Did you know Sm̓algya̱x ( Coast Tsimshian) is critically endangered?

ALSO KNOWN AS		Sm'algyax, Tsimshian, Coast Tsimshian, Chimmezyan, Zimshian, Coast Tsimshian, Sm'algyax, Tsimshean, Tsimpshean, Ts'emsia'n, Maritime, Lower Tsimshianic
CLASSIFICATION		Tsimshian
CODE AUTHORITY		ISO 639-3
LANGUAGE CODE		tsi
DOWNLOAD		As csv
MORE RESOURCES		OLAC search
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS		Some consider this a dialect of Tsimshian and consider Tsimshian a single language.

Compare Sources (8)

Information from: “First Peoples' Language Map of British Columbia” .

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
48
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
7,090
SEMI SPEAKERS
275
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
http://maps.fphlcc.ca/smalgyax

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
TRANSMISSION

PLACES: USA; Canada

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Alaska, British Columbia

Critically endangered

60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
250-400
Native speakers worldwide

TRANSMISSION

PLACES: USA; Canada

PLACES: USA; Canada

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
58
Native speakers worldwide
SEMI SPEAKERS
130
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
numbers only for British Columbia

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

.7% native speakers, 1.6% semispeakers, 7.6% language learners

Severely endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
106
Native speakers worldwide
SEMI SPEAKERS
685
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Figures for speakers in British Columbia only.

DATE OF INFO: 2014

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

1.7% fluent speakers, 10.8% semispeakers, 3.9% learners.

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

English

PLACES: Canada: British Columbia

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Only locations in Canada: 6 communities in British Columbia:
Gitxaala Nation
Hartley Bay Village Council
Kitselas First Nation
Kitsumkalum Band Council
Lax Kw'alaams Band
Metlakatla Governing Council
Urban areas, especially Terrace and Prince Rupert

Critically endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
320-470
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Two deeply-differentiated dialects, or possibly emergent languages. Southern Tsimshian (or Sküüxs), originally spoken along the coast south of the Skeena River and on a few islands, now has only one fully fluent speaker, who lives in the village of Klemtu on Swindle Island. Coast Tsimshian (often referred to simply as Tsimshian), is spoken near Terrace on the lower Skeena River and on the coast near the Skeena estuary, as well as at one location in southern Alaska. In the Canadian communities it is estimated that there are between 250 and 400 fluent speakers of Coast Tsimshian out of a total population of 6780, almost none under 40. The highest proportion of speakers is in Kitkatla and Hartley Bay, where perhaps one person in five is fluent, although most are age 50 or older. Of the 1,300 Coast Tsimshians currently living at Metlakatla, about 70 of the most elderly speak the language.

DOMAINS OF USE
SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
TRANSMISSION

PLACES: USA; Canada

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
<430
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
4,600
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
30 Alaska, <400 Canada. Population: 1,400 Alaska, 3,200 Canada.

DATE OF INFO: 2007

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
TRANSMISSION

79 fluent and 124 semi-speakers. 748 language learners
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
9,125
SEMI SPEAKERS
124
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Numbers for British Columbia only.

		2012	First Peoples' Language Map of British Columbia							First Peoples' Cultural Council	http://www.maps.fphlcc.ca/		2012. "First Peoples' Language Map of British Columbia." edited by First Peoples' Cultural Council. Online: http://www.maps.fphlcc.ca/.		7,090	48		10-99	http://maps.fphlcc.ca/smalgyax	275			Critically Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	15			15		USA; Canada	Alaska, British Columbia	54.3800000, -129.5200000
		2007	North America	Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages	1-96	C. Moseley		London & New York: Routledge				Victor Golla	Golla, Victor. 2007. "North America." In Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, edited by C. Moseley. 1-96. London & New York: Routledge.	HHOLD		250-400		100-999					Critically Endangered (60 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	15					USA; Canada
0199255911		2005	The World Atlas of Language Structures			Bernard Comrie and David Gil and Martin Haspelmath and Matthew S. Dryer		Oxford University Press	New York				2005. "The World Atlas of Language Structures." edited by Bernard Comrie et al. Oxford University Press.																USA; Canada		52.5,-129.0
	3	2018	Report on the status of B.C. First Nations Languages					First People's Cultural Council		First Peoples' Cultural Council		Britt Dunlop, Suzanne Gessner, Tracey Herbert & Aliana Parker				58		10-99	numbers only for British Columbia	130			Critically Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	14	.7% native speakers, 1.6% semispeakers, 7.6% language learners		15
		2014	Report on the status of B.C. First Nations Languages (2nd Edition) 2014				Website: http://www.fpcc.ca/files/PDF/Language/FPCC-LanguageReport-141016-WEB.pdf	First Peoples' Cultural Council (FPCC)			http://www.fpcc.ca/files/PDF/Language/FPCC-LanguageReport-141016-WEB.pdf	First Peoples' Cultural Council (FPCC)	First Peoples' Cultural Council (FPCC). 2014. Report on the status of B.C. First Nations Languages (2nd Edition). http://www.fpcc.ca/files/PDF/Language/FPCC-LanguageReport-141016-WEB.pdf			106	2014	100-999	Figures for speakers in British Columbia only.	685		English	Severely Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	14	1.7% fluent speakers, 10.8% semispeakers, 3.9% learners.		15	Only locations in Canada: 6 communities in British Columbia: Gitxaala Nation Hartley Bay Village Council Kitselas First Nation Kitsumkalum Band Council Lax Kw'alaams Band Metlakatla Governing Council Urban areas, especially Terrace and Prince Rupert	Canada: British Columbia
		2008	North America	Atlas of the World's Languages	7-41	Chris Moseley and Ron Asher		Routledge	London			Victor Golla and Ives Goddard and Lyle Campbell and Marianne Mithun and Mauricio Mixco	Victor Golla, Ives Goddard, Lyle Campbell, Marianne Mithun and Mauricio Mixco. 2008. "North America." In Atlas of the World's Languages, edited by Chris Moseley and Ron Asher. 7-41. Routledge.			320-470		100-999	Two deeply-differentiated dialects, or possibly emergent languages. Southern Tsimshian (or Sküüxs), originally spoken along the coast south of the Skeena River and on a few islands, now has only one fully fluent speaker, who lives in the village of Klemtu on Swindle Island. Coast Tsimshian (often referred to simply as Tsimshian), is spoken near Terrace on the lower Skeena River and on the coast near the Skeena estuary, as well as at one location in southern Alaska. In the Canadian communities it is estimated that there are between 250 and 400 fluent speakers of Coast Tsimshian out of a total population of 6780, almost none under 40. The highest proportion of speakers is in Kitkatla and Hartley Bay, where perhaps one person in five is fluent, although most are age 50 or older. Of the 1,300 Coast Tsimshians currently living at Metlakatla, about 70 of the most elderly speak the language.				Critically Endangered (100 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	15		15	15		USA; Canada
		2014	Alaska Native Languages: Population and Speaker Statistics							Alaska Native Language Center	http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/languages/stats/	Alaska Native Language Center	Alaska Native Languages Population and Speaker Statistics. http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/languages/stat (accessed 1-8-2015).		4,600	<430	2007	100-999	30 Alaska, <400 Canada. Population: 1,400 Alaska, 3,200 Canada.				Critically Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	15			15
		2022	Report on the Status of B.C. First Nations Languages (Fourth Edition)								https://fpcc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FPCC-LanguageReport-23.02.14-FINAL.pdf	Gessner, Suzanne, Tracey Herbertn and Aliana Parker			9,125	79 fluent and 124 semi-speakers. 748 language learners		10-99	Numbers for British Columbia only.	124	748

Sm̓algya̱x ( Coast Tsimshian)

Language metadata

Language information by source

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

48

Critically endangered

60 percent certain, based on the evidence available

250-400

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

58

Severely endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

106

Critically endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

320-470

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

<430

79 fluent and 124 semi-speakers. 748 language learners

Discussion

Sm̓algya̱x ( Coast Tsimshian)

Language metadata

Language information by source

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

48

Critically endangered

60 percent certain, based on the evidence available

250-400

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

58

Severely endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

106

Critically endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

320-470

Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

<430

79 fluent and 124 semi-speakers. 748 language learners

Discussion

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Sources of information

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