Slavey language

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{{language |name=Slavey |states=Canada |region=Northwest Territories |speakers=Total: 2,200
North Slavey: 790
South Slavey: 1,410 |familycolor=Na-Dene |fam2=Athabaskan-Eyak |fam3=Athabaskan |fam4=Northern |nation=Northwest Territories |iso2=den |lc1=den|ld1=Slave (Athapascan)|ll1=none |lc2=scs|ld2=North Slavey|ll2=none |lc3=xsl|ld3=South Slavey|ll3=none}}

Slavey (also Slave) (pronounced: Template:IPA) is an Athabaskan language spoken among the Slavey First Nations people of Canada.

In older literature, the name of the language was spelt Slave; however, the connotations of this, along with the pronunciation of the homograph slave (the final e should be pronounced) have caused the change to Slavey instead.

The language can be written using Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics or the Roman alphabet.

Slavey was the native language spoken by the fictional band in the Canadian television series, North of 60. Nick Sibbeston, a former Premier of the Northwest Territories, was a Slavey language and cultural consultant for the show.

Contents

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North Slavey language and South Slavey language

North Slavey language is spoken in the Mackenzie District along the middle Mackenzie River from Fort Norman north, around Great Bear Lake, and in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Canadian territory of Northwest Territories.

Statistics: Speakers: 290 (1998 Statistics Canada)

Alternate names: Slavi, Dené, Mackenzian, Slave

Dialects: Hare, Bearlake, Mountain


South Slavey language or Dene-thah, is spoken in the region of Great Slave Lake, upper Mackenzie River and drainage in Mackenzie District, northeast Alberta, northwest British Columbia.

Statistics: Speakers: 2,620 (1998 Statistics Canada)

Alternate names: Slavi, Slave, Dené, Mackenzian

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Sounds

Template:IPA notice

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Consonants

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Bearlake

The 35 consonants of Bearlake:

  Bilabial Alveolar Post-alveolar Velar Glottal
central lateral plain labial
Stop unaspirated Template:IPA Template:IPA     Template:IPA Template:IPA  
aspirated   Template:IPA     Template:IPA Template:IPA  
ejective   Template:IPA     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA
Affricate unaspirated   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA      
aspirated   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA      
ejective   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA      
Nasal   Template:IPA Template:IPA          
Fricative voiceless   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA
voiced   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
Approximant         Template:IPA   Template:IPA  
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Hare

The 30 (or 31) consonants of Hare:

  Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Post-alveolar Velar Glottal
central lateral plain labial
Stop unaspirated Template:IPA   Template:IPA     Template:IPA Template:IPA  
aspirated     Template:IPA     Template:IPA    
ejective     Template:IPA     Template:IPA   Template:IPA
Affricate unaspirated     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA      
ejective     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA      
Nasal   Template:IPA   Template:IPA          
Flap       Template:IPA          
Fricative voiceless   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA   Template:IPA
voiced     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
Approximant plain         Template:IPA   Template:IPA  
preglottalized             Template:IPA  

For some speakers of Hare, Template:IPA has developed into a separate phoneme.

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Mountain

The 33 consonants of Mountain:

  Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Post-alveolar Velar Glottal
central lateral
Stop unaspirated Template:IPA   Template:IPA     Template:IPA  
aspirated Template:IPA   Template:IPA     Template:IPA  
ejective Template:IPA   Template:IPA     Template:IPA Template:IPA
Affricate unaspirated     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
aspirated     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
ejective     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
Nasal   Template:IPA   Template:IPA        
Fricative voiceless   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA
voiced   Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA  
Approximant           Template:IPA    
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Slavey (proper)

The 34 (or 35) consonants of Slavey (proper):

  Bilabial Labio-velar Interdental Alveolar Post-alveolar Velar Glottal
central lateral
Stop unaspirated Template:IPA     Template:IPA     Template:IPA  
aspirated       Template:IPA     Template:IPA  
ejective       Template:IPA     Template:IPA Template:IPA
Affricate unaspirated     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
aspirated     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
ejective     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA    
Nasal   Template:IPA     Template:IPA        
Fricative voiceless     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA
voiced     Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA  
Approximant     Template:IPA       Template:IPA    
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Phonological processes

The following phonological and phonetic statements apply to all four dialects of Slavey.

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Vowels

Image:Wiki letter w.pngThis section is a stub. You can help by [{{fullurl:Template:FULLPAGENAME|action=edit}} adding to it].
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]
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Tone

Slavey has two tones:

  • high
  • low

In Slavey orthography, high tone is marked with an acute accent, and low tone is unmarked.

Tones are both lexical and grammatical.

Lexical: Template:IPA 'along' vs. Template:IPA 'rabbit'

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Grammar

Template:Na-lang-stub

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Bibliography

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