The Caddo Native American Tribe

Caddo is a Caddoan language originating in thethings out of their wood.
Southern Plains. It is the sole Southern tongue from theThe speech is a tone language that contains six
family and is spoken by very few among the Caddovowels, like English. Three are short and three are long;
Nation of Oklahoma. Efforts are being made tothe long ones are indicated by a colon.
incorporate the language into the newest generations,The language has three tones: mid, high, and falling, and
however.pitches are used for nearly every word, making it a
The main Caddo homeland was positioned to thevery lively tongue. Like with the Chickasaw Native
south of the Arkansas River, with valleys andAmericans, Caddo words that have double letters
tributaries of rivers. Caddo speakers resided there untilmust be said with a break in them.
the Trail of Tears. It's been called the "SouthernCaddo is pronounced "cad-oh" and it comes from the
Caddoan Area" due in large part to the great evidenceword "Kadohadacho", the tribe's name for themselves
that Caddo-informed people lived there for up to 4,000meaning "true chiefs". A Caddo word that you and I
years or longe.are familiar with is Texas, which is translated as
Back then, the Caddo were a single people with atayshah or "friend."
language called Proto-Caddoan. It has evolved intoIn addition to everyday speech, the Caddo have a
various forms of Caddo, yet remained fairly close toceremonial tongue, preserved in lots of song and
the Iroquoian languages, such as that of the Iroquois orprayer.
Cherokee. Caddo is close to the Sioux languages ofCaddo is an endangered language because most kids
Dakota and Crow as well. The language involved a lotaren't being taught it anymore. Some Caddo people
of splitting over the years.are working to keep the tongue around, though.
The Caddo were farmers who lived in a land that wasOverall, the people are prospering and doing well.
good for being so. They lived in places that hadThey have nice schools, and their living conditions could
adequate rainfall, temperate temperatures, and plentybe compared to that of middle-class Americans. They
of spaces to park plots for beans, squash, and corn.partake in many of the same activities as an average
There were various sources for water. They hadAmerican, with traditional twists thrown in.
sturdy trees that produced yummy nuts and madeJacob Lumbroso is a world traveler . He writes articles
flexible weapons. They used bows and arrows foron history and languages and has used Pimsleur
hunting and war, and manufactured other beautifulcourses to learn various languages.