What language did the Ute speak?

The Ute people speak Ute, a language belonging to the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. It's closely related to other Numic languages like Southern Paiute, Shoshone, and Mono.

There are actually two distinct dialects of Ute:

* Northern Ute (spoken by the Northern Ute Tribe in Utah)

* Southern Ute (spoken by the Southern Ute Tribe in Colorado)

While these dialects are mutually intelligible to some degree, there are differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

It's important to note that Ute is an endangered language. Due to colonization, assimilation policies, and the influence of English, the number of fluent Ute speakers has been steadily declining. However, efforts are being made to revitalize the language and teach it to younger generations.