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Quiz about Extinct or nearly extinct Languages of the USA

Extinct or nearly extinct Languages of the USA Quiz

If you love western movies and novels you should be familiar with these Native American language names, all extinct or with just a handful of active speakers.

A multiple-choice quiz by zordy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
zordy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
246,327

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
520

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This could have been the language of Magua in "The Last of the Mohicans". Hint

Mohican or Mahican

Wyandot or Huron

Mohawk

Mingo

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The last of these speakers could have been Uncas. Hint

Delaware

Narragansett

Mahican

Mohegan

3. Sent by President Jefferson to explore the West in 1805, Lewis and Clark were guests of this tribe for the winter, and the Fort they built bore the same name. The language is nearly extinct.
Hint

Yanktonais

Minnetaree

Mandan

Arikara

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Pocahontas spoke this language. Hint

Montaignais

Potomac

Pamunkey

Powhatan

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Another language that was heard by Lewis and Clark expedition members. Also called Ree. What was it?
Hint

Flathead

Minnetaree

Arikara

Shoshone

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Question 6 of 10

6. This is a nearly extinct Siouan language of Oklahoma. What is it? Hint

Kiowa

Omaha

Assiniboine

Osage

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. You've heard this language in "Dances With Wolves", spoken by Wes Studi. Hint

Sioux

Pawnee

Dakota

Shawnee

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Question 8 of 10

8. This is the most endangered among Iroquois languages.
Hint

Tuscarora

Seneca

Cayuga

Onondaga

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This extinct language of Maine was spoken by a fierce tribe that always fought on the French side against the English.
Hint

Huron

Eastern Abnaki

Southern Ottawa

Montaignais

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. This language of the Algonquian family was spoken by a tribe sharing a name with a city in Florida. Hint

Miami

Tallahassee

Tampa

Pensacola

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This could have been the language of Magua in "The Last of the Mohicans".

Answer: Wyandot or Huron

The Hurons, unfortunate tribe swept away by European diseases and Iroquois warfare, were the evil ones in James Fenimore Cooper novel, since they fought for the French side in the French and Indian War.
The languages with its two dialects disappeared in the XX century, according to Ethnologue.com.

2. The last of these speakers could have been Uncas.

Answer: Mahican

Apparently, good old Fenimore Cooper made some confusion, mixing Mahicans and Mohegans into a single Mohican tribe. Mohegans is also a not very precise term, having been used by colonists to designate six or seven other tribes. Mohegan or Narragansett is another extinct language of the Algonquian family.

3. Sent by President Jefferson to explore the West in 1805, Lewis and Clark were guests of this tribe for the winter, and the Fort they built bore the same name. The language is nearly extinct.

Answer: Mandan

A Siouan language, it had 6 elderly speakers in 1992.

4. Pocahontas spoke this language.

Answer: Powhatan

Also called Virginia Algonquian, it's an extinct language.

5. Another language that was heard by Lewis and Clark expedition members. Also called Ree. What was it?

Answer: Arikara

It is nearly extinct caddoan language. Just to underline my non-scientific approach, I remember the Arikaras as the evil ones in the movie "Man in the Wilderness" starring Richard Harris.

6. This is a nearly extinct Siouan language of Oklahoma. What is it?

Answer: Osage

It had just five living speakers in the Nineties.

7. You've heard this language in "Dances With Wolves", spoken by Wes Studi.

Answer: Pawnee

It is a Caddoan language, nearly extinct. The Pawnees are old time favourites as villains in Western movies, and also serving as scouts for white men.

8. This is the most endangered among Iroquois languages.

Answer: Tuscarora

None of the five tribes of the Iroquois (including Mohawks) can see a bright future for its language, but Tuscarora is very near to extinction. To avoid it, in North Carolina they are teaching Tuscarora to children.

9. This extinct language of Maine was spoken by a fierce tribe that always fought on the French side against the English.

Answer: Eastern Abnaki

Western Abnaki is nearly extinct in Canada.

10. This language of the Algonquian family was spoken by a tribe sharing a name with a city in Florida.

Answer: Miami

It was not a language of Florida, but it was spoken in Indiana, Oklahoma, Illinois and Iowa.

Source: Author zordy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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