Page Type: languageNorthern Straits Salish | Ethnologue

STR ISO 639-3

Northern Straits Salish

A language of Canada

ISO 639
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Alternate Names
North Straits Salish, SENĆOŦEN, Straits, Straits Salish
Population
107 in Canada, all users. L1 users: 7 in Canada (FPCC 2014). 100 semi-speakers (FPCC 2014). L2 users: 100. Ethnic population: 3,060 (FPCC 2014). Total users in all countries: 112 (as L1: 12; as L2: 100).
Location:
British Columbia province: southern Vancouver Island, many islands in the Salish Sea.
Language Status
8b (Nearly extinct). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Esquimalt, Pauquachin, Semiahmoo, Songhees, T’Sou-ke, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum.
Classification
Salish, Central Salish
Dialects
Saanich (SENĆOŦEN), Semiahmoo (SEMYOME, Tah-tu-lo), Songhees (Lək̓ʷəŋən, Lekwungen, Lkwungen, Songish), T’Souke (Sooke, Ts’ooke, Tʼsou-ke, c̓awk), Malchosen (Malahat, Samish).
Language Use
Ts’ooke, Semiahmoo, and Songish dialects have no remaining speakers. Ceremonies, tribal identity. Elderly only. Most shifted to English [eng].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 100%. Literacy rate high among L1 speakers. Dictionary. Grammar.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Northern Straits Salish
User Population
5 in United States (Golla 2007). 5 speakers but mixed with other dialects and do not form a distinct speech community. No L1 speakers of Lummi (Golla 2007).
Location
Washington: San Juan Islands (Samish dialect), Lummi island, Boundary bar area (Lummi dialect).
Dialects
Lummi (Xwlemiʼchosen), Samish (Siʔneməš), Songish, Semiahmoo (SEMYOME). Semiahmoo, Ts’ooke, and Songish dialects are extinct.
Language Status
8b (Nearly extinct)
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: British Columbia province: southern Vancouver Island, many islands in the Salish Sea.