Na-Dene languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Na-Dene |
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|---|---|
| Athabaskan–Eyak–Tlingit | |
| Geographic distribution: |
North America |
| Linguistic classification: | Dené–Yeniseian?
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| Proto-language: | Proto-Na-Dene |
| Subdivisions: | |
| ISO 639-5: | xnd |
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Na-Dene (pronounced "nah-duh-NAY") is a group of Native American languages. This language family includes the Athabaskan languages, Eyak, and Tlingit languages. For a while, the Haida language was thought to be part of this family, but now many experts are not sure.
The most widely spoken Na-Dene language today is Navajo. In 2008, some linguists suggested that Na-Dene languages might be related to Yeniseian languages from Siberia. This idea suggests that these languages might have come from a common language spoken in Beringia, a land bridge that once connected Asia and North America.
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What Does the Name Na-Dene Mean?
The name Na-Dene was created by a linguist named Edward Sapir. He wanted a name for the group of languages that included Athabaskan, Tlingit, and Haida.
Sapir explained that Dene is a common word in Athabaskan languages for "person" or "people." The part *-ne is an old root word for "person." He found that this root was similar to na in Haida, meaning "to dwell" or "house," and na in Tlingit, meaning "people." So, Na-Dene means "people-people" or "people of the house," connecting the speakers of these languages.
How Are Na-Dene Languages Grouped?
The Na-Dene family has two main branches that most linguists agree on:
- Tlingit: This language has about 1,360 speakers.
- Athabaskan–Eyak:
- Eyak: The last person who spoke Eyak as their first language passed away in 2008.
- Athabaskan: This is a large group of languages.
Some linguists, like Edward Sapir, also include Haida in the Na-Dene family. If Haida is included, it forms its own branch.
Where Are Athabaskan Languages Spoken?
The Athabaskan languages are spoken by many different Native peoples across a wide area. You can find them in parts of Canada, like Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. They are also spoken in the United States, including Alaska, parts of Oregon, northern California, and the American Southwest. Some are even spoken as far south as northern Mexico.
The Athabaskan languages spoken in the Southwest are called Southern Athabaskan or Apachean. This group includes the Navajo and all the Apache languages. Navajo is the most widely spoken language in the Na-Dene family. It is spoken in Arizona, New Mexico, and other parts of the American Southwest.
Exploring Deeper Connections of Na-Dene Languages
For a long time, linguists have wondered if Tlingit, Eyak, and Athabaskan languages are related. In 1894, Franz Boas first suggested a link between Haida and Tlingit. Later, in 1915, Edward Sapir connected both Haida and Tlingit to Athabaskan.
However, some linguists today, like Lyle Campbell, believe there isn't enough proof to include Haida. They think Haida is a language isolate, meaning it's not clearly related to any other language family. To show that Haida is not included, Campbell uses the name Athabaskan–Eyak–Tlingit instead of Na-Dene.
Dené–Yeniseian Connection
In 2008, a linguist named Edward Vajda shared new information. He suggested that the Na-Dene languages (Athabaskan–Eyak–Tlingit) might be related to the Yeniseian languages from Siberia. The only Yeniseian language still spoken today is Ket.
Vajda found similarities in how verbs are formed in these languages. He also noticed a pattern between the tones in Ket and the sounds in Athabaskan–Eyak–Tlingit. Many experts on these languages, and other well-known linguists, have reviewed Vajda's findings positively. They agreed that this connection means Haida is not part of the same language family as Athabaskan–Eyak–Tlingit.
Other Ideas About Na-Dene Origins
Joseph Greenberg had a theory that Na-Dené (including Haida) was one of three main groups of Native languages in the Americas. Some people who support Greenberg's theory, like Merritt Ruhlen, think that Na-Dené speakers came to the Americas from Asia about six to eight thousand years ago. This would be later than the first group of people who arrived in the Americas. Ruhlen thought that Na-Dené speakers might have arrived by boat and first settled near Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada. However, this is still a theory that has not been proven.
Another idea, proposed by Sergei Starostin, suggested that Na-Dené (including Haida) might be part of a much larger group called the Dené–Caucasian superfamily. This superfamily would also include languages from the North Caucasus, Sino-Tibetan, and Yeniseian languages. However, almost all linguists today do not agree with this idea.
Around 1920, Edward Sapir thought that Na–Dené was more closely related to Sino–Tibetan languages than to other American language families. Edward Vajda's idea about the Dené–Yeniseian connection has made some linguists, like Geoffrey Caveney, look again at the idea of a Sino–Dené link. Caveney thought a link between Sino–Tibetan, Na–Dené, and Yeniseian was possible. However, he did not support the idea that Sino–Tibetan and Na–Dené were related to the North Caucasian languages.
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See also
In Spanish: Lenguas na-dené para niños
