Kutenai

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A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
kut
Alternate Names
Kootenai, Kootenay
Autonym
Ktunaxa
User Population

25 in Canada (FPCC 2014). 20 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). Ethnic population: 1,150 (FPCC 2014). Total users in all countries: 245.

Location

British Columbia province: Columbia Lake, Saint Mary’s, Tobacco Plains (Upper Kutenai dialect); British Columbia province: Lower Kutenai at Creston (Lower Kutenai dialect).

Language Maps
Language Status

8a (Moribund). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Chiniki, Lower Kootenay, Stoney, Tobacco Plains, Wesley.

Classification
Language isolate
Dialects

Lower Kutenai, Upper Kutenai.

Typology

Polysynthetic language; 21 consonants and 6 vowels (3 long, 3 short); obviative third person pronoun.

Language Use

Older adults only. Shifted to English [eng].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Kutenai is offered as L2 course (1991). Retention efforts underway in most locations (Golla 2007).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kutenai
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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