Nuučaan̓uɫ
Nuučaan̓uɫ
Language Family: Wakashan
Dialects: Northern Nuučaan̓uɫ, Barkley, Central Nuučaan̓uɫ Language known as: Nuu-chah-nulth, Nootka, Nootkans, West Coast, Aht The Nuučaan̓uɫ (Nuu-chah-nulth) language is spoken by 13 First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The ha’houlthee (chiefly territories) of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, or tribes, stretches along approx. 300 kilometres of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island, from Brooks Peninsula in the north to Point-no-Point in the south, and includes inland regions 1. Although there are at least three recognizable dialects of the Nuučaan̓uɫ language, they are all mutually intelligible.
State of the Language
DialectsNorthern Nuučaan̓uɫThis dialect is spoken by the northern Nuučaan̓uɫ First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island from Brooks Peninsula to Kyuquot Sound. BarkleyThis dialect of Nuučaan̓uɫ is spoken in the areas in and around Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Although there are differences in vocabulary and pronunciation between the Nuučaan̓uɫ spoken by Barkley dialect speakers and the Central dialect speakers to the north, they can still understand each other14. The same cannot be said about their Ditidaht neighbours to the south. Although Ditidaht and Nuučaan̓uɫ are related languages, they are not mutually intelligible. Central Nuučaan̓uɫCentral Nuučaan̓uɫ is a dialect of Nuučaan̓uɫ spoken by the First Nations from Kyuquot Sound to Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The differences between Nuučaan̓uɫ dialects is small and do not hinder mutual intellibility. Most differences are in terms of different vocabulary and changes in vowel sounds14. There is sometimes confusion between the Central Nuučaan̓uɫ dialect and the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region. The Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region is an administrative area that includes five first nations that speak two dialects of Nuučaan̓uɫ. Footnotes / References
1. Copied from the NTC homepage: http://nuuchahnulth.org/tribal-council/welcome.html 2. Language Data from Ahousaht Education Authority (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2506 3. Language Data from Caring for First Nations Children Society (2010), Language Needs Assessment #2065 4. Language Data from Port Alberni Friendship Centre (2010), Language Needs Assessment #1802 5. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2008). First Nation Registered Population. 6. Language Data from Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (2010), Language Needs Assessment #1911 7. Language Data from Esperanza Ministries and Ehatteasht Tribe (2009), Language Needs Assessment #1144 8. Language Data from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations (2012), Language Needs Assessment #2498 9. Language Data from Nuu Chah Nulth Central Region Language Group (2007), Language Needs Assessment #596 10. Language Data from Tseshaht First Nation (2012), Language Needs Assessment #2483 11. Language Data from Uchucklesaht Tribe (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2297 12. Language Data from Ucluelet (2009), Language Needs Assessment #1073 13. Language Data from Ehattesaht Chinakhint Tribe (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2154 14. Huuʔaciyuk̓ʷap Ciqy̓ak & Towagh Behr (2002). Hooves, Fins and Roots. |
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