* Historically: Siouan languages were spoken across a vast area from the Great Plains to the Appalachian Mountains, including:
* The Great Plains: Primarily by the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota (collectively known as the Lakota-Dakota-Nakota or Sioux), as well as the Omaha, Osage, and Kansa tribes.
* The Southeast: By the Catawba, Tutelo, and various other tribes, including the Chickasaw and Choctaw (although these latter two are considered Muskogean languages, they were influenced by Siouan).
* The Mississippi River Valley: By the Missouri, Iowa, and Oto tribes.
* The Appalachian Mountains: By the Monacan and other tribes.
* Currently: The Siouan languages are spoken by fewer people due to the impact of European colonization, forced assimilation, and language loss. However, many tribes continue to revitalize and teach their languages. Here's a general overview of the current geographic distribution:
* Great Plains: Still the largest concentration of Siouan speakers, primarily in South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, and Oklahoma.
* Southeast: Primarily in North Carolina, with some speakers in Virginia.
* Mississippi River Valley: Scattered communities in Missouri, Iowa, and Oklahoma.
* Appalachian Mountains: Only a few speakers remain, primarily in Virginia.
It's important to remember that this is a simplified overview. The Siouan language family is diverse, with many individual languages and dialects, and the geographic distribution has shifted significantly over time.