Aleut

A language of United States

ISO 639-3

ale

Alternate Names

Anangax, Unangax

Autonym

Unangam tunnu

Population

150 in United States (Krauss 2007). Ethnic population: 2,300 (Dorais 2010). Total users in all countries: 155.

Location

Alaskan peninsula, east Aleutian Islands, and Pribilofs (Eastern Aleut dialect); Aleutian chain, Atka island (Western Aleut dialect).

Language Maps

Eastern Russian Federation

United States of America, Alaska and Hawaii

Language Status

8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2014, Official Languages of Alaska Law as amended, Alaska Statute 44.12.310). Language of registered tribe: Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove, King Salmon Tribe, Native Village of Akutan, Native Village of Atka, Native Village of Belkofski, Native Village of False Pass, Native Village of Nelson Lagoon, Native Village of Nikolski, Native Village of Unga, Ninilchik Village, Pauloff Harbor Village, Pribilof Islands Aleut Communities of St. Paul & St. George Islands, Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point Village, Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

Classification

Eskimo-Aleut, Aleut

Dialects

Eastern Aleut (Pribilof Aleut, Unalaskan), Western Aleut (Atka, Atkan, Attuan, Unangan, Unangany).

Language Use

Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1840–1903.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Aleut

Writing

Cyrillic script, Old Church Slavonic variant [Cyrs], introduced in 1829. Latin script [Latn], introduced in 1870.

Other Comments

Different from Medny Aleut (Copper Island Aleut) [mud], spoken in the Russian Federation. Many school texts have been produced.

Also spoken in:

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Russian Federation

Language nameAleut

Population Full

5 in Russian Federation (Dorais 2010). Ethnic population: 200 (Dorais 2010).

Location

Kamchatka krai: Komandor Islands, Bering island, Nikolskoye settlement.

Alternate Names

Unangam tunnu, Unangan, Unangany, Unanghan

Dialects

Beringov (Atkan, Bering).

Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

For most, Russian [rus] is the L1. Elderly only. Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Taught in primary schools until 4th grade.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Different from Medny Aleut (Copper Island Aleut) [mud]. From 1820 to 1840 dozens of Aleut families were brought from other islands to Komandor Islands. Until 1960s, 2 villages on Bering and Medny islands. 1950s-1980s children sent to boarding schools by the state. Christian.

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Ethnologue

Aleut

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A language of United States

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