Upper Tanana language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Upper Tanana
Nee'aanèegn'
Native to	United States
Region	Alaska (upper Tanana River
Ethnicity	ca. 340 Tanana (1997–2007)
Native speakers	ca. 110  (1997–2007)e18
Language family	Dené–Yeniseian? Na-Dené Athabaskan Northern Athabaskan Upper Tanana
Writing system	Latin (Northern Athabaskan alphabet)
Official status
Official language in	Alaska
Upper Tanana is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Upper Tanana (also called Tabesna, Nabesna, or Nee'aanèegn) is a special language spoken in eastern Alaska, United States. It's an endangered language, meaning very few people still speak it. You can hear it mainly in villages like Northway, Tetlin, and Tok. Some speakers also live in the Yukon area of Canada. In 2000, fewer than 100 people spoke Upper Tanana. Sadly, children are not learning it as their first language anymore.

What is Upper Tanana Language Like?

Upper Tanana is very similar to another language called Tanacross. They are so alike that speakers of one can often understand the other. However, there are some cool differences in how they sound. For example, Upper Tanana uses a "low tone" where Tanacross uses a "high tone" for certain sounds.

This language also has an extra vowel sound that Tanacross doesn't. Plus, Upper Tanana has developed special combined vowel sounds, called diphthongs. This happened as some ending consonant sounds were lost over time.

Where is Upper Tanana Spoken?

Upper Tanana is spoken in the eastern part of Alaska. This area stretches from the Wrangell Mountain range to Joseph Creek. It also goes west of the Tanana rivers. The Tanana Rivers divide this land with many smaller rivers and creeks. Today, most Upper Tanana speakers live in Tetlin and Northway, Alaska. Some also live in Beaver Creek, Canada.

Different Ways to Speak Upper Tanana

The Upper Tanana language has five main ways of speaking, called dialects.

• The Tetlin dialect is spoken by about 20 people.
• The other four dialects are spoken by smaller groups living further upriver.
• The Nabesna dialect has only two known speakers.
• The Northway dialect has about 20 speakers.
• The Scottie Creek dialect no longer has any known speakers.
• The Beaver Creek dialect has one known speaker, but there might be a few more.

The Name of the Language

There are actually two main Tanana languages. One is Lower Tanana, also known as Minto. The other is Upper Tanana, or Nabesna. The original name for the Upper Tanana language is Nee'aaneegn'.

The Future of Upper Tanana

At the start of the 21st century, only about 100 people still spoke Upper Tanana. Most of these speakers are over 60 years old. Because children are not learning the language, it is at risk of disappearing forever. In the 1960s, Paul G. Milanowski and Alfred John worked together. They created a writing system for Upper Tanana. They also made booklets and dictionaries to help with teaching the language.

Official Recognition

In 2014, the state of Alaska officially recognized Upper Tanana as one of its languages. This means it is now one of 20 official native Alaskan languages. This recognition helps to honor and preserve these important languages.

How Upper Tanana Sounds

The Upper Tanana writing system uses 13 vowel sounds and 34 consonant sounds. It also has five different tones. Tones are like the "musical notes" of a word. They can change its meaning.

Understanding Tones

Tones are very important in Upper Tanana. The same word can mean different things depending on the tone you use. Here are some examples:

Common Words in Upper Tanana

Here are some everyday words translated from English to Upper Tanana:

See also

• In Spanish: Idioma nabesna para niños