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Southern Uto-Aztecan languages
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Southern Uto-Aztecan languages

Also known as: Sonoran languages
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Quick Summary

The Southern Uto-Aztecan languages are a branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family, which is one of the largest and oldest indigenous language families in the Americas. This branch includes languages spoken primarily in Mexico and Central America, with some extending into the United States.12

Key groups within Southern Uto-Aztecan include:
* Piman (Tepiman): Languages like Pima-Papago (O'odham) and various Tepehuan dialects.1
* Taracahitic: Including Tarahumara and Guarijío.1
* Cahitan: Such as Yaqui and Mayo.1
* Corachol-Aztecan: Comprising Cora and Huichol.1
* Aztecan (Nahuan): This group includes Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and Pipil.1

While the Uto-Aztecan family as a whole spans from Oregon to Panama, the Southern Uto-Aztecan languages are largely situated within Middle America. The proposed linguistic link between Uto-Aztecan and the Kiowa-Tanoan family, known as the Aztec-Tanoan hypothesis, has largely been abandoned by linguists due to insufficient evidence.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. Uto-Aztecan languages
  2. Mesoamerican Indian languages - The classification and status of Mesoamerican languages
  3. Aztec-Tanoan hypothesis

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