Ditidaht

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A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
dtd
Alternate Names
Diidiitidq, Diitiid’aatx, Nitinaht, Nitinat
User Population

7 (FPCC 2014). 6 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). Ethnic population: 940 (FPCC 2014).

Location

British Columbia, Malachan Reserve, Nitinaht lake. Also previously used in Pacheedaht Territory in the vicinity of Port Renfrew, British Columbia.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Ditidaht.

Classification
Wakashan, Southern Wakashan
Dialects

None known. Reportedly similar to Makah [myh] and Nuu-chah-nulth [nuk].

Language Use

Ceremonial use. Shifted to English [eng].

Language Development

The language is taught in the local K-12 community school, but is not used as the language of instruction. Dictionary. Texts. Agency: First Voices.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ditidaht
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

The name Ditidaht is commonly used for the traditional language that is shared by the present-day Ditidaht and Pacheedaht, though only the Ditidaht also use the name as an ethnonym. The Ditidaht and Pacheedaht peoples have distinct ethnic identities from each other, as well as distinct ethnolinguistic identities from their most closely related neighbors, the Nuu-chah-nulth [nuk] of Vancouver Island, and the Makah [myh] of the Olympic Peninsula (Washington, United States).