Languages of the Northwest Coast

Abstract

Abstract The narrow strip of area on the North American continent, along some 1,600 km of coastline from the southernmost part of the state of Alaska to the southern state border of Oregon, within which languages of an astonishing number and varied types are embraced, and with which we deal in the present chapter, matches fairly closely (though not exactly: see immediately below) one of the so-called “culture areas “ of Native North America (cf. Kroeber 1939): the “Northwest Coast “. Much the same as in all other parts of the North American continent (and beyond), the Northwest Coast has also seen the devastating effect of the arrival of the Europeans on the languages and cultures of the indigenous peoples. As a result, the number of speakers and the use of the Native languages in this region have declined significantly, and many languages have already lost all speakers.