History

• The Quapaw tribe existed for years before Spanish settlers first stumbled upon them in the 16th century. Their language was a modified version of the language spoken by the Sioux Indians. Slowly the use of this traditional language died off as the members of the tribe intermarried with settlers and outsiders. There were still some speakers of the language as late as the 1970s, but this signaled the end of their language. Today there are some descendants learning the old ways of speaking.
  
  

Significance

• Descendants of the Quapaw tribe are still alive today, and many of those younger people are now becoming interested in learning about their heritage. This has necessitated a rise in the number of people speaking and understanding the language. There are many tribes from this same area in Texas, such as the Jumano, that died off, leaving no one behind to remember the language. The Quapaw tribe hopes to be different by giving their young members something to hold on to.
  
  

Features

• The Quapaw language is highly similar to the Sioux language, only with subtle differences. Linguists believe the tribe adopted the Sioux language and adapted it to fit their own needs. This is similar to how Creole French spoken in the United States is a variation of real French used in France. The English writing of their words is similar to how the word sounds phonetically. For example, "Hawe" is the Quapaw word for hello and is pronounced the way it sounds.
  
  

Considerations

• As there are no original Quapaw speakers left alive, historians and linguists believe that even if the language is saved by the younger generation, it will still be changed. Those that learn the language will be influenced by their own dialect and preconceived notions of how the words should sound. This means that no one may ever hear the proper pronunciation and sounds of the Quapaw language again. There are, however, records of native speakers using the language in previous years.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

• Historians believe that the Quapaw language was used by other neighboring tribes during this same time period. The Osage and Kaw tribes spoke a dialect so similar that it was almost indistinguishable by the naked eye. There are also variations used by the Omaha tribe. Linguists think that the tribes traded with each other and spent time together, which led to a blending of the language. The various tribes used the same words, but their dialects and speech patterns caused it to change slightly.