Hopi language
| Hopi | |
|---|---|
| Hopilàvayi | |
| Native to | United States |
| Region | Northeastern Arizona |
| Ethnicity | 7,350 Hopis (Golla 2007) |
|
Native speakers
|
6,800 (2010 census) 40 monolinguals (1990) |
|
Uto-Aztecan
|
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | hopi1249 |
Hopi (Hopi: Hopílavayi) is a Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Hopi people (a Pueblo group) of northeastern Arizona, United States, although today some Hopi are monolingual English speakers.
The use of the language has gradually declined over the course of the 20th century. In 1990, it was estimated that more than 5,000 people could speak Hopi as a native language (approximately 75% of the population); but only 40 of them were monolingual in Hopi. The 1998 language survey of 200 Hopi people showed that 100% of Hopi elders (60 years or older) were fluent, while fluency in adults (age 40-59) was only 84%, 50% in young adults (age 20-39), and 5% in children (age 2-19). Despite the apparent decline, Hopi and Navajo both are supported by bi-lingual education programs in Arizona and children acquire these Native American languages as their first language.
Many Hopi children are being raised in the language. A comprehensive Hopi-English dictionary edited by Emory Sekaquaptewa and others has been published, and a group called the Hopi Literacy Project has focused its attention on promoting the language. As of 2013, "a pilot language revitalization project, the Hopi Lavayi Nest Model Program, for families with children birth through 5," is being planned for the village of Sipaulovi.
Benjamin Whorf identifies four varieties (dialects) of Hopi:
First Mesa is spoken on First Mesa (which is the eastern mesa) in Polacca village in Walpi pueblo and in other neighboring communities. A community of Arizona Tewa live on First Mesa, and its members speak Tewa, in addition to a variety of Hopi and English and Spanish.
Mishongnovi is spoken on Second Mesa (which is the central mesa) in Mishongnovi village. Mishongnovi has few speakers compared to First and Third Mesa dialects. Shipaulovi is also spoken on Second Mesa in Shipaulovi village, which is close to Mishongnovi village. Whorf notes that other villages on Second Mesa are of unknown dialectal affiliation.
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