Okanagan

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A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
oka
Alternate Names
Colville-Okanagan, Nselxcin, Okanagan-Colville, Okanagon, Okanogan, Syilx
Autonym
Nsyilxcən
Population

190 in Canada (FPCC 2014), increasing. Except for 12 fluent speakers on Westbank Reserve, the other reserves each have at least 50 speakers of varying fluency, Vernon Reserve perhaps 100 (Golla 2007). 170 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). Ethnic population: 5,180 (FPCC 2014). Total users in all countries: 420.

Location

British Columbia province: 7 reserves: Douglas Lake, Hedley, Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Vernon, Westbank; east of Fraser Valley and west of Kootenai.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Lower Similkameen, Okanagan, Osoyoos, Penticton, Upper Nicola, Upper Similkameen, Westbank.

Classification
Salish, Interior, Southern
Dialects

Sanpoil, Southern Okanogan.

Language Use

Adults only. Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Substantial revitalization efforts (Golla 2007).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Okanagan
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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