UCLA

The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California is a federally recognized tribe that seeks to revitalize its Washoe language through the Washiw Wagayay Manal (WWM) language program. The Washoe or "Washo" language is a severely endangered indigenous language. To date most speakers are elderly and it is believed that there are twenty or less fluent speakers. Despite the odds, the WWM seeks to proliferate the Washoe language and re-integrate Washoe where it once thrived--in the community.

This thesis is based on multiple research trips to Nevada where I attended weekly language classes and interviewed WWM students, staff and teachers, Washoe community members and professional linguists. My research is a linguistic history of Washoe tribal members, descendants and their drive to save theirs and their ancestors' language. The examination includes analysis on the colonization of the Washoe language, a history of Washoe linguistic work, a review of Washoe language ideologies, a history of the once thriving Washoe Immersion School, as well as an account of current WWM language revitalization methods and tools. Included is an analysis of heterographia (multiple orthographies) and community response to program methods.

It is clear the Washoe people value their heritage language. They see it as an inherently connected extension of their being and identity. Currently, however, the issue at hand is pondering how best to endeavor language revitalization. Community members and the WWM are at a critical juncture on determining best practices. There is a great deal of energy on the topic with a call for reform and a new progressive approach to challenge language death. In the face of language death, the Washoe people have taken a proactive stance.