presented at the Archaeology Research Seminar, RSPAS, Canberra, Australia.
13. "Government Bill (House of Commons) C-91 (42-1) - Royal Assent - Indigenous Languages Act - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca.
14. https://lop.parl.ca/staticfiles/PublicWebsite/Home/ResearchPublications/HillStudies/PDF/2015-131-E.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
15. https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2019CanLIIDocs3786#!fragment/zoupio-_Toc3Page3/BQCwhgziBcwMYgK4DsDWszIQewE4BUBTADwBdoAvbRABwEtsBaAfX2zgGYAFMAc0I4BKADTJspQhACKiQrgCe0AORLhEQmFwIZcxSrUatIAMp5SAIUUAlAKIAZGwDUAggDkAwjeGkwAI2ik7IKCQA ^{[bare URL]}
16. "Meet Robert-Falcon Ouellette: Veteran, former parliamentarian, and professor".
17. "Honouring Indigenous Languages Within Parliament – Canadian Parliamentary Review – La Revue parlementaire canadienne". August 8, 2019.
18. "Indigenous Winnipeg MP delivers speech in Cree in House of Commons - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca". CJOB.
19. Cecco, Leyland (January 27, 2019). "Sound of native languages in parliament to mark win for indigenous Canadians". The Guardian.
20. Ethnologue (2021)
21. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
22. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
23. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
24. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
25. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
26. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
27. "Language Highlight Tables, 2016 Census – Aboriginal mother tongue, Aboriginal language spoken most often at home and Other Aboriginal language(s) spoken regularly at home for the population excluding institutional residents of Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 Census – 100% Data". Canada Statistics. 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
28. "Greenland's statistics". www.stat.gl/. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
29. "Brasil tem cinco línguas indígenas com mais de 10 mil falantes". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
30. "Census in Brief: The Aboriginal languages of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit". Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
31. Shuar at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
32. "The Blackfoot Language Resources and Digital Dictionary project: Creating integrated web resources for language documentation and revitalization" (PDF). p. 277. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
33. Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
34. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
35. "Language Highlight Tables, 2016 Census – Aboriginal mother tongue, Aboriginal language spoken most often at home and Other Aboriginal language(s) spoken regularly at home for the population excluding institutional residents of Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 Census – 100% Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada, Statistics. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
36. Ethnologue (21st ed., 2018)
37. Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
38. Hofling, Mopan Maya–Spanish–English Dictionary, 1.
39. "PROTO-MACRO-JÊ: UM ESTUDO RECONSTRUTIVO" (PDF).
40. "IBGE – Indigenous languages census" (PDF).
41. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
42. "Mohawk". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
43. Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (28 March 2018). "Aboriginal Mother Tongue (90), Single and Multiple Mother Tongue Responses (3), Aboriginal Identity (9), Registered or Treaty Indian Status (3) and Age (12) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
44. "Idiomas indígenas Macuxi e Wapixana são oficializados em município de Roraima – Amazônia.org" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
45. "Estadística básica de la población hablante de lenguas indígenas nacionales 2015" (PDF). site.inali.gob.mx. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
46. Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (28 March 2018). "Aboriginal Mother Tongue (90), Single and Multiple Mother Tongue Responses (3), Aboriginal Identity (9), Registered or Treaty Indian Status (3) and Age (12) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
47. "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
48. "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
49. Cocopah at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
50. Havasupai‑Walapai‑Yavapai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
51. INALI (2012) México: Lenguas indígenas nacionales
52. "Kumiai". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
53. Quechan at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
54. Yavapai at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
55. Mojave language at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
56. "Language Highlight Tables, 2016 Census – Aboriginal mother tongue, Aboriginal language spoken most often at home and Other Aboriginal language(s) spoken regularly at home for the population excluding institutional residents of Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 Census – 100% Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
57. Thurman, Judith (23 March 2015). "A loss for words: Can a dying language be saved?". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
58. "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
59. If the Caucasus is considered to be a part of Europe, Northwest Caucasian and Northeast Caucasian would be included resulting in five language families within Europe. Other language families, such as the Turkic, Mongolic, Afroasiatic families have entered Europe in later migrations.
60. Nater 1984, pg. 5
61. Ruhlen, Merritt. (1991 [1987]). A Guide to the World's Languages Volume 1: Classification, p.216. Edward Arnold. Paperback: ISBN 0-340-56186-6.
62. Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian languages: the historical linguistics of Native America. Ch. 8 Distant Genetic Relationships, pp. 260–329. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
63. American-Arctic–Paleosiberian Phylum, Luoravetlan – and beyond
64. Macro-Mayan includes Mayan, Totonacan, Mixe–Zoquean, and sometimes Huave.
65. Siouan–Iroquoian–Caddoan–[Yuchi]
66. Alternatively Takelma–Kalapuyan
67. Nichols & Peterson 1996
68. Campbell 1997
69. Zamponi, Raoul (2017). "First-person n and second-person m in Native America: a fresh look" (PDF). Italian Journal of Linguistics. 29 (2): 189–230. doi:10.26346/1120-2726-113 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
70. Shaul, David Leedom (2017). Ausaima language and culture: perspectives on ancient California. LINCOM studies in native American linguistics. Muenchen: Lincom GmbH. ISBN 978-3-86288-839-9. OCLC 1007131161.

Bibliography

• Bright, William (1984). American Indian linguistics and literature. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-009846-6..
• Brinton, Daniel G (1891). The American race. New York: D. C. Hodges.
• Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
• Campbell, Lyle; Mithun, Marianne, eds. (1979). The languages of native America: Historical and comparative assessment. Austin: University of Texas Press.

North America

• Boas, Franz (1911). Handbook of American Indian languages. Bureau of American Ethnology. Vol. 1. Washington: Government Print Office.
• Boas, Franz (1911). Handbook of American Indian languages. Bureau of American Ethnology. Vol. 2. Washington: Government Print Office.
• Boas, Franz (1911). Handbook of American Indian languages. Bureau of American Ethnology. Vol. 3. Glückstadt: J.J. Augustin.
• Boas, Franz (1929). "Classification of American Indian languages". Language. 5 (1): 1–7. doi:10.2307/408990. JSTOR 408990.
• Bright, William (1973). "North American Indian language contact". In Sebeok, T. A. (ed.). Linguistics in North America. Current trends in linguistics. Vol. 10. The Hauge: Mouton. pp. 713–726.
• Goddard, Ives, ed. (1996). Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 17. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. ISBN 0-16-048774-9.
• Goddard, Ives. (1999). Native languages and language families of North America (rev. and enlarged ed. with additions and corrections). [Map]. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press (Smithsonian Institution). (Updated version of the map in Goddard 1996). ISBN 0-8032-9271-6.
• Goddard, Ives (2005). "The indigenous languages of the southeast". Anthropological Linguistics. 47 (1): 1–60.
• Mithun, Marianne (1990). "Studies of North American Indian Languages". Annual Review of Anthropology. 19 (1): 309–330. doi:10.1146/annurev.an.19.100190.001521.
• Mithun, Marianne (1999). The languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-23228-7.
• Nater, Hank F. (1984). The Bella Coola Language. Mercury Series; Canadian Ethnology Service (No. 92). Ottawa: National Museums of Canada.
• Powell, John W. (1891). Indian linguistic families of America north of Mexico. Seventh annual report, Bureau of American Ethnology (pp. 1–142). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. (Reprinted in P. Holder (Ed.), 1966, Introduction to Handbook of American Indian languages by Franz Boas and Indian linguistic families of America, north of Mexico, by J. W. Powell, Lincoln: University of Nebraska).
• Powell, John W. (1915). Linguistic families of American Indians north of Mexico by J. W. Powell, revised by members of the staff of the Bureau of American Ethnology. (Map). Bureau of American Ethnology miscellaneous publication (No. 11). Baltimore: Hoen.
• Sebeok, Thomas A. (Ed.). (1973). Linguistics in North America (parts 1 & 2). Current trends in linguistics (Vol. 10). The Hauge: Mouton. (Reprinted as Sebeok 1976).
• Sebeok, Thomas A. (Ed.). (1976). Native languages of the Americas. New York: Plenum.
• Sherzer, Joel. (1973). Areal linguistics in North America. In T. A. Sebeok (Ed.), Linguistics in North America (part 2, pp. 749–795). Current trends in linguistics (Vol. 10). The Hauge: Mouton. (Reprinted in Sebeok 1976).
• Sherzer, Joel. (1976). An areal-typological study of American Indian languages north of Mexico. Amsterdam: North-Holland.
• Sletcher, Michael, 'North American Indians', in Will Kaufman and Heidi Macpherson, eds., Britain and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History, (2 vols., Oxford, 2005).
• Sturtevant, William C. (Ed.). (1978–present). Handbook of North American Indians (Vol. 1–20). Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution. (Vols. 1–3, 16, 18–20 not yet published).
• Vaas, Rüdiger: 'Die Sprachen der Ureinwohner'. In: Stoll, Günter, Vaas, Rüdiger: Spurensuche im Indianerland. Hirzel. Stuttgart 2001, chapter 7.
• Voegelin, Carl F.; & Voegelin, Florence M. (1965). Classification of American Indian languages. Languages of the world, Native American fasc. 2, sec. 1.6). Anthropological Linguistics, 7 (7): 121–150.
• Zepeda, Ofelia; Hill, Jane H. (1991). "The condition of Native American Languages in the United States". In Robins, R. H.; Uhlenbeck, E. M. (eds.). Endangered languages. Oxford: Berg. pp. 135–155.

South America

• Adelaar, Willem F. H.; & Muysken, Pieter C. (2004). The languages of the Andes. Cambridge language surveys. Cambridge University Press.
• Fabre, Alain. (1998). "Manual de las lenguas indígenas sudamericanas, I-II". München: Lincom Europa.
• Kaufman, Terrence. (1990). Language history in South America: What we know and how to know more. In D. L. Payne (Ed.), Amazonian linguistics: Studies in lowland South American languages (pp. 13–67). Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-70414-3.
• Kaufman, Terrence. (1994). The native languages of South America. In C. Mosley & R. E. Asher (Eds.), Atlas of the world's languages (pp. 46–76). London: Routledge.
• Key, Mary R. (1979). The grouping of South American languages. Tübingen: Gunter Narr Verlag.
• Loukotka, Čestmír. (1968). Classification of South American Indian languages. Los Angeles: Latin American Studies Center, University of California.
• Mason, J. Alden. (1950). The languages of South America. In J. Steward (Ed.), Handbook of South American Indians (Vol. 6, pp. 157–317). Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology bulletin (No. 143). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
• Migliazza, Ernest C.; & Campbell, Lyle. (1988). Panorama general de las lenguas indígenas en América. Historia general de América (Vol. 10). Caracas: Instituto Panamericano de Geografía e Historia.
• Rodrigues, Aryon. (1986). Linguas brasileiras: Para o conhecimento das linguas indígenas. São Paulo: Edições Loyola.
• Rowe, John H. (1954). Linguistics classification problems in South America. In M. B. Emeneau (Ed.), Papers from the symposium on American Indian linguistics (pp. 10–26). University of California publications in linguistics (Vol. 10). Berkeley: University of California Press.
• Sapir, Edward. (1929). Central and North American languages. In The encyclopædia britannica: A new survey of universal knowledge (14 ed.) (Vol. 5, pp. 138–141). London: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company, Ltd.
• Voegelin, Carl F.; & Voegelin, Florence M. (1977). Classification and index of the world's languages. Amsterdam: Elsevier. ISBN 0-444-00155-7.
• Debian North American Indigenous Languages Project

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indigenous languages of the Americas.

• Catálogo de línguas indígenas sul-americanas
• Diccionario etnolingüístico y guía bibliográfica de los pueblos indígenas sudamericanos
• Towards a general typology of South American indigenous languages. A bibliographical database
• South American Languages
• Indigenous Peoples Languages: Articles, News, Videos
• Documentation Center of the Linguistic Minorities of Panama
• The Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America
• Indigenous Language Institute
• The Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas (SSILA)
• Southern Oregon Digital Archives First Nations Tribal Collection Archived 2012-02-09 at the Wayback Machine (collection of ethnographic, linguistic, & historical material)
• Center for the Study of the Native Languages of the Plains and Southwest
• Project for the Documentation of the Languages of Mesoamerica Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine
• Programa de Formación en Educación Intercultural Bilingüe para los Países Andinos
• Native American Language Center (University of California at Davis)
• Native Languages of the Americas
• International Journal of American Linguistics Archived 2007-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
• Our Languages (Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre)
• Swadesh Lists of Brazilian Native Languages
• Alaska Native Language Center