Valley Yokuts

Valley Yokuts is a dialect cluster of the Yokutsan language family of California.

Chukchansi, which is still spoken natively, has language classes and a preschool for children. It is also taught at a local elementary school. Though there are no longer any native speakers, Tachi has a Headstart language program.

Varieties
Valley Yokuts is sometimes considered three languages.


 * Far Northern Valley Yokuts (a.k.a. Delta Yokuts) †


 * Yachikumne (a.k.a. Chulamni)
 * Chalostaca
 * Lakisamni
 * Tawalimni


 * Northern Valley Yokuts


 * Nopṭinṭe
 * Chawchila
 * Chukchansi
 * Kechayi
 * Dumna


 * Southern Valley Yokuts


 * Wechihit
 * Nutunutu–Tachi
 * Chunut (a.k.a. Sumtache)
 * Wo’lasi–Choynok
 * Wowol
 * Telamni
 * Koyeti–Yawelmani

Of these, Yawelmani, also known as Yowlumni, is the best known. See also Chukchansi dialect.

Grammar

 * ablaut
 * suffix


 * deeyi 'to lead'
 * deeyen 'he will lead'
 * deyhin 'he led'
 * diyhatinhin 'he wanted to lead'
 * diyee’iy 'place where one got the lead' (subjective)
 * diyaa’an 'he is leading'
 * deydiyen 'he will lead repeatedly'
 * diyidyiisaahin ’anam 'they led each other repeatedly'
 * diyeediyic’ 'one who is leading repeatedly' (subjective)
 * deyday 'act of leading repeatedly' (subjective)


 * reduplication


 * ’ɔɔṭ’hun 'he stole' - ’ɔɔṭ’uṭ’hun 'he stole often'
 * ’ɔɔṭ’al 'he might steal' - ’ɔɔṭ’uṭ’al 'he might steal often'