Page Type: languageMohawk | Ethnologue

MOH ISO 639-3

Mohawk

Kanien’kéha Autonym

A language of Canada

ISO 639
moh
Alternate Names
Kanien’kehaka
Autonym
Kanien’kéha
Population
990 in Canada (2016 census). Ethnic population: 24,000 (1999 SIL). Total users in all countries: 3,040 (as L1: 2,940; as L2: 100).
Location:
Ontario province: Six Nations Reserve, Tyendinaga Reserve on Bay of Quinte near Kingston, and a small settlement at Wahta Mohawk Territory east of Georgian Bay; Quebec province: Kahnawà:ke and Kanehsatà:ke (Oka) near Montreal.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Bay of Quinte Mohawk, Lower Mohawk, Mohawks of Akwesasne, Mohawks of Kahnawá:ke, Mohawks of Kanesatake, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Six Nations of the Grand River, Upper Mohawk, Wahta Mohawk, Walker Mohawk.
Classification
Iroquoian, Northern Iroquoian, Five Nations-Huronian-Susquehannock, Five Nations-Susquehannock, Mohawk-Oneida
Language Use
Some young people, all adults. Mostly older adults but a few children are native speakers (Golla 2007). Most also use English [eng].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1880–2004. Immersion schools in Kahnawà:ke and Kanehsatà:ke (Oka), on the Six Nations Reserve (Golla 2007).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mohawk
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 1993.
Other Comments
Kanien’kehaka is name for Mohawk people.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Mohawk
User Population
2,050 in United States, all users. L1 users: 1,950 in United States (2015 census). L2 users: 100 (2011 M. Mithun). Ethnic population: 6,000 (1999 SIL).
Location
New York: Saint Regis Reservation, north.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: Ontario province: Six Nations Reserve, Tyendinaga Reserve on Bay of Quinte near Kingston, and a small settlement at Wahta Mohawk Territory east of Georgian Bay; Quebec province: Kahnawà:ke and Kanehsatà:ke (Oka) near Montreal.