Language Department
moowat’aaknii
Modoc
The Modoc and Klamath languages are dialects of the same language, maqlaqsyals, sharing much of their vocabulary.
Like our other tribal languages, Modoc varies from band to band. Pronunciations and word usage differ across communities, making the language rich in complexity. It is important to recognize and respect this diversity rather than simplifying Modoc or our other languages. Preserving these variations honors the cultural and historical distinction of each band.
Gombatwas
Home at the Caves
Gombatwas, now known as the Lava Beds, is a piece of our homeland that the Modoc people have inhabited since time immemorial. It holds our history, from petroglyphs and villages to the living memories that we still carry today.
celcela kickani qcol
twinkle twinkle little star
in maqlaqsyals
Language Resources
Albert S. Gatschet’s “Dictionary of the Klamath Language” was the first dictionary of maqlaqs?am hemkanks (the Klamath Language). Gatschet mainly recorded Modoc speakers who spoke the Modoc dialect of maqlaqs?am hemkanks. As a result, the Gatschet dictionary offers insight into the Modoc dialect of the language.