At the beginning of the 18th century, Shoshone bands moved onto the southern Plains from Wyoming. By the 1900s, their language had undergone substantial changes resulting in the distinct Comanche language. The Comanche language is a member of the Central Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Closely related languages include Shoshone (Shoshoni) and Panamint (Koso). More distantly related languages include Kawaiisu, Ute, Mono (Monachi, Monache) and Northern Paiute (Paviotso).
Selected Language Information
Canonge, Elliott D. 1958. Comanche Texts. Summer Institute of Linguistics publications in linguistics and related fields. No. 1. Norman, OK: Summer Institute of Linguistics of the University of Oklahoma.
Charney, Jean Ormsbee. 1993. A Grammar of Comanche. London/Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Herrick, Dylan. 2011. On Comanche’s Central Mid Vowel. International Journal of American Linguistics, Vol. 77:3. 373-396.
Rejón, Manuel García. 1864; reprint 1995. Comanche Vocabulary (trilingual ed.). In Texas Archaeology and Ethnohistory series. Gelo, Daniel J. (ed.) Austin: University of Texas Press.
Robinson, Lila Wistrand; & James Armagost. 1990. Comanche Dictionary and Grammar. Summer Institute of Linguistics and The University of Texas at Arlington publications in linguistics No. 92. Dallas, Texas: The Summer Institute of Linguistics and The University of Texas at Arlington.
Troike, Rudolph C. 1956. Comanche Linguistic Acculturation: A Critique. International Journal of American Linguistics Vol. 22. 213-215.
Sample Archival Materials in the Native American Languages Collection
Links
The Comanche Language and Culture Preservation Committee
Catalogue of Endangered Languages
