Koyukon language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Koyukon |
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|---|---|
| Denaakkenaageʼ, Denaakkʼe, Dinaak̲'a | |
| Pronunciation | təˈnæːqʼə |
| Native to | United States |
| Region | Alaska (middle Yukon River, Koyukuk River) |
| Ethnicity | Koyukon |
| Native speakers | 65 (2015 census) |
| Language family | |
| Writing system | Latin |
| Official status | |
| Official language in |  Alaska |
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Koyukon (also called Denaakk'e) is an important language spoken by the Koyukon people in Alaska. It is an Athabaskan language. People speak Koyukon along the Koyukuk River and the middle Yukon River in western Alaska. In 2015, about 65 people spoke Koyukon. Most of these speakers were older adults who also spoke English.
Contents
History of the Koyukon Language
Early Records by Jules Jetté
A French Canadian Jesuit missionary named Julius Jetté started writing down the Koyukon language. He also recorded information about the Koyukon culture. This work began in 1898. Jetté lived in the region for many years. He became very good at speaking Koyukon. He died in 1927. Jetté left behind many notes about the Koyukon people, their beliefs, and their language.
Creating the Koyukon Dictionary
In the early 1970s, Eliza Jones, a Koyukon woman, found Jetté's old notes. She was studying and working at the University of Alaska at the time. Jones used Jetté's notes to create the Koyukon Athabaskan Dictionary. She also talked with older Koyukon tribal members. James Kari helped edit the dictionary. It was published in 2000 by the Alaska Native Language Center. This center is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The Koyukon Athabaskan Dictionary is very detailed. It has a lot of information about an American indigenous language. This is partly because Jetté's notes were so good. He wrote about the language and culture almost 100 years ago. At that time, more people spoke Koyukon every day. The Koyukon people also lived in a more traditional way. The book is like an encyclopedia. It records the culture and traditions of the Koyukon people. The book also includes traditional stories. Catherine Attla recorded these stories. They were published in 1983.
Koyukon Language Dialects
As of 1978, the Koyukon language had three main dialects. A dialect is a different way of speaking a language. These dialects were called Lower, Central, and Upper Koyukon.
- Lower Koyukon was spoken in the villages of Kaltag and Nulato.
- Central Koyukon was spoken along the Yukon River. This included villages like Galena, Ruby, Koyukuk, and part of Tanana. It was also spoken along the Koyukuk River in Huslia, Hughes, and Allakaket.
- Upper Koyukon was spoken in Stevens Village, Rampart, and another part of Tanana.
Bringing the Language Back
Many people are working to keep the Koyukon language alive. This is called language revitalization. In 2012, Susan Pavskan shared some good news. She reported that Denaakk'e (Koyukon Athabascan) classes were being held. These classes took place on Thursday evenings. They were held at the Yukon-Koyukuk School District offices. Classes were in Fairbanks and Huslia. About 18 people attended these classes. They came from four different generations. They used video-conference to connect.
At the end of class, students learned how to use MP3 sound files. They could put these files into iTunes. Then they could sync them with iPads or iPods. The students showed their parents and grandparents how to do this. This helps more people learn and practice the language.
The children's TV show Molly of Denali also helps. It features the Koyukon language. This helps introduce the language to a wider audience.
Sounds of Koyukon
Every language has its own unique sounds. Koyukon has many different consonant and vowel sounds. These sounds are written using a special alphabet. This alphabet helps people learn how to say the words correctly.
Consonant Sounds
Koyukon has many consonant sounds. Some sounds are made with your lips. Others are made with your tongue touching different parts of your mouth. Some sounds are "plain," while others are "aspirated." Aspirated sounds have a puff of air. There are also "ejective" sounds. These sounds are made by pushing air out quickly.
Vowel Sounds
Koyukon has four main vowel sounds. These are like the long "ee" in "see" or the "oo" in "moon." It also has three shorter, "reduced" vowel sounds. These are quick sounds, like the "u" in "put" or the "e" in "the."
See also
In Spanish: Idioma koyukón para niños
