Iowa-Oto

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A language of United States

ISO 639-3
iow
Population

No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: 1,150 (Golla 2007).

Location

Formerly north central Oklahoma; northeast Kansas, Iowa Reservation.

Language Status

9 (Dormant).

Classification
Siouan-Catawban, Siouan, Mississippi Valley-Ohio Valley Siouan, Mississippi Valley Siouan, Chiwere-Winnebago
Dialects

Iowa (Baxoje, Ioway), Niutaji (Missouri, Missouria, Nyut’chi), Oto (Chiwere, Jiwele, Jiwere, Otoe).

Language Use

In 1999, only 4 passive speakers remain, none fluent (Golla 2007).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Iowa-Oto
Other Comments

Last fluent speakers of Iowa and Oto died in 1996. Others have some knowledge of the language (1997 J. GoodTracks). Iowa and Oto were 1 language, with some family variations cross-cutting tribal affiliations. Missouri dialect has been extinct for many years. Language preservation activities taking place in Oklahoma.