Shoshonean languages

The Shoshonean languages are a family of languages spoken by Indigenous peoples in the western United States. These languages are part of the larger Uto-Aztecan language family. The Shoshone people, who historically occupied territories across California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, spoke these languages.1234

The Shoshonean languages are categorized into three branches: Western, Central, and Southern Numic. Dialects within these branches were often mutually intelligible, meaning speakers from different areas could understand each other. The Shoshone people themselves were organized into various groups, such as the Western Shoshone, Northern Shoshone, Wind River Shoshone, and the Comanche, who later moved into Texas.43