Nisga'a language


Nisga’a is a Tsimshianic language of the Nisga'a people of northwestern British Columbia. Nisga'a people, however, dislike the term Tshimshianic as they feel that it gives precedence to Coast Tsimshian. Nisga’a is very closely related to Gitxsan. Indeed, many linguists regard Nisga’a and Gitksan as dialects of a single Nass–Gitksan language. The two are generally treated as distinct languages out of deference to the political separation of the two groups.

History and usage

Anglican missionary James Benjamin McCullagh conducted much early linguistic work in Nisga’a, preparing translations of parts of the Bible and Book of Common Prayer published in 1890, as well as a Nisga’a primer for students published in 1897. These were published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. These items included some portions of Scripture.
Like almost all other First Nations languages of British Columbia, Nisga’a is an endangered language. As of the 2016 census, there are only 500 native speakers out of a total ethnic population of around 5,500.

Revitalization efforts

In January 2012, a Nisga’a app for iPhone and iPad was released for free. Recently, the app was made available for use on Android. The Nisga'a app is a bilingual dictionary and phrase collection archived at the First Voices data base, resources include audio recordings, images and videos.
Since 1990, the First Peoples' Heritage Language and Culture Council has been providing support to revitalize First Peoples' language, arts and cultures. A total of $20 million has been distributed to support various projects, including revitalization of Nisga'a language. In 2003, First Voices website, an online language archive was created to support language documentation, language teaching, and revitalization. The First Voices is publicly accessible. Information on the website is managed by the . Resources include alphabets, online dictionary, phrasebook, songs, stories, and interactive online games with sounds, pictures and videos. A total of 4842 words and 1244 phrases has been archived on the Nisga'a Community Portal at First Voices.
In 1993, the Wilp Wilx̱o'oskwhl Nisg̱a'a Institute was established to provide post-secondary education for Nisga'a community and promote language and culture revitalization. It is the Nisga'a university-college located in the Nass Valley in Gitwinksihlkw on the northwest coast of British Columbia. The WWNI is a community driven, non-profit organization that is affiliated with the University of Northern British Columbia, Northwest Community College, and Royal Roads University. It is the only place where students can earn accreditation and certification of its courses and programs in Nisga'a Studies.

Phonology

The phonology in Nisga'a is presented as follows:

Consonants

Vowels

Five vowels are represented, both oral and long as and .