Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which groups spoke Southern Numic languages in the Great Basin?

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Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin Kaylei Weed (left) of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe with her two sons and mother, Elaine Ethel Weed, at the Wind River Indian Reservation in 2015.

The Southern Numic branch of the Numic languages is spoken by several Indigenous groups within the Great Basin and surrounding regions. These groups include:

Kawaiisu12
Ute (who refer to themselves as Nuche)12
Southern Paiute groups, which include the Chemehuevi12

It is important to note that the distinction between Ute and Southern Paiute is primarily cultural rather than linguistic. Historically, those who adopted horses during the early colonial period are classified as Ute, while those who did not are identified as Southern Paiute. These languages are part of the larger Uto-Aztecan language family, which represents a significant linguistic presence across the western United States and Mexico.21