Takelma language

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July 14, 2026

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The Takelma were an Indigenous people of southwestern Oregon. They are also known for their language, also called Takelma. The Takelma language is part of the Takilman language family, which is within the Penutian phylum. This language family, found in Oregon, consists solely of the Takelma language.12

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Penutian languages
(extinct), Molale (extinct), Coos, Takelma (extinct), Kalapuya, Chinook (not to be confused with Chinook Jargon, a trade language or lingua franca), Tsimshian, and Zuni, each a family consisting of a single language. All but four of the surviving familes are spoken by fewer than 150 persons.
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(extinct), Molale (extinct), Coos, Takelma (extinct), Kalapuya, Chinook (not to be confused with Chinook Jargon, a trade language or lingua franca), Tsimshian, and Zuni, each a family consisting of a single language. All but four of the surviving familes are spoken by fewer than 150 persons.
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