Arikara

A language of United States

ISO 639: ari
Alternate Names: Arikaree, Arikari, Arikaris, Ree, Ris, Sáhniš
Population: 10 (Golla 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 94 (2000 census).
Location:: North Dakota: Fort Berthold Reservation, mostly Parshall and White Shield.
Language Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Language of registered tribe: Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
Classification: Caddoan, Northern Caddoan, Kitsai-Proto-Pawnee, Proto-Pawnee
Typology: SOV; polysynthetic language; tonal.
Language Use: Elderly only. Shifted to English [eng].
Language Development: Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. The annual Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Summer Institute (MHASI) supports Arikara language teachers and encourages new teachers to help in revitalization efforts. Agency: Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Language Project.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Arikara
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Reportedly a group Lewis and Clark met in 1804 in North Dakota. 30,000 were reduced to 6,000 due to smallpox.

Location: North Dakota: Fort Berthold Reservation, mostly Parshall and White Shield.