Heiltsuk-Oowekyala language


Heiltsuk-Oowekyala is a Northern Wakashan language spoken in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, spoken by the Wuikinuxv and Heiltsuk peoples. It has two dialects, Heiltsuk and Oowekyala, which unlike other Wakashan languages are tonal. It has no traditional name, so the hyphenated construction Heiltsuk-Oowekyala is used by linguists. Ethnologue calls this language "Heiltsuk", with the Bella Bella dialect labelled "Northern Heiltsuk" and the Oowekyala dialect labeled "Southern Heiltsuk".
Heiltsuk is spoken by the Bella Bella and Haihais peoples; Oowekyala by the Wuikinuxv.

Phonology

Heiltsuk-Oowekyala, like Nuxálk, allows long sequences of obstruents, as in the following 7-obstruent word from the Oowekyala variety: