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Unfortunately, over half of the languages in native North America are endangered
and SAIVUS does not have adequate funding to help all of them. Public support
and tribal need are the two dominate political factors influencing which
languages take priority.
In addition, we also strive to select at least one language from every
major culture area; as identified by the Smithsonian's Handbook of North
American Indians 4: ix. Expanding on the model first proposed by
Alfred L. Kroeber, we additionally split the Plains region into Northern
Plains/Southern Plains. SAIVUS color codes each culture area, but this is purely
conventional.
Because the California, Northwest Coast, Plateau and Great Basin culture areas
contain so much linguistic diversity, the selection of languages within these
regions remains undetermined at this point in time.
| • |
Hawaii: |
Hawaiian [Polynesian] |
|
| • |
Alaska: |
|
| • |
Northeast Woodlands: |
|
|
| • |
Southeast Woodlands: |
Cherokee [Iroquoian] (Under Construction)
Choctaw [Muskogean] (Prospective) |
|
| • |
Plains: |
Plains Indian Sign Language (Under Construction) |
|
| • |
Northern Plains: |
Lakota [Siouan] (Cancelled) |
|
| • |
Southern Plains: |
|
|
| • |
Southwest: |
Zapotec [Oto-Manguean] (Prospective) |
|
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