Page Type: languageNisga’a | Ethnologue

NCG ISO 639-3

Nisga’a

Nisga’a Autonym

A language of Canada

ISO 639
ncg
Alternate Names
Nass, Nisgha, Nishga, Nishka, Nisk’a, Nisqa’a
Autonym
Nisga’a
Population
2,360, all users. L1 users: 860 (FPCC 2014). 1,380 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). L2 users: 1,500. Ethnic population: 5,430 (FPCC 2014).
Location:
British Columbia province: Aiyansh (Ay’ans), Canyon City (Gitwinksihlkw), Greenville (Laxtalts’ap or Gitxat’in), Kincolith (Gingolx) villages on lower Nass river valley.
Language Status
7 (Shifting). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Nisga’a Village of Gingolx, Nisga’a Village of Gitwinksihlkw, Nisga’a Village of Laxgalt’sap, Nisga’a Village of New Aiyansh.
Classification
Tsimshian, Nass-Gitksan
Dialects
Variation within Nisga’a not great enough to be considered dialects. High degree of inherent intelligibility between Nisga’a and Gitxsan [git].
Typology
VSO; prepositions; genitives after noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; relatives without noun heads; question word initial in sentence; 3 or 4 prefixes, 1 inflectional suffix; word order distinguishes subjects, objects, indirect objects, given and new information, topic and comment; verb affixes mark person and number of subject and object unless obscured by phonological rule; pronominal system is fully ergative; morphological passives, but not by construction; direct causatives indicated by suffixes, indirect (jussive) by prefix; CVC; nontonal.
Language Use
Taught in public school since 1976 and at local community college and the University of Northern British Columbia (Golla 2007). Adults only. Shifting to English [eng]. Some also use Tsimshian [tsi], especially older people. Used as L2 by Gitxsan [git].
Language Development
Schools try to teach oral and written Nisga’a. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1890–1897.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nisga’a
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Nisga’a consider Gitxsan [git] ethnically distinct. Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: British Columbia province: Aiyansh (Ay’ans), Canyon City (Gitwinksihlkw), Greenville (Laxtalts’ap or Gitxat’in), Kincolith (Gingolx) villages on lower Nass river valley.