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Gitksan.

Authors :
Brown, Jason
Davis, Henry
Schwan, Michael
Sennott, Barbara
Source :
Journal of the International Phonetic Association; Dec2016, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p367-378, 12p
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Gitksan (git) is an Interior Tsimshianic language spoken in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is closely related to Nisga'a, and more distantly related to Coast Tsimshian and Southern Tsimshian. The specific dialect of Gitksan presented here is what can be called Eastern Gitksan, spoken in the villages of Kispiox (Ansbayaxw), Glen Vowell (Sigit'ox), and Hazelton (Git-an'maaxs), which contrasts with the Western dialects, spoken in the villages of Kitwanga (Gitwingax), Gitanyow (Git-anyaaw), and Kitseguecla (Gijigyukwhla). The primary phonological differences between the dialects are a lexical shift in vowels and the presence of stop lenition in the Eastern dialects. While there exists a dialect continuum, the primary cultural and political distinction drawn is between Eastern and Western Gitksan. For reference, Gitksan is bordered on the west by Nisga'a, in the south by Coast Tsimshian and Witsuwit'en, in the east by Dakelh and Sekani, and in the north by Tahltan (the latter four of these being Athabaskan languages). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00251003
Volume :
46
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of the International Phonetic Association
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
119240338
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025100315000432