> Catawba language tapes
>
> recorded by Dr. Frank Spech
I believe this name is Speck.
> In 1975 there were 10 or fewer speakers (Ruhlen) out of population of 500,
> according to the Ethnologue Database at:
>
> http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/USA/CHC
Unfortunatedly, the accuracy the estimates in the Ethnologue for Native
American groups, where I have any personal knowledge or any information from
close colleagues, is often wildly optimistic. I'm afraid that the figures
for Omaha, for example, are grossly exagerated for any time since the 1930s
at best. (I base this comment on the last printed edition I have, which I
think is one back.) The Ethnologue is better than nothing, but sometimes
not very good.
John E. Koontz
NIST:CAML:DCISD 888.02 Boulder, CO
john.koontz@nist.gov