This article should specify the language of its non-English content using {{lang}} or {{langx}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used - notably ems for Pacific Gulf Yupik.See why.(January 2025)
The Alutiiq language (also called Sugpiak, Sugpiaq,[3]Sugcestun,[4]Suk,[4]Supik,[3][4]Pacific Gulf Yupik, Gulf Yupik,[4]Koniag-Chugach) is a close relative to the Central Alaskan Yup'ik language spoken in the western and southwestern Alaska, but is considered a distinct language.
The ethnonyms of the Sugpiaq-Alutiiq are a predicament.[5]Aleut, Alutiiq, Sugpiaq, Russian, Pacific Eskimo, Unegkuhmiut, and Chugach Eskimo are among the terms that have been used to identify this group of Native people living on the Lower Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.
About 400 of the Alutiiq population of 3,000 still speak the Alutiiq language. Alutiiq communities are currently in the process of revitalizing their language. In 2010 the high school in Kodiak responded to requests from students and agreed to teach the Alutiiq language. The Kodiak dialect of the language was spoken by only about 50 persons, all of them elderly, and the dialect was in danger of being lost entirely.[6] As of 2014, Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage is offering classes using the "Where Are Your Keys?" technique.[7]
^A /χʷ/ sound sometimes occurs, and is either written as ur, or occurs as a sound of a syllable-final rw; /ʁʷ/, and occurs as an allophone of /ʁʷ/ after consonants like /q/.
^[w] is an allophone of /ɣʷ/ syllable-finally and elsewhere.
Consonants may be geminated (e.g. kk; [kː]). Two consecutive identical consonants are pronounced either separately or as a geminate depending on dialect.[8] More consonants /ɾ~r,lʲ,rʲ/ are found in loanwords.
All vowels except /ə/ are considered full vowels and can be either short or long. /ə/ does not lengthen and does not occur in vowel clusters but may tend to be devoiced as [ə̥] next to other consonants.[9]
Bass, Willard P.; Tennant, Edward A.; Anahonak, Carl (1973). Test of Oral Language Dominance Sugpiaq Aleut-English. Albuquerque: Southwest Research Association.
Counceller, April Gale Laktonen; Leer, Jeff; Alokli, Nick (2006). Kodiak Alutiiq Conversational Phrasebook With Audio CD. Kodiak, Alaska: Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository. ISBN1-929650-02-7.
Leer, Jeff; Anahonak, Carl; Moonin, Arthur; Tabios, Derenty (2003). Nanwalegmiut paluwigmiut-llu nupugnerit = Conversational Alutiiq dictionary : Kenai Peninsula Alutiiq. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Leer, Jeff; Zeedar, Nina (1990). Classroom Grammar of Koniag Alutiiq, Kodiak Island Dialect. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Leer, Jeff; Christiansen, Matrona; Lind, Doris; Phillips, Thomas; Phillips, Ralph (1996). A Short Dictionary of Alaska Peninsula Sugtestun & Alaska Peninsula Alutiiq Workbook. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. ISBN1-55500-060-6.
Pratt Museum (2003). Qulianguat Kiputʹsluki = Bringing the Stories Back : Alutiiq Sugpiaq Remembrances of the Outer Coast of Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Homer, AK: Pratt Museum.
Russell, Priscilla N. (1991). English Bay and Port Graham Alutiiq Plantlore. Homer, AK: Pratt Museum, Homer Society of Natural History.
Steffian, Amy F.; Pestrikof, Florence (1999). Alutiiq Word of the Week. Kodiak, AK: Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository. ISBN1-929650-00-0.
