Cupeño language
The Cupeño language, an extinct Uto-Aztecan language, was once spoken by the Cupeño people of Southern California, United States.
| Cupeño | |
|---|---|
| Kupangaxwicham Pe'me̲melki | |
| Region | Southern California, United States |
| Ethnicity | Cupeño |
| Extinct | 1987, with the death of Roscinda Nolasquez |
Writing system | Latin |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | cup |
| Glottolog | cupe1243 |
| ELP | Cupeño |
Roscinda Nolasquez (d. 1987) was the last native speaker of Cupeño. The Cupeño people now speak English. The native name Kupangaxwicham means 'people from the sleeping place', referring to their traditional homeland, prior to 1902, of Ktipa (at the base of Warner's Hot Springs). A smaller village was located to the south of Ktipa, named Wildkalpa.
Throughout the 1890s, there was debate over whether the Cupeño people should be allowed to continue living on traditional Cupeño territory. After many years of public protests, the California Supreme Court decided to relocate the Cupeño people to the Pala Reservation.
Cupeño shows linguistic influence from both the languages that preceded it and the Yuman-speaking Ipai, who share their southern border.