Sites related to the Lakota language: Siouan Proper stock, Central family, Mississippi Valley branch, Dakota group. Lakhota was strictly a spoken language until 1910 Father Buechel, a Jesuit priest from Thuringia, Germany began to transcribe Lakhota words. Since then, "Lakhota" has been assigned different spellings. It is generally preferred that adding the "h" encourages accurate pronunciation. Source