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Glite Dictionary
Miwok language

Miwok language

9.9
A language spoken by the Miwok people in central California
  • noun
: lengua miwok
  • Many elders still speak the Miwok language and are working to teach it to younger generations.

Examples

  • A dictionary of the Miwok language was published to help preserve traditional stories.

  • Research into the Miwok language has provided insight into the history of central California.

  • The Miwok language is rich in cultural significance.

  • Many children are learning the Miwok language at school.

  • Many elders still speak the Miwok language and are working to teach it to younger generations.

  • A dictionary of the Miwok language was published to help preserve traditional stories.

  • Research into the Miwok language has provided insight into the history of central California.

Synonyms

Miwok
vsMiwok language
1 9.9

A Native American language spoken by people in central California

is the full phrase that identifies it explicitly as a language
Moquelumnan language
vsMiwok language
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related languages once spoken by the Miwok people of central California

refers specifically to the single Penutian language of central California people
Moquelumnan
vsMiwok language
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of languages once spoken by the Miwok people in California

names the actual language spoken traditionally in central California

Surface Forms

Miwok language singular
Miwok languages plural

Morphology

Miwok + language

The phrase 'Miwok language' is fully compositional: 'Miwok' names the people/group and 'language' denotes their speech system, so the meaning is simply 'the language spoken by the Miwok people.' The 'X language' naming pattern is a regular, cross-linguistic convention and therefore immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Miwok language comes from the name of the people called Miwok, and Miwok may mean 'people' or 'men' in their own speech. So Miwok language simply means 'the language of the Miwok people'.