Liq’wala (Liq̓ʷala)

Liq’wala is a Northern Wakashan language spoken along the Campbell River (Amm̓ataxʷ–Am̓atex̌ʷ) and on Quadra Island in Vancouver Island, British Columbia in Canada. In 2017 there were just 12 native speakers of Liq’wala, all of whom were over 70 years old.

Efforts are being made to revitalize the language through a mentor-apprentice program and an immersion program. The mentor-apprentice program involves fluent speakers and learners spending 10 hours per week together over three years speaking the language. The learners' progress is regularly monitored and support is provided. After completing the program, the learners are fluent in the language and start teaching it to others.

Liq’wala can be written with a version of the Latin alphabet based on Americanist phonetic notation.

Liq’wala alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Liq’wala (Excel)

Information about the Liq’wala alphabet compiled by Wolfram Siegel

Sample videos in and about Liq’wala

Links

Information about the Liq’wala Language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liq’wala
http://www.languagegeek.com/wakashan/liqwala.html
https://weiwaikum.ca/members/language-and-culture/

Wakashan languages

Ditidaht, Haisla, Heiltsuk, Kwak̓wala, Liq’wala, Makah, Nuu-Chah-Nulth, Oowekyala

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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