'O'lomah!

Welcome to the Yurok Language Project website! Our goal is to provide as much information as possible about the Yurok language, its structure and usage, and its relations to cultural and geographical setting. We work with the Yurok Tribe, with members of the Yurok community, and with Yurok community groups. Please don't hesitate to write with questions or requests. Wokhlew k'ee ma k'e-nuue'mow'!

Project news (April 2013)

We've posted two new stories told by Florence Shaughnessy in 1986:

  • The first story is about the old Klamath River bridge. (This one still has a few unclear words and sentences. Suggestions welcome!)

  • The second story is a short reminiscence about feeding otters.

Both were recorded by Jean Perry. The Yurok transcription and English translation are accessible to everybody; the audio is password-protected.

Spotlight text: The Owl

Robert Spott's version of the story of the owl and the snowbirds was recorded for R. H. Robins in 1951, and published in Robins's 1958 The Yurok Language. The story explains why owls hoot, and provides a lesson about taking care of one's children. Read and listen to the full text here.