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Atsugewi Language (Hat Creek Tribe)

Language: Atsugewi is a Palaihnihan language of Northern California, most closely related to Achumawi. Some linguists consider these two languages part of the larger Hokan language family. Atsugewi is a highly polysynthetic language with very complex verbs and free word order. Atsugewi has not been spoken in the community since the last native speaker died in 1988, but some young people hope to revive their ancestral language again.

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Names: Atsugewi is the tribe's own name for themselves, meaning "pine tree people." This name is also spelled many other ways such as Atsuge, Atsugé, Atsugeyi, Atsuke, and Atsukeyi. A second band, known as Apwaruge (also Apwarugewi, Apwarugeyi, Apwarukeyi, Aporige, etc.), were speakers of the same language. The Apwaruge dialect is also known as Dixie Valley or Juniper Atsugewi, while the Atsuge dialect is also known as Hat Creek or Pine Tree Atsugewi. The Atsugewi, Apwaruge, and Achumawi bands are often collectively known as the Pit River tribe.

Atsugewi Language

Atsugewi language samples and resources.

Atsugewi Culture and History

Information and links about the Atsugewi tribe past and present.

Atsugewi Indians Fact Sheet

Our answers to common questions about the lifestyle of Atsugewi Indian people.

Achumawi and Atsugewi Legends

Introduction to Pit River Indian mythology.

Atsugewi Language Resources

Our Online Atsugewi Materials

Atsugewi Vocabulary:
Our list of vocabulary words in the Atsugewi language, with comparison to words in other Hokan languages.

Atsugewi Pronunciation Guide:
How to pronounce Atsugewi words.

Atsugewi Animal Words:
Illustrated glossary of animal words in the Atsugewi language.

Atsugewi Body Parts:
Online and printable worksheets showing parts of the body in the Atsugewi language.

Atsugewi Colors:
Worksheet showing color words in the Atsugewi language.

Atsugewi Numbers:
Worksheet showing how to count in the Atsugewi language.

Atsugewi Food:
Worksheet with pictures of food words in the Atsugewi language.

Atsugewi Dictionaries and Language Books for Sale
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A Lexicon of Atsugewi:
Atsugewi dictionary for sale online.

American Indian Language Dictionaries:
Atsugewi and other Native American dictionaries and language materials for sale.

Atsugewi Language Lessons and Linguistic Descriptions

Pre-Contact California Tribal Territories:
Tribal map of the state of California, showing the location where Atsugewi was once spoken.

Atsugewi Phonology

Reconstructing Achumawi and Atsugewi:
Linguistics papers on the Atsugewi language.

Wikipedia: Atsugé

Atsugewi Linguistics:
Encyclopedia articles on the Atsugewi language.

House of Languages: Atsugewi
Information about Atsugewi language usage.

Survey of California Indian Languages: Atsugewi:
Profile of the Atsugewi language from the University of California at Berkeley.

Atsugewi Language Tree:
Theories about Atsugewi's language relationships compiled by Linguist List.

Atsugewi Language Structures:
Atsugewi linguistic profile and academic bibliography.

Links, References, and Additional Information

Endangered Languages Project: Atsugewi:
Bibliography of Atsugewi language resources.
Lengua Atsugewi

Lenguas Palaihnih:
Information on the Atsugewi language in Spanish.
Atsugewi Language:
Atsugewi links.

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