Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Tsimshian language

Tsimshian language

9.9
A native language spoken by the Tsimshian people in British Columbia and Alaska
  • noun
: idioma tsimshian
  • Efforts are being made to preserve the Tsimshian language for future generations.

Examples

  • The Tsimshian language is still spoken by several hundred people in British Columbia and Alaska.

  • Linguists study the Tsimshian language to learn about the Penutian language family.

  • The Tsimshian language is rich in cultural expressions.

  • Many children are learning the Tsimshian language in school.

  • Efforts are being made to preserve the Tsimshian language for future generations.

  • The Tsimshian language is still spoken by several hundred people in British Columbia and Alaska.

  • Many children are learning the Tsimshian language in school.

Synonyms

Tsimshian
vsTsimshian language
1 9.9

A language spoken by a native people who live in British Columbia and southern Alaska

is the full phrase form used instead of the shorter name

Surface Forms

Tsimshian language singular
Tsimshian languages plural

Morphology

Tsimshian + language

The phrase 'Tsimshian language' is transparently compositional: it combines the proper noun 'Tsimshian' with 'language' to mean 'the language spoken by the Tsimshian people.' This is a standard, cross-linguistically common naming pattern (e.g. 'Spanish language', 'Japanese language'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will easily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Tsimshian language is the native speech of the Tsimshian people who live on the coast of British Columbia and Alaska; the name comes from the people who speak it, so it means 'the language of the Tsimshian'.