Major dialectal divisions of Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine and Stoney

Many of these language divisions have further distinctions within them. For example, Yankton and Yanktonai form two subdialects within the Yankton-Yantonai group; in the Santee-Sissetons Dakota, Sisseton has slightly different from the other three Santee tribes. Subdialects differences exist also among the Lakota speakers, especially between the southern Oglala-Sicangu group and five northern Lakota groups.

Notice that popular literature designates the Yankton-Yanktonai dialect as Nakota. In fact Nakota is the self-designation of the Assiniboine people while the Yanktons and Yanktonais call themselves Dakota even though their dialect varies from that of the Santees located east from them.