Tsilhqotʼin language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilcotin |
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| Tŝinlhqutʼin | ||||
| Native to | Canada | |||
| Region | Chilcotin Country, Central Interior of British Columbia | |||
| Ethnicity | 4,350 Tsilhqotʼin (2014, FPCC) | |||
| Native speakers | 860 (2014, FPCC)e18 | |||
| Language family |
Dené–Yeniseian?
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Nenqayni Chʼih (which means "the Native way") is also known as Chilcotin or Tŝilhqotʼin. It is a Northern Athabaskan language. People in British Columbia, Canada, speak this language. The Tsilhqotʼin people are the ones who speak it.
The name Chilcotin comes from the Tsilhqotʼin people's own name for themselves: Tŝilhqotʼin. This name means "people of the red ochre river."
Contents
Understanding the Tsilhqotʼin Language
The Tsilhqotʼin language is an important part of the Tsilhqotʼin people's culture. It helps them share their history, stories, and traditions. Learning about this language helps us understand how different languages work.
Sounds of Tsilhqotʼin
Every language has its own unique sounds. Tsilhqotʼin has many sounds that might be new to English speakers.
Consonant Sounds
Tsilhqotʼin has a large number of consonant sounds. There are 47 different consonant sounds in the language. Some of these sounds are made in ways that are not common in English. For example, some sounds are made by pushing air out quickly, like a pop.
Vowel Sounds
Tsilhqotʼin has 6 main vowel sounds. These vowels can change how they sound depending on other sounds around them. Some vowels can be "tense" or "lax." This means they can be pronounced with more or less muscle tension in your mouth.
Tones in Tsilhqotʼin
Tsilhqotʼin is a tonal language. This means that the meaning of a word can change based on the pitch of your voice. It has two main tones: a high tone and a low tone. For example, saying a word with a high pitch might mean one thing, while saying the same word with a low pitch means something else.
How Sounds Change in Tsilhqotʼin
Languages often have rules about how sounds affect each other. Tsilhqotʼin has some interesting sound changes.
Vowel Nasalization
One change is called vowel nasalization. This happens when the sound /n/ makes the vowel before it sound like it's coming through your nose. Imagine saying "sing" – the "i" sound is a bit nasal. This happens in Tsilhqotʼin when a vowel is followed by /n/ and then certain other sounds.
Vowel Laxing
Another change is vowel laxing. This is when a "tense" vowel becomes "lax" or more relaxed. This happens when a tense vowel is followed by the sound /h/ at the end of a syllable.
Vowel Flattening
Tsilhqotʼin also has something called vowel flattening. This is a special kind of sound harmony. It means that some consonant sounds can "flatten" the vowels around them. When a vowel is flattened, it changes its sound. This can happen to vowels both before and after the "flat" consonant.
- Some consonants are "neutral" and don't affect vowels.
- Some are "sharp" and can stop flattening from happening.
- Others are "flat" and cause the vowels to change.
The "flat" consonants can be divided into two groups. One group is stronger and can affect vowels that are farther away.
Progressive Flattening
Progressive flattening means that a "flat" consonant changes the vowels that come after it. The stronger group of "flat" consonants can even change vowels in the next syllable. However, "sharp" consonants can block this flattening from happening.
Regressive Flattening
Regressive flattening means that a "flat" consonant changes the vowels that come before it. The stronger group of "flat" consonants can flatten all the vowels that come before them in a word.
These sound changes make Tsilhqotʼin unique. They show how sounds in a language can work together in complex ways.
