Dakota

Print

A language of United States

ISO 639-3
dak
Alternate Names
Sioux
Population

18,800 in United States (2010 census), decreasing. 31 monolinguals (1990 census). 25,000 L1 speakers of all Sioux dialects in a total population of 103,000 (Golla 2007). Population total all countries: 20,460. Ethnic population: 5,000 Yanktonais (1997 D. Parks); 20,475 (2000 census).

Location

Several widely dispersed reservation communities in Minnesota, eastern Nebraska and the Dakotas; South Dakota, Yankton and Crow Creek reservations; North Dakota, northern Standing Rock Reservation, Devils Lake and Fort Peck reservations. Also in Canada.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Siouan-Catawban, Siouan, Mississippi Valley-Ohio Valley Siouan, Mississippi Valley Siouan, Dakota
Dialects

Dakota (Dakhota, Santee, Santee-Sisseton), Nakota (Nakoda, Yankton, Yankton-Yanktonais). Lexical similarity: 83%–86% with Stoney [sto], 89%–94% with Assiniboine [asb], 90%–95% with dialects.

Language Use

Most youth prefer English [eng] or do not speak the language. Teaching programs at every level, preschool through university (2007). Few children (1998).

Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1879.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dakota
Writing
Latin script.

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All