Apache, Mescalero-Chiricahua

A language of United States

ISO 639: apm
Autonym: Ndé bizaa
Population: 150 (2019 L. Darrow). 150 Mescalero in New Mexico, 3 Chiricahua in Oklahoma (Golla 2007). Ethnic population: More than 3,000 Mescalero (Golla 2007). 175 Chiricahua, including 149 in New Mexico (2000 census).
Location:: New Mexico: Mescalero Reservation; Oklahoma: some Chiricahua at Fort Sill.
Language Status: 8a (Moribund). Language of registered tribe: Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation.
Classification: Eyak-Athabaskan, Athabaskan, Apachean, Apache
Dialects: Chiricahua (Aiaho, Chiricagua, Chishi), Mescalero (Faraones). Little dialectal variation between Chiricahua and Mescalero. Mostly a distinction in tribal identity (Golla 2007).
Language Use: A few Chiricahua semispeakers in Oklahoma (Golla 2007). Older adults only. Most shifted to English [eng].
Language Development: Dictionary. Texts.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Apache, Mescalero-Chiricahua
Writing: Latin script [Latn].

Location: New Mexico: Mescalero Reservation; Oklahoma: some Chiricahua at Fort Sill.