Gitxsan language

The Gitxsan language /ˈɡɪtsæn/, or Gitxsanimaax (also rendered Gitksan, Giatikshan, Gityskyan, Giklsan and Sim Algyax), is an endangered Tsimshianic language of northwestern British Columbia, closely related to the neighboring Nisga’a language. The two groups are, however, politically separate and prefer to refer to Gitxsan and Nisga'a as distinct languages. According to the Report on the status of B.C First Nations Languages there are 523 fluent speakers, 639 that understand or somewhat speak and 344 learning speakers.

Gitxsan
Gitxsanimaax, Gitxsanimx
Native toCanada
RegionSkeena region, British Columbia
Ethnicity5,680 Gitxsan
Native speakers
1,020 (2016 census)
Tsimshianic
  • Nass–Gitksan
    • Gitxsan
Language codes
ISO 639-3git
Glottologgitx1241
ELPGitsenimx̱
Gitksan is classified as Severely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
PeopleGitx̱san
LanguageGitxsanimaax
CountryGitx̱san Lax̱yip

Gitxsan means "People of the Skeena River" (Ksan being the name of the Skeena in Gitxsan).

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