Gitxsan language: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:56, 14 October 2020

Revision as of 14:00, 3 December 2020

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The '''Gitxsan language''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɪ|t|s|æ|n}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100022848/1100100022849 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123044647/http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100022848/1100100022849 |archivedatearchive-date=2014-01-23 }}</ref> or '''''Gitxsanimaax''''' (also rendered ''Gitksan, Giatikshan, Gityskyan, Giklsan''), is an endangered [[Tsimshianic languages|Tsimshianic language]] of northwestern [[British Columbia]], closely related to the neighboring [[Nisga’a language]]. The two groups are, however, politically separate and prefer to refer to Gitxsan and Nisga'a as distinct languages. According to the 2016 census there were 1,020 native speakers.<ref name="census"/>

[[Gitxsan]] means "People of the [[Skeena River]]" ("''Ksan''" being the name of the Skeena in Gitxsan).

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=== Revitalization Efforts ===

The University of Northern British Columbia and Siiwiixo'osxwim Wilnataahl Gitksan Society (Gitksan Language Society) set up a Developmental Standard Term Certificate program offered through Northwest Community College, with all courses offered in Hazelton, BC. The program is designed to help revitalize Gitxsan language by allowing those who complete it to teach language and culture courses at the elementary and secondary school level in the community. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unbc.ca/releases/2005/08-10gitksan|title=Gitksan Students Complete Coursework|last=|first=|date=August 10, 2005|work=|access-date=December 14, 2019}}</ref>

In the spring of 2018, an online dictionary app was released in collaboration with members of Gitksan Nation and researchers at the University of British Columbia. The app includes various dialects of Gitxsan, and includes audio from different villages. Flashcards, stories, and histories are also included in addition to functioning as a dictionary. This app is based on a print dictionary produced in 1973 by Lonnie Hindle and Bruce Rigsby. With its launch, the app briefly held a top spot in Google Play's education category and accumulated around 500 downloads in its first week.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.interior-news.com/news/gitksan-dictionary-goes-mobile/|title=Gitksan Dictionary Goes Mobile|last=Muir|first=Cassidy|date=May 22, 2019|work=The Interior News|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref>