What languages are spoken by Ohlone Indians?

The Ohlone people, a group of indigenous peoples who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, spoke a variety of languages that are now considered extinct. These languages are collectively referred to as Ohlone languages.

There were seven distinct Ohlone languages, each with its own dialectal variations:

1. Chochenyo (spoken in the East Bay)

2. Ramaytush (spoken in the San Francisco Peninsula)

3. Tamien (spoken in the South Bay)

4. Muisen (spoken in the Santa Cruz Mountains)

5. Awaswas (spoken near Watsonville)

6. Costanoan (spoken along the coast)

7. Esselen (spoken further south in the Big Sur area, though not technically considered an Ohlone language)

These languages were spoken for thousands of years until they were suppressed by Spanish colonization and American settlement. The last known fluent speaker of an Ohlone language died in the early 20th century.

Today, efforts are being made to revitalize these languages through language immersion programs and educational initiatives. However, due to the loss of speakers and documentation, the task of reviving Ohlone languages is a significant challenge.