Tlingit

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A language of United States

ISO 639-3

tli

Alternate Names

Kolosch, Kolosh, Thlinget, Tlinkit

Autonym

Łingít

Population

1,030 (2010 census), decreasing. 500 fluent speakers (Golla 2007). Ethnic population: 10,000 (1995 M. Krauss). Total users in all countries: 1,032.

Location

Alaska: Carcross-Tagish inland, Ketchikan south to Yakutat north.

Language Maps

Canada

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).

Classification

Eyak-Athabaskan, Tlingit

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Mainly older adults, no children. Also use English [eng], as L1 or L2.

Language Development

Practical writing system developed in the 1960s. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1969.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Tlingit

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Rich documentation of Tlingit literature and oratory in publications by Nora and Richard Dauenhauer (Golla 2007).

Also spoken in:

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Canada

Language nameTlingit

Population

2 (FPCC 2014). 7 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). Ethnic population: 400 (FPCC 2014).

Location

British Columbia province: Atlin; Yukon territory: Carcross, Teslin.

Alternate Names

Inland Tlingit, Kolosch, Kolosh, Thlinget, Tlinkit, Łingít

Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

Older adults, no children. Also use English [eng], as L1 or L2 of the ethnic group. Used as L2 by Tagish [tgx].

Language Development

Practical writing system developed in the 1960s. Taught in primary schools.

Other Comments

Rich documentation of Tlingit literature and oratory in publications by Nora and Richard Dauenhauer (Golla 2007).

View other languages of Canada

Ethnologue

Tlingit

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A language of United States

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