Week Nine: Pueblo Languages
Dhurva S -
Welcome all to my ninth blog post.
One of the many parts of each Pueblo nation’s inherent identity is its unique language. Not all Pueblo nations have the same language. Pueblo languages are not all from the same language family. Instead, they belong to several distinct linguistic groups. The majority of Pueblo languages come from three major families. These are Keresan, Tanoan, and Zuni. Each language group is tied to specific Pueblo communities and has its own structure, vocabulary, and oral traditions.
Keresan is spoken in several Pueblo nations, including Acoma, Laguna, Cochiti, Kewa, and San Felipe. It is unique because it is an isolate language, meaning it is not known to be related to any other language family. The Keres language has two main dialects, the Eastern and Western groups, which are sometimes even differentiated as separate languages. Together, the Keres language has the most speakers today.
The next family is Tanoan, which includes three related languages. This is Tiwa, Tewa, and Towa. Tiwa is spoken in Taos and Picuris in the north and Isleta and Sandia to the south. Tewa is used in several Pueblos along the Rio Grande, including San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, and Ohkay Owingeh. The Poeh Cultural Centre is dedicated to the Pueblos connected by the Tewa language. Towa is spoken only by the Jemez Pueblo. These languages are closely related but still distinct enough that speakers of one may not fully understand the others. Even within each language, speakers from one Pueblo may not understand those of another.
The Zuni language, spoken exclusively by the Zuni Pueblo, is another isolate with no known relatives. It holds a special place in the Zuni religion and identity and is still spoken by many community members.
Many of the cultural words from these languages have no direct English equivalents because they refer to spiritual or community-specific concepts. Despite this cultural importance, many Pueblo languages are endangered due to colonization, boarding schools, and the dominance of English. However, efforts are underway to preserve and revitalise these languages through language immersion programs, recordings of elders, and school-based instruction in the Pueblos themselves. Preserving these languages is just one of many ways that the future of these cultures can be ensured.