Tlicho

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A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
dgr
Alternate Names
Dogrib, Flanc-de-chien, Tłı̨chǫ, Thlingchadine
Autonym
Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì
User Population

1,650 (2016 census). 250 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 3,220 (2018).

Location

Northwest Territories, between Great Slave lake and Great Bear lake. 6 communities: Bechoko, Whati (formerly Lac la Martre), Gameti, Wekweti, Detah, and Ndilo (a subcommunity of Yellowknife). Rae is center. Detah and Ndilo host the Weledeh dialect.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in NWT (1988, NWT Official Languages Act, Chapter 56 (Supplemented), Section 4), restricted offical use. Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Dechi Laot’i, Dog Rib Rae, Gameti, Wha Ti, Yellowknives Dene.

Classification
Eyak-Athabaskan, Athabaskan, Northern Athabaskan
Dialects

Weledeh, Central Dogrib. Detah-Ndilo dialect developed from intermarriage between Yellowknife Subdivision of the Dëne [chp] and Tlicho. Lexical similarity: 84% with Southern Slavey [xsl], 82% with Northern Slavey [scs].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Adults prefer to use Tlicho in most contexts. Some young people, all adults. All also use English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught as subject in primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. NT: 2005–2008.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tlicho
Writing

Latin script [Latn].