The Arapaho language consists of five distinct dialects: Arapaho proper, Besawunena, Gros Ventre (also known as Atsina), Nawathinehena and Ha’anahawunena. Arapaho proper is still spoken in western Oklahoma and on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Arapaho is a member of the Plains Algonquian branch of the Algic language family. Related languages include Cheyenne, Menominee, Myaamia and Shawnee.
Selected Language Information
Cowell, Andrew, and Moss, Alonzo, Sr. 2008. The Arapaho Language. University of Colorado Press.
Hale, Ken. 2001. The Arapaho Language. In The Green Book of Language Revitalization in Practice. Ken Hale and Leanne Hinton (eds.) San Diego, California: Academic Press. 283-286.
Picard, Marc. 1994. Principles and Methods in Historical Phonology: From Proto-Algonkian to Arapaho. Montreal and Kingston: McGillóQueens University Press.
Sample Archival Materials in the Native American Languages Collection
Harrison, Butch (Interviewer), Donald Spotted Corn Sr. (speaker). 1998. Arapaho Oral History: Donald Spotted Corn Sr.’s POW Experiences as Told to Butch Harrison, December 13, 1998. Levi Spotted Corn Collection. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Department of Native American Languages. Content Type: audio/video. Catalog Number: LSC-001.
Birdshead, Saul (speaker). 1998. Southern Arapaho Songs. Levi Spotted Corn Collection. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Department of Native American Languages. Content Type: audio. Catalog Number: LSC-002.
McCarty, Mike (recorder). 2008. Songs of the Native American Church, Vol. 1. Sam Noble Museum Made-In House Collection. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Department of Native American Languages. Content Type: audio. Catalog Number: SNM-007.
—–. (n.d.). Hinon’eino Tsistsistas / Arapaho Gospel Songs. Abraham Pedro Collection. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Department of Native American Languages. Content Type: audio. Catalog Number: APE-011.
Cowell, Andrew (author), Alonzo Moss, Sr.(consultant). (n.d.). Weather as Nature and Culture Among the Arapaho. Abraham Pedro Collection. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Department of Native American Languages. Content Type: audio. Catalog Number: APE-040.
Links
Dictionary of Northern Arapaho
Catalogue of Endangered Languages
