The Keres language is a group of seven related dialects spoken by Pueblo peoples in New Mexico, U.S.A. Each is mutually intelligible with its neighbors. There is significant diversity between the Western and Eastern groups.

Dialects

• Eastern dialects : total of 4,580 speakers (1990 census)
  • Cochiti Pueblo : 384 speakers (1990 census)
  • San Felipe-Santo Domingo: San Felipe Pueblo: 1,560 speakers (1990 census), Santo Domingo Pueblo: 1,880 speakers (1990 census)
  • Zia-Santa Ana: Zia Pueblo: 463 speakers (1990 census), Santa Ana Pueblo: 229 speakers (1990 census)
• Western dialects : total of 3,391 speakers (1990 census)
  • Acoma Pueblo: 1,696 speakers (1980 census)
  • Laguna Pueblo : 1,695 speakers (1990 census)

Genetic classification

Keres is a language isolate.

Sapir grouped it together with a Hokan-Siouan stock. Swadesh suggests a connection with Wichita. Greenberg grouped Keres with Siouan, Yuchi, Caddoan, and Iroquoian families into a super-stock called Keresiouan. All of these proposals have been rejected by specialists.

Pronunciation

"Keres" is pronounced "KERRess" (IPA //) in English. It is often replaced by Keresan, pronounced "keREEsan" (/kəˈɹiːsən/), by at least some bilingual speakers.

External links

• Ethnologue listing for Eastern Keres
• Ditto for Western Keres

Bibliography

• Campbell, Lyle. (1997). American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
• Mithun, Marianne. (1999). The languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-23228-7 (hbk); ISBN 0-521-29875-X.