Dogrib language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dogrib
Tlicho Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì
Native to	Canada
Region	Northwest Territories
Ethnicity	Tłı̨chǫ
Native speakers	1,735, 90% of ethnic population  (2016 census)
Language family	Dené–Yeniseian? Na-Dené Athabaskan Northern Athabaskan Dogrib
Dialects	Wıı̀lıı̀deh Yatıı̀
Writing system	Latin
Official status
Official language in	Northwest Territories
Dogrib is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
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The Tlicho language, also known as Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì or the Dogrib language, is a Northern Athabaskan language. It is spoken by the Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib people) First Nations in the Northwest Territories of Canada. In 2016, about 1,735 people spoke Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì.

The Tłı̨chǫ people live in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Their lands are found east of the Mackenzie River (Deh Cho). They are between Great Slave Lake (Tıdeè) and Great Bear Lake (Sahtu). There are four main communities where the language is spoken: Gamèti, Behchokǫ̀, Wekweètì, and Whatì. Even though the Tłı̨chǫ population has grown, fewer people are learning Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì as their first language. This means it is now considered an endangered language.

Behchokǫ̀ is the biggest community in Tłı̨chǫ territory. Most Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì speakers also speak English very well.

History of the Tłı̨chǫ Language

For a long time, Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì was only spoken, not written down. The language was greatly affected by the Canadian Indian residential school system. These schools were set up by the Canadian Government. By the 1920s, Indigenous children were forced to attend these schools. They were not allowed to speak their own languages, including Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì. The last of these schools closed in 1996. These schools caused many Indigenous languages to be lost, as people switched to speaking English instead.

In 1992, the first Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì dictionary was published. This book helped the Tłı̨chǫ people learn words and spellings. It made many community members interested in their language again. This was an important step in trying to bring the language back to life.

Efforts to Save the Language

In 2005, the Tłı̨chǫ people signed an agreement to govern themselves. This agreement allowed them to focus on keeping their language, culture, and way of life strong. The Tłı̨chǫ Government has been working hard to help younger generations learn Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì. They made Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì one of their two official languages.

Efforts to save the language include:

• Putting up signs in Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì.
• Creating special outdoor programs where the language is used.
• Offering Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì classes for everyone in the community.

Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì is one of nine official Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Because it is an official language, the NWT government helps to protect and grow it. They have policies to make sure Indigenous languages continue to be used.

Recent efforts include:

• Weekly Elder Evening Story Telling sessions.
• Translating materials into Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì for classes.
• Setting up a radio station that broadcasts in the language.
• Offering community language classes, including immersion classes for students in grades K-7.

The Official Languages Act also makes sure that Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì is used when the government provides services.

Where Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì is Spoken

The Tłı̨chǫ language is mainly spoken in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The four official Tłı̨chǫ communities are Gamètì, Behchokǫ̀, Wekweètì, and Whatì. Many Tłı̨chǫ speakers also live in Yellowknife and Dettah. Most of them speak the Wıı̀lıı̀deh Yatıı̀ dialect.

Different Ways of Speaking (Dialects)

The Yellowknives Dene people speak a special version of Tłı̨chǫ called Wıı̀lıı̀deh Yatıı̀. This dialect started after 1829 when some Chipewyan speakers began speaking Tłı̨chǫ. They added some Chipewyan words and grammar rules to it.

Sounds of the Language

Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì has its own unique sounds, including different consonants and vowels. It also uses tones, which means the pitch of your voice can change the meaning of a word.

• Nasal vowels have a special mark called an ogonek (which means 'its little nose'). For example, ą.
• A low tone is shown with a grave accent (like a little hat). For example, à.
• A high tone is not marked.

How the Language Works (Grammar)

Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì is a language where words are often built by adding many small parts (like prefixes) to a main word. This is similar to how you might build a LEGO model by adding many small bricks. What's interesting is that Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì usually puts the subject first, then the object, and then the verb (SOV). For example, "The dog the ball chased."

Like Spanish, Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì has two different words for 'be'. One is used for things that are temporary, like "we are currently hunting." The other is for things that are more permanent, like "hunting is our job."

Besides verbs and nouns, Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì also has pronouns (like 'he' or 'she'), numbers, and words that describe where things are (like 'under' or 'behind'). There are not many adjectives in Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì. Most descriptive words are actually verbs.

Examples of Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì Words

See also

• Languages of Canada
• Indigenous languages of the Americas