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Glite Dictionary
Mattole language

Mattole language

9.9
A language once spoken by the Mattole people of northern California
  • noun
: idioma mattole
  • Scholars are working to document the grammar and vocabulary of the Mattole language.

Examples

  • Fewer and fewer people today can speak the Mattole language fluently.

  • The Mattole language is an important part of the region’s cultural heritage.

  • The Mattole language is unique to the Mattole people.

  • There are few speakers of the Mattole language today.

  • Fewer and fewer people today can speak the Mattole language fluently.

  • Scholars are working to document the grammar and vocabulary of the Mattole language.

  • The Mattole language is an important part of the region’s cultural heritage.

Synonyms

Mattole
vsMattole language
1 9.9

A Native American language once spoken by the Mattole people in northern California

has identical meaning but uses the alternative name spelling

Surface Forms

Mattole language singular
Mattole languages plural

Morphology

Mattole + language

This is a straightforward composition of the proper name 'Mattole' plus the noun 'language', so the meaning 'the language spoken by the Mattole people' is directly derivable from its parts. The 'X language' pattern is a common, cross-linguistic naming convention, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Mattole language probably takes its name from the Mattole people and the Mattole River in northern California. Picture people by the river speaking together, so Mattole language simply means the language those people spoke.