Gwich'in (Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik)

Gwich'in is an Athabaskan language with about 400 speakers in parts of Canada, mainly in the Northwest Territories, were it has official status, and also in the Yukon Territory. There are a further 300 speakers in Alaska. Most speakers of Gwich'in are elderly, though in a few communities, the language is used by all ages of people.

The Gwich'in language has also been known as Loucheux, Kutchin and Tukudh.

Gwich'in was first reduced to writing by Robert McDonald (1829-1913) a Church of England missionary, in the 1870s. His Gwich'in translations of the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer and a hymnal are still read by middle-aged and older people. Younger people are more familiar with the new Gwich'in spelling system, which was devised by Richard Mueller in the 1960s.

Gwich'in alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

• This is the standard orthography for Gwinch'in as used in Alaska
• nasal vowels have an ogonek accent, e.g. ą, ę, etc.
• the low tone is optionally marked with a grave accent (à)
• the high tone is not marked

Download an alphabet chart for Gwich'in (Excel)

Sample text in Gwich'in

Zhik nànkak North America gwizhìt Gwich'in ìidàlii ts'at khainjii dì'haii gwà'àn tr'iinlii, chuuvee ts'ìivii dì' nàa'aii gwits'àt gwà'àn gwìidìch'in. Eneekaii kat gwizrih nekhwindòo haii t'àngiinch'uu ak'oh nànkak gwà'àn. Zhehk'oo gwiinchii gwats'at gwich'in ìidàlìi, aii t'at Athabaskans nakhwitr'àhnùu, jii gwizhìt nilii kat Aachin kat, Åaii Chìk kat, Han Gwich'in kat, ts'àt Dachantat Gwich'in Kat, gwàt nakhwiginjìk ts'àt yeenoo nits'òo tr'agwiindai' gwiintå'òh ihåak gwizrih gòonlih.

Translation

We are one of the most northerly aboriginal peoples on the North American continent, living at the northwestern limits of the boreal forest. Only the Inuit live further north. We are part of a larger family of Aboriginal people, known as Athabaskans, which include peoples such as the Slavey, Dogrib, Han and Tutchone, but our language and way of life is distinct.

Source: http://www.gwichin.ca/Gwichin/Gwichin/G_Gwichin.html

Sample video in Gwich'in

Information about Gwich'in | Tower of Babel in Gwich'in

Links

Information about the Gwich'in language and culture
http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/ynlc/languages/gw/gw.html
http://www.languagegeek.com/dene/gwichin/gwichin.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwich'in_language
http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/langs/ga.html
http://www.native-languages.org/gwichin.htm
http://www.oldcrow.ca/language.htm
http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/aborig/land/page17.htm

Gwich'in Language Lessons
http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/ynlc/langlessons/gwichin/main.html

Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute
http://www.gwichin.ca

Gwich'in Council International
http://www.gwichin.org

Na-Dené languages

Ahtna, Apache (Western), Babine-Witsuwit'en, Chilcotin, Chipewyan, Deg Xinag, Dena’ina, Dane-zaa (Beaver), Eyak, Gwich'in, Hän, Hupa, Jicarilla, Kaska, Koyukon, Lipan Apache, Lower Tanana, Mescalero-Chiricahua, Navajo, North Slavey, Sekani, South Slavey, Tahltan, Tanacross, Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib), Tolowa, Tsuut'ina (Sarcee), Tutchone, Upper Kuskokwim, Upper Tanana

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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