This is a 2015 literature review about language nests, focusing on the diversity of approaches to
Also Known As:
Kanienʼkeha, Kanien'kehaka, Kanyenʼkéha
Dialects & Varieties
- Ohsweken
- Kahnawake (Caughnawaga)
- Kanehsatake (Oka)
- Thayendinaga
- Wahta
- Ahkwesahsne (St. Regis)
- Wahta (Gibson)
Kanien'keha (Mohawk, United States and Canada) - Language Snapshot
Pentangelo, Joseph. 2020. Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) (United States and Canada) - Language Snapshot . Language Documentation and Description 19, 1-8. http://www.elpublishing.org/PID/203
Threatened
80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
about 3,800
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Transmission
Transmission 1
Most adults in the community, and some children, are speakers.
1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
No results found.
Location and Context
Countries
Originally centered in the Mohawk Valley of New York State, USA, but as far as Pennsylvania, and Ontario and Quebec Provinces, Canada. Now used in eight communities: Akwesane, Kahnawake, Kanesatake, Six Nations, Wahta, Tyendinaga, Ganienkeh, and Kanatsiohareke. .
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
yes
Institutional Support
yes
Speakers' Attitude
Robust language revitalisation efforts are ongoing, and the language is of great cultural importance to the Kanien’kehá:ka people. Several immersion programs offer language classes. Websites and apps support digital learning and communication.
Code-switching is frequent in conversations.
Code-switching is frequent in conversations.
Other Languages Used By The Community
North American English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
In the 18th & 19th centuries, English and French speaking missionaries developed separate orthographies. In the 1970s, educators, translators, and Elders in Kahnawake and Kanesatake developed a new orthography using the French basis with additional features. In the 1990s, this was further refined to accommodate community dialect differences.
Used online in a variety of textual registers from casual social media to pedagogical content.
Used online in a variety of textual registers from casual social media to pedagogical content.
Recent Resources
Language Revitalization, Education, and Learning
Language Documentation, Research, and Archiving
Language in the Community
Language in Society
Language Revitalization, Education, and Learning
Language in the Community
Language in Society
This article presents a women's group; Kontiwennenha:Wi, who sing in their native language; Kanye
Language Revitalization, Education, and Learning
Language in the Community
A conversation with Six Nations Auntie emergent Otsistohkwí:yo Melissa Elliott.
