Tongva language

Common card · No. 456393

The Tongva language (also known as Gabrielino, Gabrieleño, or Kizh) is a dormant and reawakening Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Tongva, a Native American people who have lived in and around modern-day Los Angeles for thousands of years. It has not been a language of everyday conversation since the 1940s. The Tongva people now speak English but a few are attempting to revive their language by using it in everyday conversation and ceremonial contexts. Presently, Tongva is also being used in language revitalization classes and in some public discussion regarding religious and environmental issues. Tongva is closely related to Serrano. The names of several cities and neighborhoods in Southern California are of Tongva origin, and include Pacoima, Tujunga, Topanga, Azusa, Cahuenga in Cahuenga Pass and Cucamonga in Rancho Cucamonga. The last fluent native speakers of Tongva lived in the early 20th century. The language is primarily documented in the unpublished field notes of John Peabody...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Davius, Public domain