Getting to the Root </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:47 PM on Thursday, May 3, 2007

Getting to the Root

By SERGE LECOMTE

Did you know that 20 Native languages are spoken in Alaska? At last count (2001) the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks lists the following:

* 2,200 Aleuts: 300 speakers

* 3,000 Alutiiq: 400 speakers

* 13,500 Inupiat: 3,000 speakers mostly over 40

* 21,000 Central Alaskan Yup'ik: 10,000 speakers

* 1,100 Siberian Yup'ik: 1,050 speakers

* 1,300 Tshimian: not more than 70 of the most elderly speak it

* 600 Haida: about 15 of the most elderly speak it

* 10,000 Tlingit: 500 speakers

* 50 Eyak: one remained in 2001

* 500 Ahtna Athabascan: close to 80 speakers

* 900 Dena'ina Athabascan: 75 speakers

* 275 Ingalik people: 40 speak Deg Xinag Athabascan

* 200 Holikachuk Athabascan: 12 speakers

* 160 Upper Kuskokwim Athabascan: 40 still speak the language

* 2,300 Koyukon Athabascan: 300 speakers

* 380 Tanana Athabascan: 30 speakers

* 220 Tanacross Athabascan: 65 speakers

* 300 Upper Tanana Athabascan: 105 speakers

* 1,100 Gwinch'in: 300 speakers

* 50 Han Athabascan: 12 speakers

Dr. Serge Lecomte graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in linguistics. He taught Russian and Spanish at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He has lived in the Homer area since 1999 and writes plays and novels for fun.