Northern Athabaskan languages


Northern Athabaskan is a geographic sub-grouping of the Athabaskan language family spoken by indigenous peoples in the northern part of North America, particularly in Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. The sprachraum of Northern Athabaskan languages spans the interior of Alaska to the Hudson Bay in Canada and from the Arctic Circle to the Canadian-American border. Languages in the group include Dane-zaa, Chipewyan, Babine-Witsuwitʼen, Carrier, and Slavey;. The Northern Athabaskan languages consist of 31 languages that can be divided into seven geographic subgroups.

Classification

  • Northern Athabaskan
  • * Southern Alaskan
  • ** Ahtna
  • *** Central Copper River Ahtna
  • *** Lower Copper River Ahtna
  • *** Mentasta
  • *** Western Ahtna
  • ** Dena’ina
  • *** Lower Inlet Dena’ina
  • **** Outer Inlet
  • **** Iliamna
  • **** Inland
  • *** Upper Inlet Dena’ina
  • * Central Alaska–Yukon
  • ** Koyukon
  • *** Deg Xinag
  • **** Lower Yukon River
  • **** Middle Kuskokwin
  • *** Holikachuk
  • *** Koyukon
  • **** Lower Koyukon
  • **** Central Koyukon
  • **** Upper Koyukon
  • ** Tanana–Tutchone
  • *** Upper Kuskokwim
  • **** Tanana
  • ***** Lower Tanana
  • ****** Minto-Tolovana-Toklat-Nenana-Wood River
  • ******* Minto-Tolovana
  • ******* Toklat
  • ******* Nenana
  • ******* Wood River
  • ****** Chena
  • ****** Salcha-Goodpastor
  • ***** Tanacross
  • ***** Upper Tanana
  • ****** Nabesna
  • ****** Tetlin
  • ****** Northway
  • ****** Scottie Creek
  • ****** Canadian Upper Tanana
  • **** Tutchone
  • ***** Southern Tutchone
  • ***** Northern Tutchone
  • ** Kutchin–Han
  • *** Gwich’in
  • **** Alaskan Gwich’in
  • **** Canadian Gwich’in
  • *** Hän
  • * Northwestern Canada
  • ** Cordillera
  • *** Central Cordillera
  • **** Tagish
  • **** Tahltan
  • **** Kaska
  • *** Southeastern Cordillera
  • **** Sekani
  • **** Danezaa
  • ** Mackenzie
  • *** Slavey–Hare
  • **** Slavey
  • **** Mountain
  • **** Bearlake
  • **** Hare
  • *** Dogrib
  • ** Chipewyan
  • *** Dene Suline
  • * Tsetsaut
  • * Central British Columbia
  • ** Babine-Witsuwit'en
  • *** Babine
  • *** Takla
  • *** Witsuwit’en
  • *** Moricetown
  • *** Francois Lake
  • ** Dakelh
  • *** Central Carrier
  • *** Southern Carrier
  • ** Tsilhqotʼin language
  • ** Nicola
  • * Sarsi
  • * Kwalhioqua–Tlatskanai
  • ** Kwalhioqua-Clatskanie
  • *** Willapa
  • *** Suwal-Clatskanie
  • **** Suwal
  • **** Clatskanie

    Phonology

In at least one Northern Athabaskan language, Slavey, a shift has occurred in the fricative to ; this is the same sound change found in the Cockney dialect of English.