Heiltsuk–Oowekyala language

Heiltsuk–Oowekyala is a Northern Wakashan (Kwakiutlan) language spoken in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, spoken by the Wuikinuxv (Oweekeno) and Heiltsuk peoples. It has two dialects, Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) and Oowekyala (Wuikyala), which unlike other Wakashan languages are tonal. It has no traditional name, so the hyphenated construction Heiltsuk–Oowekyala is used by linguists. Ethnologue calls this language "Heiltsuk", with the Bella Bella dialect (Heiltsuk) labelled "Northern Heiltsuk" and the Oowekyala dialect labeled "Southern Heiltsuk".

Heiltsuk–Oowekyala
RegionNorthern Central Coast Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
Ethnicity2,530 Heiltsuk and Oowekyala people (2014, FPCC)
Native speakers
60 Heiltsuk and 6 Oowekyala (2014, FPCC)
Wakashan
  • Northern
    • Heiltsuk–Oowekyala
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3hei
Glottologheil1246
ELPHailhzaqvla (Heiltsuk)

Heiltsuk [ɦiɬtsʰaqʷ] is spoken by the Bella Bella [pʰəlbálá] and Haihais [xíxís] peoples; Oowekyala [ʔuwíkʼala] by the Wuikinuxv [ʔuwikʼinuxʷ].

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