Naukan Yupik language


Naukan Yupik language or Naukan Siberian Yupik language is a critically endangered Eskimo language spoken by c. 70 Naukan persons on the Chukotka peninsula. It is one of the four Yupik languages, along with Central Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik and Pacific Gulf Yupik.
Linguistically, it is intermediate between Central Siberian Yupik and Central Alaskan Yup'ik.

Morphology

Chart example of the oblique case:
Casesingulardualplural
Locativemiɣnini
Abl. / Instr.məɣɣnəɣnəɣ
Allativemunɣnunnun
Vialiskunɣkuntəkun
Aequalistunɣtuntətun

The non-possessed endings in the chart may cause a base-final 'weak' ʀ to drop with compensatory gemination in Inu. Initial m reflects the singular relative marker. The forms with initial n are combined to produce possessed oblique with the corresponding absolutive endings in the 3rd person case but with variants of the relative endings for the other persons.
In proto-Eskimo, *ŋ was often dropped within morphemes except when next to *ə. *ŋ is also dropped under productive velar dropping, and *ana becomes ii in these areas.