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Glite Dictionary
Shoshonean language

Shoshonean language

9.9
A group of related Native American languages spoken mainly in the western United States
  • noun
  • /ʃoʊˈʃoʊniən ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
  • Specialized
: idioma shoshoneano
  • The preservation of a Shoshonean language is important for maintaining cultural heritage.

Examples

  • Many tribes in the Great Basin historically spoke a Shoshonean language.

  • Many scholars study the Shoshonean languages for their unique structures.

  • Linguists study the similarities between each Shoshonean language in the Uto-Aztecan family.

  • The Shoshonean language is rich in history.

  • Linguists study the similarities between each Shoshonean language in the Uto-Aztecan family.

  • Many tribes in the Great Basin historically spoke a Shoshonean language.

  • The preservation of a Shoshonean language is important for maintaining cultural heritage.

Synonyms

Shoshonean
vsShoshonean language
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A group of Native American languages spoken mainly in the southwestern United States, including Shoshone, Comanche, and Ute

is the general name without listing example languages
Shoshonian language
vsShoshonean language
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related Native American languages spoken in the US Southwest, like Shoshoni and Comanche

is the same subgroup described with similar wording
Shoshonian
vsShoshonean language
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of Native American languages spoken in the western United States, including Shoshone and Comanche

is the general grouping but differs in the listed example languages

Surface Forms

Shoshonean language singular
Shoshonean languages plural

Morphology

Shoshonean + language

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'Shoshonean' denotes a specific language subfamily and 'language' denotes a speech system, so together they mean a language of the Shoshonean family. This follows a common compositional pattern (modifier + language) that a learner who knows both constituents can readily interpret.

Etymology

Shoshonean language: The name Shoshonean language comes from the people called Shoshone and the ending -an, which means 'of' or 'from'. So, a Shoshonean language is a language 'of the Shoshone', and today the phrase refers to a 'group of related languages' spoken mainly in the southwestern United States.