Iowa-Oto

A language of United States

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Iowa-Oto-Missouria

Population

No known L1 speakers. Last fluent speakers of Iowa and Oto died in 1996 (1997 J. GoodTracks). Ethnic population: 1,150 (Golla 2007).

Location

Oklahoma: central.

Language Status

9 (Dormant). Language of registered tribe: Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians.

Classification

Dialects

Iowa (Bah Kho Je, Baxoje, Báxoje ich’é, Ioway), Oto (Chiwere, Jiwele, Jiwere, Jíwere ich’é, Otoe), Niutaji (Missouri, Missouria, Nyut’chi, Ñút’achi).

Language Use

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

Language Development

Grammar. Language preservation activities taking place in Oklahoma (Golla 2007).

Language Resources

Other Comments

Iowa and Oto formerly 1 language, with some family variations cross-cutting tribal affiliations. Missouri dialect extinct for many years.