Page Type: languageKutenai | Ethnologue

KUT ISO 639-3

Kutenai

Ktunaxa Autonym

A language of Canada

ISO 639
kut
Alternate Names
Kootenai, Kootenay
Autonym
Ktunaxa
Population
25 in Canada (FPCC 2014). 20 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). Ethnic population: 1,150 (FPCC 2014). Total users in all countries: 245.
Location:
British Columbia province: Columbia Lake, Saint Mary’s, Tobacco Plains (Upper Kutenai dialect); British Columbia province: Lower Kutenai at Creston (Lower Kutenai dialect).
Language Status
8a (Moribund). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Chiniki, Lower Kootenay, Stoney, Tobacco Plains, Wesley.
Classification
Language isolate
Dialects
Lower Kutenai, Upper Kutenai.
Typology
Polysynthetic language; 21 consonants and 6 vowels (3 long, 3 short); obviative third person pronoun.
Language Use
Older adults only. Shifted to English [eng].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. Kutenai is offered as L2 course (1991). Retention efforts underway in most locations (Golla 2007).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kutenai
Writing
Latin script [Latn].

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kutenai
User Population
220 in United States (2015 census), decreasing. Ethnic population: 360 (2000 census).
Location
Idaho: Flathead Reservation; Montana.
Language Status
8a (Moribund)
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: British Columbia province: Columbia Lake, Saint Mary’s, Tobacco Plains (Upper Kutenai dialect); British Columbia province: Lower Kutenai at Creston (Lower Kutenai dialect).