Native Languages

Living the Culture

Native American tribes have lived and thrived upon the North American landscape for thousands of years—since long before there was a United States. Historically, about 500 distinct Native languages were spoken in North America. All Code Talkers were fluent speakers of their tribes’ languages.

The Importance of American Indian Languages

Language is the essence of culture. People’s ways of living, their histories, and their philosophies are all understood and communicated through language. Although most American Indian people today speak English, they still consider their traditional languages to be extremely important for cultural identity.

Even though many of these Native languages have disappeared now, many are still spoken. When the last speaker of a language passes away, the language is gone forever. Native communities are working hard to keep Native languages alive. A few tribes have been able revive lost languages using books and articles written in the past about their languages.

Native Languages and Language Families of North America 1999. Map, courtesy of Ives Goddard and the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Languages Used in Code Talking

During World War I and World War II, a variety of American Indian languages were used to send secret military messages.

A Choctaw telephone squad, returned from fighting in World War I, at Camp Merritt, New Jersey. From left: Corporal Solomon Bond Louis, Private Mitchell Bobb, Corporal James Edwards, Corporal Calvin Wilson, Private George (James) Davenport, Captain Elijah W. Horner.

An unidentified American Indian marine used a walkie-talkie to send communications in the South Pacific in November 1943.

Names of the tribes and the communities (when known) of the World War I American Indian Code Talkers.

Names of the tribes and the communities (when known) of the World War II American Indian Code Talkers.

The Navajo Language

The Navajo people call themselves the Naabeeho´ Dine’é, or sometimes, Diné. Diné Bizaad is the Navajo term for the Navajo language. In many ways, today’s Navajo live like other people in the United States. Fortunately, many Navajos still speak their language. During World War II, about 420 Navajos served as Code Talkers — the most from any Native group. Today, the tribe works to preserve its language for future generations.

More about today’s Navajo

Current population: The Navajo have more than 300,000 tribal members.

The Navajo homeland: Four sacred mountains covering 27,000 square miles of the four corners area of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona define the Navajo homeland, Dinétah.

Arts: Traditionally, Navajo artists were well known for beautiful woven textiles and silver jewelry. Navajo artists today are also musicians, painters, sculptors, and poets.

Tribal government: The Navajo government operates under a constitution with a president, vice president, council (with 88 delegates representing 110 chapters), court system, police force, college, and many other programs and services for the Navajo people.

The Comanche Language

During World War II, seventeen Comanches served as Code Talkers. The Comanche people call themselves the Nʉmʉnʉʉ. Nʉmʉ Tekwapʉha is the Comanche term for the Comanche language. Today, Comanches value their linguistic heritage even though the language is not spoken by all tribal members. The tribe has created language and cultural preservation programs that have produced numerous language instructional materials, including those that you can listen to here.

More about today’s Comanche

Current population: The Comanche has about 17,000 tribal members.

Traditional Comanche homeland: The traditional Comanche homeland spanned large parts of the southern Great Plains in what are now Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Homeland today: Most Comanches live in the Lawton–Ft. Sill area of southwest Oklahoma.

Importance of horses: Horses are a very important part of traditional Comanche culture. The Comanche kept large herds and were well known for their exceptional horsemanship. They introduced other tribes to the use of horses.

Tribal government: The Comanche government is elected and guided by a constitution. The Comanche government is involved in many kinds of programs, including economic development, environmental protection, and education.