Tutchone language

Last updated
Tutchone
Dän kʼè (Southern)
Dän kʼí (Northern)
Native to Canada
Region Yukon
Ethnicity2,500 (1,100 Northern Tutchone, 1,400 Southern Tutchone; 2007)
Native speakers
360 (2016 census) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 Either:
tce   Southern
ttm   Northern
Glottolog tutc1236
Tutchone map.svg
Speaker location
Lang Status 20-CR.svg
Southern Tutchone is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
Northern Tutchone is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger Lang Status 60-DE.svg
Northern Tutchone is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Tutchone is an Athabaskan language spoken by the Northern and Southern Tutchone First Nations in central and southern regions of Yukon Territory, Canada. Tutchone belongs to the Northern Athabaskan linguistic subfamily and has two primary varieties, Southern and Northern. Although they are sometimes considered separate languages, Northern and Southern Tutchone speakers are generally able to understand each other in conversation, albeit with moderate difficulty. [2]

Contents

Southern Tutchone is spoken in the Yukon communities of Aishihik, Burwash Landing, Champagne, Haines Junction, Kloo Lake, Klukshu, Lake Laberge, and Whitehorse. [3]

Northern Tutchone is spoken in the Yukon communities of Mayo, Pelly Crossing, Stewart Crossing, Carmacks, and Beaver Creek. [4]

Phonology

Northern Tutchone

The consonants and vowels of Northern Tutchone and their orthography are as follows: [5]

Consonants

Labial Inter-
dental
Alveolar Post-
alveolar
Retro-
flex
Velar Glottal
plain sibilant lateral plain labial
Nasal m m n n
Plosive/
Affricate
plain ddh t d ts dz dl j k g gw ʔ ʼ
aspirated tθʰ tth t tsʰ ts tɬʰ tl tʃʰ ch k kʷʰ kw
ejective tθʼ tth’ t’ tsʼ ts’ tɬʼ tl’ tʃʼ ch’ k’ kʷʼ kw’
prenasalized ᵐb mb ⁿd nd ⁿdʒ nj
Fricative voiceless θ th s s ɬ ł ʃ sh x kh khw h h
voiced ð dh z z ɮ l ʒ zh ɣ gh ɣʷ ghw
Approximant j y ɻ r w w

Vowels

Front Central Back
High i i u u
Mid e e ə ä o o
Low a a

Vowels are differentiated for nasalization and high, mid, and low tone.

  • Nasalized: į, ų, ę, ą̈, ǫ, ą
  • High tone: í, ú, é, ä́ , ó, á
  • Mid tone: ī, ū, ē, ǟ, ō, ā
  • Low tone: unmarked

Southern Tutchone

Consonants

Consonants [6]
Labial Inter-
dental
Alveolar Post-
alveolar
Retro-
flex
Velar Glottal
plain sibilant lateral plain labial
Nasal m m n n
Plosive/
Affricate
plain ddh t d ts dz dl j k g gw ʔ ʼ
aspirated tθʰ tth t tsʰ ts tɬʰ tl tʃʰ ch k kʷʰ kw
ejective tθʼ tth’ t’ tsʼ ts’ tɬʼ tl’ tʃʼ ch’ k’ kʷʼ kw’
prenasalized ᵐb mb ⁿd nd ⁿdʒ nj
Fricative voiceless θ th s s ɬ ł ʃ sh x kh khw h h
voiced ð dh z z ɮ l ʒ zh ɣ gh ɣʷ ghw
Approximant j y ɻ r w w

Vowels

Front Central Back
High i i ɨ ü u u
Mid e e ə ä o o
Low a a

Vowels are differentiated for nasalization and high, mid, and low tone.

  • Nasalized: į, ų, ų̈, ę, ą̈, ǫ, ą
  • High tone: í, ú, ǘ, é, ä́ , ó, á
  • Mid tone: ī, ū, ǖ, ē, ǟ, ō, ā

Dialects

Southern (Dän kʼè)

Northern (Dän kʼí)

Vocabulary comparison

The comparison of some words in the two languages: [7]

NorthernSouthernmeaning
łu ¹ ~ łyok ²łufish
łígīłä̀chʼione
łä́kiłä̀kitwo
tadechʼitaykethree
łénínchʼidùkʼwänfour
hulákʼokä̀jänfive
èkúmä́kų̀my house
ninkúmnkų̀your (sg.) house
ukúmukų̀his/her house
dàkúmdákų̀our house
dàkúmdákų̀your (pl.) house
huukúmkwäkų̀/kukų̀their house

¹ Big Salmon dialect
² Pelly Crossing dialect

Revitalization efforts

Stop sign altered to include Southern Tutchone text as part of a revitalization effort Stop sign in Southern Tutchone.JPG
Stop sign altered to include Southern Tutchone text as part of a revitalization effort

Tutchone is considered to be an endangered language, as its speaker population is shifting rapidly to English. In a 2011 census, Northern Tutchone was reported to have 210 speakers, and Southern Tutchone 140 speakers. [8] [9]

Literacy and documentation

The Yukon Native Language Center (YNLC) describes information in regards to Southern Tutchone documentation and literacy, starting from the 1970s such as stories and songs, as well as a basic noun dictionary and language lessons. After 1984, there have been additional literacy workshops. One example is the Southern Tutchone textbook and audio, made by Margaret Workman, a native Southern Tutchone speaker. This information, along with other multimedia Southern Tutchone language learning and documentation resources, is currently available through the YNLC. [10] In addition, in 1994 the Ta'an Kwach'an Council took part in an oral history and language preservation project, in which traditions, genealogy, and more information was documented. [11]

Education

Tutchone language classes have been taught in Yukon schools since the early 1980s. Southern Tutchone language classes are included in the curriculum for students grades K-12 in schools at Kluane Lake, and three elementary schools in Whitehorse have language programs for Southern Tutchone. The St. Elias Community School in Haines Junction also offers Southern Tutchone language classes to students from K-12: one teacher handles K-4, another grades 5-12. [12] In addition, the Yukon Native Language Center provides support for schools in regards to language learning, such the "Dakeyi – Our Country" program which is focused on high school students. [10] In 2009, kindergarten classes in Haines Junction began learning Southern Tuchone in a bi-cultural program. [13]

Community engagement

There have been ongoing community collaborations across the Yukon in regards to Southern Tutchone, with varied camps, workshops, and programs. For example, in 1995 and 1996, the Kluane First Nations participated in the sessions of "Working Together to Pass it on", a workshop meant to promote language activities and usage at home and the community. In addition, the Southern Tutchone Tribal Council held its first language conference "Kakwaddhin – Marking the Trail" in 1996, in order to review language programs and draft long and short term strategic plans. This led to successful programs, including the "Following your Grandfather trail" camp in Klukshu in 1997. [11] Nowadays there are varied programs offered in the Yukon to continue the language revitalization efforts, such as the Southern Tutchone Language Immersion program for adults. [14] In 2018, The Champagne and Aishihik First Nation began a two-year Southern Tutchone immersion program, for adults with prior knowledge to the language. The program is under development[ as of? ] and is the first of its kind in the Yukon Territory.[ citation needed ]

Jerry Alfred's "Etsi Shon" (Grandfather song), sung in Northern Tuchone, won a Juno Award in the Best Aboriginal Album category in 1996. [15] [16]

Since 2011 the Adäka Cultural Festival, an annual multi-disciplinary arts and culture festival, has been held in Whitehorse. Celebrating First Nations arts and culture, with a specific focus on Yukon First Nations, Adäka, in the Southern Tutchone language, means 'coming into the light'. [17]

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References

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  3. "Did you know Southern Tutchone is severely endangered?". Endangered Languages. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  4. "Did you know Northern Tutchone is severely endangered?". Endangered Languages. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  5. McClellan, Catharine (1978). "Tutchone". Handbook of North American Indians: Subarctic. Government Printing Office. p. 493. ISBN   9780160045783.
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  11. 1 2 Metcalf, B., Dr. Gardner, L. & Netro, G. (1999). We Are Our Language. (pp. 96-110). Whitehorse, YT, Canada: Yukon Aboriginal Languages Services.
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  13. "Launch of Southern Tutchone Bi-cultural School Program" (PDF). Yukon Government News Release. 2009-10-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
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  15. Lynn Van Matre (1966-08-01). "Jerry Alfred & the Medicine Beat Etsi Shon". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
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