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The OmahaPoncaLanguage is a DhegihaLanguage of the UnitedStates. SIL code: OMA. ISO 639-2: sio. Population: 85 fluent speakers including 60 speakers of Omaha (1993 V. Zeps), out of 3,000 population (1993 C. Rudin), and 25 fluent speakers over 60 and a few semi-fluent speakers of Ponca out of 2,000 population (1986 SIL). Region: Omaha Reservation, eastern Nebraska (Omaha), and north central Oklahoma (Ponca). Alternate names: MAHAIRI, PONKA, UMANHAN, PPANKKA. Dialects: OMAHA, PONCA. Comments: Ponca and Omaha are completely inherently intelligible to each other's speakers, Closely related to Osage, Quapaw, and Kansa. In 1985 only a few older women seemed less than fully fluent in at least the regional English. Omaha is used formally for prayers, especially at funerals, for songs, powwow announcements, but usually translated into English for nonspeakers present. Most adults speak the language. Many young adults may prefer English. Children tend to prefer English, but many can understand Omaha and some may speak it. Christian, Native American Church, Mormon, Baha'i.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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