In today's world, Lower Tanana language has become a relevant issue that impacts different sectors of society. Since its appearance, Lower Tanana language has generated a series of discussions and debates that have captured the attention of experts and the general public. In this article, we will explore in depth the different aspects related to Lower Tanana language, analyzing its origin, evolution and repercussions in various areas. We will also address the different opinions and perspectives that exist around Lower Tanana language, as well as the possible solutions or measures proposed to address the challenges it poses. This article seeks to provide a comprehensive and updated view on Lower Tanana language, with the aim of fostering an informed and enriching debate on this topic that is so relevant today.
Lower Tanana | |
---|---|
Menhti Kenaga | |
Native to | United States |
Region | Alaska (middle Yukon River, Koyukuk River) |
Ethnicity | 400 Tanana (2007) |
Native speakers | 1 (2020) |
Dené–Yeniseian?
| |
Latin (Northern Athabaskan alphabet) | |
Official status | |
Official language in | Alaska |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | taa |
Glottolog | lowe1425 |
ELP | (Lower) Tanana |
Lower Tanana (also Tanana and/or Middle Tanana) is an endangered language spoken in Interior Alaska in the lower Tanana River villages of Minto and Nenana. Of about 380 Tanana people in the two villages, about 30 still speak the language. As of 2010, “Speakers who grew up with Lower Tanana as their first language can be found only in the 250-person village of Minto.” It is one of the large family of Athabaskan languages, also known as Dené.
The Athabaskan (or Dené) bands who formerly occupied a territory between the Salcha and the Goodpaster rivers spoke a distinct dialect that linguists term the Middle Tanana language.
Labial | Dental | Alveolar | Post- alveolar |
Retroflex | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
plain | sibilant | lateral | |||||||||
Plosive | plain | p | tθ | t | ts | tɬ | tʃ | tʂ | k | ʔ | |
aspirated | tθʰ | tʰ | tsʰ | tɬʰ | tʃʰ | tʂʰ | kʰ | ||||
ejective | tθʼ | tʼ | tsʼ | tɬʼ | tʃʼ | tʂʼ | kʼ | ||||
Fricative | voiceless | θ | s | ɬ | ʃ | x | h | ||||
voiced | ð | z | ɣ | ||||||||
Sonorant | w | n | l | j |
Vowel sounds in Tanana are /a æ ɪ~i ʊ~u ə/.
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
Close | ɪ ~ i | ʊ ~ u | |
Mid | ə | ||
Open | æ | a |
In a 2008–2009 project, linguist Siri Tuttle of the University of Alaska's Native Language Center “worked with elders to translate and document song lyrics, some on file at the language center and some recorded during the project.”
“The Minto dialect of Tanana ... allows speakers to occasionally change the number of syllables in longer words.”