The O’odham language is part of the large language family known as Uto-Aztecan. More specifically, it belongs to the subfamily called Tepiman. The Tepiman group of Uto-Aztecan languages extends from Phoenix, Arizona, to Durango, Mexico. The Tepiman languages, though related, are not all mutually intelligible. However, local O’odham speakers can communicate to some degree with O’odham living a thousand miles south, deep into Mexico.

In the state of Arizona, O’odham is spoken by members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community, and Tohono O’odham Nation. There are distinct differences in dialect between (and within) each of these communities, but the differences are minimal, and speakers can generally communicate with little or no difficulty. One of the more obvious differences is that Tohono O’odham uses a /w/ where Akimel O’odham uses a /v/.

According to Ethnologue: Languages of the World, there were an estimated 14,000 O’odham speakers in the United States in 2007. Most current estimates would indicate the present number of speakers is much lower. Nevertheless, the O’odham language has one of the largest overall number of speakers as compared to other indigenous languages of the United States. The vast majority of those speakers, however, reside in the more isolated desert villages of southern Arizona. The SRPMIC is the northernmost O’odham-speaking community. Consequently, fewer than 3% of enrolled SRPMIC members are fluent O’odham speakers.

Ethnologue classifies the O’odham language as threatened, defined as, “The language is used for face-to-face communication within all generations, but is losing users.” Within the SRPMIC, however, the O’odham language is more accurately classified as moribund, defined as, “The only remaining active users of the language are members of the grandparent generation and older.”

O’odham language survival is an increasingly important issue for the SRPMIC, and revitalization efforts are in place to nurture future speakers.

Check out the O’odham Orthography section, available below, for more detailed information on the O’odham writing system used in Salt River.

The Piipaash language is part of the Yuman language family. The Yuman languages are spoken by tribes throughout the western half of Arizona, Southern California, and Baja California, Mexico. The Yuman language family consists of four major branches:

River – Maricopa, Quechan, Mohave
Pai – Yavapai, Hualapai, Havasupai, Paipai
Delta California – Cocopah, Kumeyaay
Kiliwa – (a single language)

Although the Yuman languages are related, they are not all mutually intelligible. According to one study conducted in 1956, Piipaash speakers found Quechan 98% intelligible and Mohave 67% intelligible. The same test suggested that Piipaash speakers found the Pai languages intelligible within a range of 10%-18%. The remaining Yuman languages were not included in that study, but the percentage of intelligibility for the Delta-California languages would have likely tested slightly higher than the Pai languages, whereas Kiliwa would have likely tested lower.

Maricopas have not always been a single homogenous group with regard to cultural identity and language. Modern Maricopas are descended from an historical amalgamation of closely related and allied Yuman groups who, prior to the 1820s, resided in various places along the Gila and Colorado rivers. Each of the following groups formerly maintained distinct cultural identities and dialects:

• Piipaa Nyaa (a.k.a. Thxpaa Nyaa aka Nyaalychidom)
• Kavelychidom Piipaash
• Xalychidom Piipaash
• Xalykawaam
• Kaxwaan

As these groups merged in the early 1800s, so too did their dialects. Over time, the distinct dialects largely blended, but not completely. Some amount of diversity still exists among Piipaash speakers. Today, there are two communities of Piipaash speakers. The west side of the Gila River Indian Community is home to the larger population of Piipaash (historically spelled Pee Posh). Those of us living in the Lehi District of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community are primarily identified as Xalychidom Piipaash.

According to Ethnologue: Languages of the World, there were an estimated 100 Piipaash speakers in 2007. Most current estimates would indicate the current number of speakers is much lower. The Piipaash language is considered to be among the more endangered indigenous languages in the United States. The actual number of fluent first-language Piipaash speakers in the SRPMIC is fewer than ten.

Ethnologue classifies the Piipaash language as shifting, defined as, “The child-bearing generation can use the language among themselves, but it is not being transmitted to children.” In the SRPMIC and elsewhere, Piipaash is more accurately described as nearly extinct, defined as, “The only remaining users of the language are members of the grandparent generation or older who have little opportunity to use the language.”

Piipaash language survival is an increasingly important issue for the SRPMIC, and revitalization efforts are in place to nurture future speakers.

Check out the Piipaash Orthography section, available below, for more detailed information on the Piipaash writing system used in Salt River.

Pronunciation Guide

The O’odham Piipaash Language Program uses a modified version of the Alvarez-Hale Orthography developed by Dr. Albert Alvarez (Tohono O’odham) and Dr. Kenneth Hale. The O’odham Piipaash Language Program has modified this orthography to include the letters d and v to accommodate the O’odham as spoken in this area. This alphabet does not make use of the English letters f, q, r, x, z.

Stress

Stress falls on the initial syllable of the root word.

Vowels

The O’odham alphabet contains five (5) short vowels and five (5) long vowels. The principal difference between long and short vowels is the duration for which they are held. In addition, O’odham has a voiceless (whispered) vowel that is marked with a breve (˘) symbol. Breve vowels usually occur at the end of a word.

Short Vowels

Long Vowels

Breve Vowel

A vowel with a breve above it is pronounced without vibration of your voicebox and with noticeable aspiration. It may be difficult to hear but sounds like a whispered i vowel that is mostly found at the end of words. It is an important sound in O’odham that contributes to a difference in meaning between similar words.

Consonants

The O’odham alphabet contains twenty-two (22) consonants

Diphthongs

Diphthongs are most easily explained as instances where one vowel glides into a different vowel. Below are some common diphthongs found in O’odham. In the O’odham alphabet, diphthongs are represented by a sequence of vowel plus vowel.

The alphabet we are using is one that has been developed by a group of tribal members from the Community. We use Roman symbols as the English alphabet does, but they do not necessarily represent the same sounds as English letters. So, if you go about trying to read Piipaash as if it were English, you will likely pronounce the words wrong. You will have to learn this writing system letter by letter, and leave English rules aside

Some Maricopa sounds do not exist in English (and vice-versa), so it can be difficult to describe them to English speakers. In the second column below, an approximate English equivalent is provided.

Stress

Stress falls on the final syllable of the root word (e.g., pii-paash΄ not pii΄-paash)

Vowels

The Piipaash alphabet contains five (5) short vowels and five (5) long vowels. The principal difference between long and short vowels is the duration for which they are held.

Short Vowels

Long Vowels

Consonants

The Piipaash alphabet contains twenty-six (26) consonant sounds.

Dipthongs

Diphthongs are most easily explained as instances where one vowel glides into a different vowel. Below are some common diphthongs found in Piipaash. In the Piipaash alphabet, diphthongs are represented by a sequence of vowel plus glide consonant (w or y)

Glottal Initial vs. Vowel Initial Words

Piipaash has both glottal initial and vowel initial words. While they may look similar orthographically, they have very distinct pronunciations. Glottal stops are not written in English but they are present in words that begin with a vowel. These words start with a closed glottis (throat) before you begin pronouncing the vowel. Vowel initial words without a glottal stop in front will sound similar to English words beginning with the letter h. In other words, air is flowing freely through the glottis (throat). If the vowel is preceded by a glottal stop, that means no air is passing through the closed throat, therefore, no English /h/ sound.

iiwaa (heewaa) – his/her/its heart
​​​​​’iiwaa (eewaa) – my heart

The example above also illustrates how the presence or absence of a glottal stop also contributes to a difference in meaning in Piipaash.