Alutiiq language

For the Alutiiq people, see Alutiiq.
Alutiiq, Pacific Gulf Yupik
Sugpiaq
Spoken in United States
Region coastal Alaska (Alaska Peninsula to Prince William Sound
Ethnicity Alutiiq people
Native speakers approximately 400  (date missing)
Language family
Eskimo–Aleut
  • Eskimo
    • Yupik
      • Alutiiq, Pacific Gulf Yupik
Writing system Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3 ems

The Alutiiq language (also called Sugpiak, Sugpiaq, Pacific Gulf Yupik, Chugach, Koniag-Chugach, Suk, Sugcestun) is a close relative to the Central Alaskan Yup'ik language spoken in the western and southwestern Alaska, but is considered a distinct language. It has two major dialects:

About 400 of the Alutiiq population of 3,000 speak the Alutiiq language. Alutiiq communities are currently in the process of revitalizing their language. In 2010 the high school in Kodiak responded to requests from students and agreed to teach the Alutiiq language. The Kodiak dialect of the language was only spoken by about 50 persons, all of them elderly, and the dialect was in danger of being lost entirely.[1]

Contents

Vocabulary comparison

The comparison of number names in the two dialects:

Koniag Alutiiq[2] Chugach Alutiiq[3] meaning
allringuq / allriluq all’inguq (Chenega)
allringuq (Nanwalek, Port Graham)		 1
mal’uk atel’ek (Chenega)
malruk / mall’uk (Nanwalek, Port Graham)		 2
pingayun pinga’an (Chenega)
pingayun (Nanwalek, Port Graham)		 3
staaman staaman (Chenega, Nanwalek, Port Graham) 4
talliman talliman (Chenega, Nanwalek, Port Graham) 5
arwilgen arwinlen (Chenega)
arwilgen (Nanwalek, Port Graham)		 6
mallrungin maquungwin (Chenega)
mallruungin (Nanwalek, Port Graham)		 7
inglulgen inglulen (Chenega, Nanwalek, Port Graham) 8
qulnguyan qulnguan (Chenega, Nanwalek, Port Graham) 9
qulen qulen (Chenega, Nanwalek, Port Graham) 10

The comparison of month names in the two dialects:

Koniag Alutiiq[2] Chugach Alutiiq[3] meaning
Cuqllirpaaq Iraluq . January
Nanicqaaq Iraluq Yaʼalungia’aq February
Kaignasqaq Iraluq Ya’alullraaq March
Uqna’isurt’sqaaq Iraluq Saqulegciq April
Nikllit Iraluat Maniit Ya’allua May
Naut’staat Iraluat Iqallugciq June
. . July
Alaganat Iraluat Uksuam Ya’allua August
Qakiiyat Iraluat Alusastuam Ya’allua September
Kakegllum Iralua . October
Quyawim Iralua Kapkaanam Ya’allua November
Qanim Iralua . December

References

  1. ^ Kodiak High School Adding Alutiiq Language Class Jacob Resnick [[KMXT (FM)|]/Alaska Public Radio Network 12-17-2010]
  2. ^ a b Alutiiq Museum: Alutiiq Word of the Week Archives
  3. ^ a b John E. Smelcer, Alutiiq Noun Dictionary and Pronunciation Guide , Common Nouns in Prince William Sound and Kenai Peninsula Region Alutiiq (Excluding Kodiak Island)

Further reading

  • Bass, Willard P., Edward A. Tennant, and Carl Anahonak. Test of Oral Language Dominance Sugpiaq Aleut-English. Albuquerque, N.M.: Southwest Research Association, 1973.
  • Counceller, April Gale Laktonen, Jeff Leer, and Nick Alokli. Kodiak Alutiiq Conversational Phrasebook With Audio CD. Kodiak, Alaska: Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository, 2006.ISBN 1-929650-02-7
  • Leer, Jeff, Carl Anahonak, Arthur Moonin, and Derenty Tabios. Nanwalegmiut paluwigmiut-llu nupugnerit = Conversational Alutiiq dictionary : Kenai Peninsula Alutiiq. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2003.
  • Leer, Jeff, and Nina Zeedar. Classroom Grammar of Koniag Alutiiq, Kodiak Island Dialect. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1990.
  • Leer, Jeff, Matrona Christiansen, Doris Lind, Thomas Phillips, Ralph Phillips (1996). A Short Dictionary of Alaska Peninsula Sugtestun & Alaska Peninsula Alutiiq Workbook. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. ISBN 1-55500-060-6
  • Pratt Museum (Homer, Alaska). Qulianguat Kiputʹsluki = Bringing the Stories Back : Alutiiq Sugpiaq Remembrances of the Outer Coast of Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Homer, Alaska: Pratt Museum, 2003.
  • Russell, Priscilla N. English Bay and Port Graham Alutiiq Plantlore. Homer, Alaska: Pratt Museum, Homer Society of Natural History, 1991.
  • Steffian, Amy F., and Florence Pestrikof. Alutiiq Word of the Week. Kodiak, AK: Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository, 1999. ISBN 1-929650-00-0

External links

 Languages of Alaska
Immigrant languages
Indigenous languages
Other languages