Eskimo–Aleut languages

This article is about the Eskimo–Aleut language family. For discussion of the term "Eskimo", see Eskimo#Nomenclature.

Eskimo–Aleut
Eskaleut
Geographic distribution:	Alaska, Canadian Arctic, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Greenland, eastern Siberia
Linguistic classification:	Eskimo–Aleut
Proto-language:	Proto-Eskimo–Aleut Proto-Eskimo
Subdivisions:	Eskimo Aleut
ISO 639-5:	esx
Glottolog:	eski1264
Eskimo–Aleut languages spoken in Alaska, Canada and Greenland

Eskimo–Aleut or Eskaleut is a language family native to Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Greenland, and the Chukchi Peninsula on the eastern tip of Siberia. It is also known as Eskaleutian, Eskaleutic, or Inuit–Yupik-Unangan.

The Eskimo–Aleut language family is divided into two branches, the Eskimo languages and the Aleut language.

The Aleut language family consists of a single language, Aleut, spoken in the Aleutian Islands and the Pribilof Islands. Aleut is divided into several dialects.

The Eskimo languages are divided into two branches, the Yupik languages, spoken in western and southwestern Alaska and in easternmost Siberia, and the Inuit languages, spoken in northern Alaska, in Canada, and in Greenland. Inuit, which covers a huge range of territory, is divided into several varieties. Neighbouring varieties of Inuit are quite similar, although those at the farthest distances from the centre in the Diomede Islands and East Greenland are quite divergent.

The proper place of one language, Sirenik, within the Eskimo family has not been settled. Some linguists list it as a branch of Yupik, others as a separate branch of the Eskimo family, alongside Yupik and Inuit.

The Alaska Native Language Center believes that the common ancestral language of the Eskimo languages and of Aleut divided into the Eskimo and Aleut branches at least 4000 years ago. The Eskimo language family divided into the Yupik and Inuit branches around 1000 years ago.

The Eskimo–Aleut languages are among the native languages of the Americas. This is a geographical category, not a linguistic one. The Eskimo–Aleut languages are not demonstrably related to the other language families of North America and are believed to represent a separate, and the last, prehistoric migration of people from Asia.

Classification of the family

Eskimo–Aleut languages

Aleut

Western–Central dialects: Atkan, Attuan, Unangan, Bering (60–80 speakers)

Eastern dialects: Unalaskan, Pribilof (400 speakers)

Eskimo languages (or Yupik–Inuit languages)

Yupik

Central Alaskan Yup'ik (10,000 speakers)

General Central Alaskan Yup’ik language (or Yugtun)

Chevak Cup’ik (or Cugtun)

Nunivak Cup'ig (or Cugtun)

Alutiiq or Pacific Gulf Yupik (400 speakers)

Central Siberian Yupik or Yuit (Chaplinon and St. Lawrence Island, 1,400 speakers)

Naukan (70 speakers)

Chaplinski

Sirenik (extinct) (viewed as an independent branch by some)

Inuit (98,000 speakers)

Inupiaq or Inupiat (northern Alaska, 3,500 speakers)

Qawiaraq (Seward Peninsula)

Inuvialuktun (western Canada, 765 speakers)

Kangiryuarmiutun (Ulukhaktok sometimes listed as Inuinnaqtun)

Siglitun (Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk)

Uummarmiutun (Aklavik, Inuvik from Inupiaq)

Inuktitut (eastern Canada; together with Inuinnaqtun, 40,000 speakers)

Nunatsiavummiutut (Nunatsiavut, 550 speakers)

Inuttitut (Nunavik, 35,000 speakers)

Greenlandic (Greenland, 54,000 speakers)

Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic, 50,000 speakers)

Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic, 3,500 speakers)

Inuktun (Polar Eskimo, approx 1,000 speakers)

Position among the world's language families

Eskimo–Aleut does not have any genetic relationship to any of the world's other language families that is generally accepted by linguists at the present time. There is general agreement that it is not closely related to the other language families of North America. The more credible proposals on the external relations of Eskimo–Aleut all concern one or more of the language families of northern Eurasia, such as Chukchi–Kamchatkan just across the Bering Strait. One of the first such proposals was made by the pioneering Danish linguist Rasmus Rask in 1818, upon noticing similarities between Greenlandic Eskimo and Finnish. Perhaps the most fully developed such proposal to date is Michael Fortescue's Uralo-Siberian hypothesis, published in 1998. More recently Joseph Greenberg (2000–2002) suggested grouping Eskimo–Aleut with all of the language families of northern Eurasia, with the exception of Yeniseian, in a proposed language family called Eurasiatic. Such proposals are not generally accepted.

In the 1960s Swadesh suggested a connection with the Wakashan languages. This was picked up and expanded by Holst (2005).

Notable features

The Eskimo–Aleut languages are affixally polysynthetic and exclusively suffixing (with the exception of one prefix in Inuktitut which appears in demonstratives).

Every word must have only one root (free morpheme) always at the beginning. Eskimo–Aleut languages have a relatively small number of roots – in the case of Central Alaskan Yup'ik around two thousand. Following the root are a number of postbases, which are bound morphemes that add to the basic meaning of the root. If the meaning of the postbase is to be expressed alone, a special neutral root (in the case of Central Alaskan Yup'ik and Inuktitut pi) is used.

Following the postbases are non-lexical suffixes that indicate case on nouns and person and mood on verbs. The number of cases varies, with Aleut languages having a greatly reduced case system compared to Eskimo. The Eskimo languages are ergative–absolutive in nouns and in Yup'ik languages, also in verbal person marking. All Eskimo–Aleut languages have obligatory verbal agreement with agent and patient in transitive clauses, and there are special suffixes used for this purpose in subordinate clauses, which makes these languages, like most in the North Pacific, highly complement deranking.

At the end of a word there can be one of a small number of clitics with meanings such as "but" or indicating a polar interrogative.

Phonologically, the Eskimo–Aleut languages resemble other languages of northern North America and far eastern Siberia. There are usually only three vowels, a, i and u, though some Yup'ik dialects also have ə. All Eskimo-Aleut languages lack ejectives, which makes them areally akin to Northern Chukotko-Kamchatkan rather than such “Amerind” families as Na-Dene or Tsimshianic. Eskimo–Aleut languages possess voiceless plosives at the bilabial, coronal, velar and uvular positions in all languages except Aleut, which has lost the bilabial stops but retained the nasal. There are contrasting voiced and voiceless fricatives at the same positions, and in the Eskimo subfamily a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative is also present. A rare feature of many dialects of Yup'ik and Aleut is contrasting voiceless nasals.

Vocabulary comparison

The following is a comparison of cognates among the basic vocabulary across the Eskimo–Aleut language family (about 60 words). Note that empty cells do not imply that a particular language is lacking a word to describe the concept, but rather that the word for the concept in that language is formed from another stem and is not a cognate with the other words in the row. Also, there may be shifts in the meaning from one language to another, and so the "common meaning" given is only approximate. In some cases the form given is found only in some dialects of the language. Forms are given in native Latin orthographies unless otherwise noted.

	common meaning	Aleut	Proto-Eskimo	Naukan Yupik	Sirenik	Siberian Yupik	Alutiiq	Yup'ik	Seward Inupiaq	Qawiaraq	Malimiutun	North Slope	Uummarmiutun	Siglitun	Inuinnaqtun	Natsilik	Kivalliq	Aivilik	North Baffin	South Baffin	Nunavik	Labrador Inuttut	North Greenlandic	West Greenlandic	East Greenlandic
Persons
	Human being (Shaman word's)	taĝu	taʁu	yuk	tarex	taghu	taru	taru	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	tau	taa	taa
	(Grand)father	adax̂/taatax̂	*ata *ata-ata	ata	ata	ata	ata	aata	ata/ava	ata/ava	aapa/taata	aapa	aapa/ata	aappak/ataatak	aappak	ataata	ataata	ataata	ataata	ataata	ataata	ataata	ataata	ataataq	alaala
	Mother	anax̂	*ana *ana-ana	aana/aanaq	nana	naa/ana	aana	aana	aaga	aaga	aaka	aaka	aaka	amaamak/aana	amaamak/anaana	anaana	anaana	anaana	anaana	anaana	anaana	anaana	anaana	anaanaq	annivik
	Son		*iʁni-ʁ	ighneq	irnex	ighneq	irneq	irneq	irniq	irniq	irñiq	irñiq	irñiq	irniq	irniq	irniq	irniq	irniq	irniq	irniq	irniq	innik	irniq	erneq	irniq
	Daughter		*paniɣ	panik	panex	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik	panik
	Older brother (of female)	huyux̂	*aNǝ-LГun	anellgute/anellguteq	anta	aningak	anngaq	anngaq	ani	ani	ani	ani	ani	aniraaluk	ani	ani	ani	ani	ani	ani	ani	anik	ani	ani	ani
	Older sister (of male)	uhngix	*aleqa		nuskit	alqaq	aɫqaq	aliraq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqaq	aliqannaq	angajuk	angajuk	angajuk	aliqa	aleqaq	alara
	Young brother (of female)	kingii	*nukaq		ungjex	uyughaq	uyuwaq	uyuraq	nukaq	nukaq	nukaaluk	nukaaluk	nukaq	nukaq	nukaq	nukaq	mukaq	nukaq	nukaq	nukaq	nukaq	nukak	nukaq	nukaq	nukaq
	Young sister (of male)	uhngix	*nayak		najex	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	nayak	najak	najak	najak	najak	najaatsuk	najak	najak	najak
	Husband	ugi	*uɣi	ui	uga	ugwik	wik	wii	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	ui	uik	ui	ui	uviq
	Wife	ayagax̂	*nuLiaq	nuliaq	nucix	nuliiq	nuliq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliak	nuliaq	nuliaq	nuliaq
	Family/Relative	ilaanux̂	*ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila	ila
	Man	tayaĝux̂	*aŋu-nt		angeta	angun	angun	angun	angun	angun	angun	angun	angun	angun	angun	angut	angut	angut	anguti	anguti	anguti	angutik	angut	angut	tikkaq
	Woman	ayaĝax̂	*aʁnaq	arnax	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	arnaq	annak	arnaq	arnaq	nuliakkaaq
	Boy	hlax	*aleqa	nukeɫpegaẋ	nukaɫpegaq	nukaɫpiaq	nukaɫpiaq	nugatpiaq	nugatpiaq	nukatpiaq	nukatpiaq	nukatpiaq	nukatpiraq	nukatpiaq	nukatpiaq	nukatpiaq	nukappiaq	nukappiaq	nukappiaq	nukappiaq	nukappiak	nukappiaq	nukappiraq	nugappiaq
	Girl	ayaĝaadax̂	*nǝvi(a)ʁc(ǝɣ)a-	náẋserráẋ	neveghsaq		neviarcaq	niaqsaaʁruk	niaqsiaʁruk	niviaqsiaʁruk	niviaqsiaʁruk	niviakkaq	niviaqsiraq	niviaqhiaq	niviaqhiaq	niviakkiaq	niviaqsiaq	niviaqsaaq	niviaqsiaq	niviatsiaq	niviatsiak	niviarhiaq	niviarsiaraq	niiarsiaq
	Person	anĝaĝinax̂	*inguɣ	jux	yuk	suk	yuk/cuk	inuk	inuk	iñuk	iñuk	iñuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	inuk	iik
	Mother-in-law		*caki	saka	saki	caki	cakiq	sagi	chagi	saki	saki	hakigaq	saki	haki	haki	hakigaq	saki	saki	saki	saki	sakik	haki	saki	saqiq/sagiq
Personal pronouns	I or me (singular)	ting	*vi	menga	hwanga	w'iinga	w'iinga	wanga	uanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvanga	uvaqa	uvak	uanga	uanga	uara
	all of two us (two) (dual)	tingix	*vik		hwagakuk	w'iingakuk	w'iingakuk	waguk	uaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk	uvaguk
	we or us/all of us (plural)	tingin(s)	*vit	mengaketa	hwagakuta	w'iingakuta	w'iingakuta	wagut	uagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uvagut	uagut	uagut	uangit
	you (singular)	txin	*ǝɫ-vǝn-t	ɫpi	ɫpet	eɫpet	eɫpet	ivlin	ilvin	ilvich	ilvich	ilvik	ilvit	ilvit	ivrit/itvin	igvin/idvin	igvit	ivvit	ivvit	ivvit	iffit	ihhit/i'lit	iɫɫit	ittit
	you two (dual)	txidix	*ǝɫ-ptek		ɫpetek	eɫpetek	eɫpetek	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	iliptik	ilissik	ilittik	ilittik	ilittik
	yourselves/all of you (plural)	txichix	*ǝɫ-vcet	ɫpisi	ɫpesi	eɫpici	eɫpeci	ilipsi	ilipsi	ilivsi	ilivsi	iliffi	ilipsi	iliffi	iliphi	iliphi	ilipsi	ilissi	ilitsi	ilitsi	ilitsi	ilissi	ilissi	ilitsi
	he/she/it	ilaa/uda	*ǝɫ-ŋa *una	langa/una	lnga/una	elen/una	elii/una	ilaa/una	ilaa/una	ilaa/una	ilaa/una	ilaa/una	ilaa/una	una	una	una	una	una	una	una	una	una	una	una
	thyself/themselves/itself	ilaan(s)/udan(s)	*ǝɫ-ŋat *ukuat	langwi/uket	lngit/ukut	elita/ukut	eliita/ukut	ilaat/ugua	ilaat/ugua	ilaat/ukua	ilaat/ukua	ilaat/ukua	ilaat/ukua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ukua/ukkua	ugua/ukkua
	I, me (affixes)	-kuq	*tua *kuq	-jua	-tua	-tua	-tua, -runga	-runga	-runga	-runga	-runga	-yunga, -yuami	-yunga	-yunga	-runga	-yunga	-junga	-junga	-junga	-junga	-junga	-junga	-punga,sunga	-pua, lua
	you (affixes)	-kuxt	*it	-jet	-ten	-ten	-ten	-rutin	-rutin	-rutin	-rutin	-rutin	-yutin	-yutin	-rutit	-yutit	-jutit	-jutit	-jutit	-jutit	-jutit	-hutit	-sutit	-sulit
	he/she/it (affixes)	-kux	*tuq	-jix	-tuq	-tuq	-tuq	-ruq	-ruq	-ruq	-ruq	-ruq	-yuaq	-yuq	-ruq	-yuq	-yuq	-juq	-juq	-juq	-juk	-huq	-soq, poq	-tuq, puq
	my (affixes)	-ng	*nga	-ka/qa	-ka/qa	-ka/qa	-ka/qa	-ka/qa	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-ga	-ga/ra	-ga/ra	-nga/ra
	your (affixes)	-n	*in	-n	-n	-n	-n	-n	-n	-n	-n	-n	-n	-t	-t	-t	-t	-it	-it	-it	-it	-t	-t	-t
	his/her/its (affixes)	-(n)gan	*ngan	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a	-nga/a
	he/she...her/him/it	-kuu/qaa	*jaa/kaa	-jaa/kaa	-taa/kaa	-taa/kaa	-taa/kaa	-raa/gaa	-raa/gaa	-raa/gaa	-raa/gaa	-yaa/gaa	-yaa/gaa	-raa/gaa	-yaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-jaa/gaa	-saa/gaa	-laa/ngaa
	Who (Interrogate)	kiin	*kina	kiin	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kina	kia
	What (Interrogate)	alqux	*caŋu	sangǝ̄́ca	sangwa/suna	cacaq	cacaq/tcauna	suna	sua	sua	suna/suva	huna	suna	huna	huna	huna	suna	kisu	suna	suna	suna	kihu	suna/sua	kisik
	Why (Interrogate)	alqul(-usaal)	*caŋu	sangaami	sangami	cin/caluni	ciin/caluni	suami	suami	summan/suvataa	summan/suvataa	huuq	suuq	huuq	huuq	huuq	suuq	suuq	sungmat	sumut	summat	huuq	suuq	suuq
	Where (Interrogate)	qaataa	*nani	nani	nani/naa/sami	nama/nani	nani/cami	naung/nani	naunga/nani	sumi/nani/naung	sumi/nani/naung	humi/nani/nau	sumi/nani/naung	humi/nani/naung	humi/naung	nani/naung	sumi/nauk	nani/nauk	nami/nani	nami/nani	nami/nani	humi	sumi	sumi
	When (Past/future) (Interrogate)	qanaayam	*qanga/qaku	qanga/qaku	qavnga/kaku	qangwaq/qaku	qangvaq/qaku	qanga/qagun	qanga/qagu	qaglaan/qaku	qanga/qaku	qanga/qaku	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qakugu	kanga/kakugu	qanga/qakugu	qanga/qaqugu	qanga/qara
	How (Interrogate)	alqutal	*qanuq	qanex	qayuq	qayuq	qayuq/cangstun	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	qanuq	kanuk	qanuq	qanoq	qaniq
Body parts	Chin	tsamlu	*tsamlu	tamla	tamlu	tamluq	tamlu	tavlu	tavluq	tavlu	tavlu	tavlu	tablu	tablu	tablu	tablu	tablu	tallu	tallu	tallu	talluk	taddu	taɫɫu	tattuq
	Heart	kanuux̂	*uŋ-uma-	ungevata	unguvan	unguwan	unguvan	uumman	uumman	uumman	uumman	uumman	uumman	uumman	uummat	uummat	uummat	uummati	uummati	uummati	uummatik	uummat	uummat	iimmat
	Blood	aamaaxs	*aruɣ	acex/arux	awk	auk	auk	awk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	auk	aak	aak
	Head	kamĝix̂	*ńarǝ-qu-	iiceqeẋ	naasquq/nayquq	nasquq	nacquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niaquq	niakuk	niaquq	niaqoq	suuniq
	Hair	iimlix	*ńujaq	nujǝẋ/jujǝẋ	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nuyaq	nujaq	nujaq	nujaq	nujaq	nujak	nujaq	nujaq	nujaq
	Eye	dax̂	*irǝ	eca	iya	ii/iingaq	ii/iingaq	izi	izi	iri	iri	iyi	iyi	iyi	iri	iyi	iji	iji	iji	iji	ijik	ihi	isi	ili
	Eyelash	dam qaxsaa	*qǝmǝʁja-	qemerjax/seqpix	qemeryaq/siqpik	qemeryaq/ciqpik	qemeryaq/ciqpek	qimiriaq/siqpiq	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/hiqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/hiqpik	qimiriaq/hiqpik	qimiriaq/hiqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	qimiriaq/siqpik	kimigiak/sippik	qimiriaq/hiqpik	qimeriaq/serpik	qimiiaq/sirpik
	Ear	tutusix̂	*ciɣunt	siigeta	sigun	cuun	ciun	siun	siun	siun	siun	hiun	siun	hiun	hiut	hiut	siut	siuti	siuti	siuti	siutik	hiut	siut	siit/*tusaat
	Nose	angusix̂	*qǝŋa-	qengax	qengaq	qengaq	qengaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq	kingak	qingaq	qingaq	qingaq
	Arm	chuyux̂	*taɫi-	jaqex	taɫiq	taɫiq	taɫiq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	taliq	talik	taliq	taleq	taliq
	Hand	chax̂	*arɣa	ácxeẋ	aykaq	aikaq	aikaq	agrak	agraq	argak	argak	argak	adjgak *aygak	algak	argak	adjgak	aggak	aggak	aggak	aggak	aggak	aghak	assak	attak
	Finger	atx̂ux̂	*ińura-	nurax	yughaq	suaraq	yuaraq	inugaq	inugaq	iñugaq	iñugaq	iñugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugaq	inugak	inugaq	inuaq	iiaq
	Fingernail		*kikra		kiikiak			kigiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kikiak	kigiak
	Belly	xax	*aqja	aqii	aqyaq	aqsaq	aqsaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	aqiaq	akiak	aqiaq	aqajaq	ariaq
	Navel	qiihliqdax̂	*qacaɫǝʁ	qaɫasex	qasaɫeq	qaɫaciq	qaɫaciq	qalaziq	qalachiq	qalasriq	qalasiq	qalahiq	qalasiq	qalahiq	qalahiq	qalahiq	qalasiq	qalasiq	qalasiq	qalasiq	kalasik	qalahiq	qalaseq
	Knee	chidiĝix	*ciɣǝr-qu	sigesqeẋ	serquq	cisquq	ciisquq	siitquq	siitquq	siitquq	siitquq	hiitquq	siitquq	hiitquq	hiitquq	hiitquq	siiqquq	siiqquq	siiqquq	siirquq	siikkuk	hiiqquq	siiqqoq
	Calf	tugaadix̂	*nakacuɣ-na-	nakasegnax	nakasugnaq	nakacugnaq	nakacugnaq	nakasungnaq	nakasungnaq	nakasrungnaq	nakasungnaq	nakahungnaq	nakasungnaq	nakahungnaq	nakahungnaq	nakahungnaq	nakasungnaq	nakasungnaq	nakasunnaq	nakasunnaq	nakasunnak	nakahungnaq	nakasunnaaq
	Foot	kitax̂	*itǝɣ-(a-)	ítegá	itegaq	itaq	itgaq	itigak	itigaq	isigak	isigak	ihigak	itigak	itigak	ihigak	itigak	itigak	isigak	itigak	itigak	itigak	ihigak	isigak
	Anus	idiĝasix̂	*ǝtǝʁ	tex	eteq	eteq	teq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itiq	itik	itiq	iteq	iliq? *kiaavik
Animals	Caribou	itx̂aygix̂	*tuŋtu	tumta	tungtu	tuntu	tuntu	tuttu	tuttu	tuttu	tuttu	tuttu	tuktu	tuktu	tuktu	tuktu	tuktu	tuktu	tuttu	tuttu	tuttuk	tuktu	tuttu	tuttuq
	Swan	qukingix̂	*quɣruɣ	qerúmɫeráẋ	quuk	qugyuq	qugyuq	qugruk	qugruk	qugruk	qugruk	qugruk	qugyuk	qugyuk	qugyuk	qugyuk	qugjuk	qugjuk	qujjuk	qujjuk	kutjuk	qughuk	qussuk	qutsuk
	Canada Goose	laĝix̂	*lǝqlǝʁ	leẋɫeẋ	leghɫeq	neqɫeq	neqɫeq	lirliq	lirliq	lirliq	nirliq	nirliq	nirliq	nirliq	nirliq	nirliq	lirliq/nirliq	nirliq	nirliq	nirliq	nillik	nirliq	nerɫeq	nirtiq
	Killer Whale	aglux̂	*aʁɫuɣ	arɫux?	arɫuk	aqɫuk	arɫuk	aarlu	aarlu	aarlu	aarlu	aarlu	aarlu	aarlu	aarluk	aarluk	aarluk	aarluk	aarluk	aarluk	aalluk	aarluk	aarɫuk	aartiq?
	Groundhog/Arctic squirrel	sixsix	*sigsik	siksix	sikik	cikik	cikik	siksrik	chiksrik	siksrik	siksrik	siksrik	siksik	hikhik	hiksik	hikhik	siksik	siksi	sitsik	sitsik	sitsik	highik	sissi	sitsiq
	Ptarmigan	aĝdiikax̂	*aqărɣiʁ	aqergex	aqargiiq/aqarriq	aqasgiiq	aqazgiiq	arargiq	arargiq	aqargiq	aqargiq	aqaygiq	aqiygiq	aqilgiq	aqirgiq/aqigriq	aqidjgiq	aqiggiq	aqiggiq	aqiggiq	aqiggiq	akiggik	aqighiq	aqisseq	nagalaraq
	Oldsquaw Duck	aagix̂	*aXaŋǝ-liʁ	aahaangalex	aahaangwliq	ahangkiluk	aahaangiiq/aahaaliq	aa'aangiq	aa'aangiq	aahaaliq	aahaaliq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	aahaalliq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	ahaangik	ahaangiq	ahaangiq	ahaangiq
	Bowhead whale/whale	alax̂	*aʁvǝʁ	arvex	arveq	arweq/arruq	arveq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	arviq	avvik	arviq	arfeq	arpiq
	Dog	sabaakax̂	*qikmi-	qepeneẋ	qikmiq	qiqmiq/piugta	qimugta	qimmiq	qimmiq	qipmiq	qimmiq	qimmiq	qimmiq	qinmiq	qingmiq/qimmiq	qingmiq/qimmiq	qimmiq	qimmiq	qimmiq	qimmiq	kimmik	qimmiq	qimmeq	qimmiq
	Fish	qax̂	*ǝqaɫuɣ	iqeɫex	iqaɫuk	iqaɫuk	iqaɫuk	iraluk	iraluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	qaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	iqaluk	ikaluk	iqaluk	eqaluk	iqalik
	Louse	kitux̂	*kumaɣ	kúmex	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak	kumak
Other nouns	Atmosphere/weather/out	silan/slax̂	*cǝla	siɫa	sɫaa	ɫa	ciɫa/ella	sila	chila	sila	sila	hila	sila	hila	hila	hila	sila	sila	sila	sila	sila	hila	sila	sila
	Yes	aang	*aa/ii	ii	ii	ii-i	ii-i	ii-i	ii-i	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	ii	aap	ii
	No	nangaa	*naaka *qaanga	naaka	naka/naah	kaa	ina/qanga	naami/naagga	qanngaq/naagga	naumi/naakka	naumi/naagga	naggai	naaggai	imannaq	iiq/naagga	naung/naagga	nauk/aakka	aakka/naagga	aukka/aggaq	naggai/nauk	aukang	na'a/naagga	naami/naagga	iiqqii
	House	ulax̂	*ǝŋlu	lu	inglu	englu	englu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	iglu	illu	illu	illuk	iglu	iɫɫu	ittiq
	Tent	pulaatxix̂	*tupǝʁ	tupex	tupeq			tuviq	tuviq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupiq	tupik	tupiq	tupeq	tupiq
	To ask	ahmat-	*apete	apet-	apetaqa-	apqar-	apete-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apiri-	apigi-	apiri-	aperi-	apii-
	Tell a Story/Legend	uniikal	*uniɣ-paʁ-	unircex	ungikpaq	unifkuaq	unifkaraq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unipkaaq	unikkaaq	unikkaaq	unikkaaq	unikkaak	unikkaaq	unikkaaq	unikkaaq
	Cry/weep	qidal	*qiRă-	qeje	qeya	qia	qeya	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	qia	kia	qia	qia	qia
	Arrow		*qaʁru	qarceẋ	ruuq	ruuq	qeruq	qarruq	qarruq	qarruq	qarruq	qarruq	qaryuq	qaryuq	qaryuq	qaryuq	qarjuq	qarjuq	qarjuk	qajjuk	katjuk	qarhuq	qarsoq	qarliq
	Snow(flake)	qaniigix̂	*qaniɣ	qanix	qanik	qanik	qaniq	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	qanik	kanik	qanik	qanik	qanik
	Price/Value	akiisal	*aki	aka	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	agi	agi	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	aki	akik	aki	agiq
	Hungry	haagil	*kajak	kajex	keek	kaik	kaik	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak	kaak
	Cook	unagix̂	*ǝɣa	ega	ega	ega	ega	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	iga	ega	inga
	Smoke	huyux̂s	*puju	pujex	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	puyuq	pujuq	pujuq	pujuq	pujuq	pujuk	pujuq	pujuq	pujuq
	Ash	utxix̂	*aʁra	arex	aʁra	araq	araq	arra	arra	arra	arra	arra	arya	arya	arya	arya	arja	arja	arja	ajja	atjak	arhaq	arsaq	arlaq
	Wind	achunal	*anuqǝ	anuqa	anuqa	anuqa	anuqa	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anuri	anugik	anuri	anori	anirsiq
	Breath	angil	*anǝʁ-	anerte-	anernaq	anerneq	anerneq	anirniq	anirniq	aniqniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	anirniq	aninnik	anirniq	anerneq	anirniq
	Name	asax̂	*atǝʁ	atex	ateq	ateq	ateq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atiq	atik	atiq	ateq	aliq
	Load	husix̂	*uci	usa	usi	uci	uci	uzi	uchi	usri	usi	uhi	usi	uhi	uhi	uhi	usi	usi	usi	usi	usik	uhi	usi	usi
	Water	taangax̂	*ǝmǝʁ	mex	emeq	meq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imiq	imik	imiq	imeq	imiq
	Fire	qignal	*ǝknǝ-	ekn'ex	ekneq	keneq	keneq	ikniq	itniq	ikniq	igniq	ingniq	ingniq	ingniq	ingniq	ingniq	ingniq	ingniq	inniq	inniq	innik	ingniq	inneq	igivattattiq
	To urinate	qaalux̂	**quʁ(r)ǝ-	qux-teqex	uraquq	qure-	qure-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	qui-	kui-	qui-	qui-	quvi-
	Ship, boat	ayxaasix̂	*umi(r)a	umax	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq	umiak	umiaq	umiaq	umiaq
	Lake	hanix̂	*taci-ʁ	jajvex	nayvaq	nanwaq	nanvaq	navraq/teziq	navraq/tachiq	narvaq/tasriq	narvaq/tasiq	narvaq/tahiq	nayvaq/tasiq	nalvaq/tahiq	narvaq/tahiq	nagvaq/tahiq	navvaq/tasiq	navvaq/tasiq	navvaq/tasiq	navvaq/tasiq	navvak/tasik	nassak/tahiq	nassak/taseq	nattak/tasiq
	Sun/Day	aĝadĝix̂	*ciqi-nǝʁ	siqinex	siqineq/mazaq	ciqineq/masaq	ciqineq/macaq	siriniq/mazaq	chiqiniq/machaq	siqiñiq/masaq	siqiñiq	hiqiñiq	siqiniq	hiqiniq	hiqiniq	hiqiniq	siqiniq	siqiniq	siqiniq	siqiniq	sikinik	hiqiniq	seqineq	siirliq
	Cloud		*nụvǝja					nuiya	nuwiya	nuviya	nuviya	nuvuya	nuvuya	nuvuya	nuvuya	nuvuya	nuvuja	nuvujaq	nuvujaq	nuvujaq	nuvujak	nuvujaq	nuiaq	nuviaq
	Star	sdax̂	*umluria					uvluriaq	uvluriaq	uvluriaq	uvluriaq	uvluriaq	ubluriaq	ubluriaq	ubluriaq	ubluriaq	ubluriaq	ulluriaq	ulluriaq	ulluriaq	ullugiak	ulluriaq	ulloriaq	utturiaq
	Earth	tanax̂	*luna		nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna	nuna
	Hilltop	qayax̂	*qemi	qemix	qemiq	qemiq	qemiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	qimiq	kimik	qimiq	qimeq	qimiq
	Tree/Wood		*napar-	napax	napartuq	napaq	napa	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtuq	napaaqtiq	napaattuq	napaattuk	uqpik/napaaqtuq	urpik/napaartoq	urpik/napaartuq
	Dog barking	qihlux	*qiluɣ	qelux	qilugaq	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiluk	kiluk	qiluk	qiluk	qiliilaq
	And/also	ama	*amma	ama/sama	amahwa/aamta	amleq/cama	amleq/cama	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	amma	aamma	aamma
	Shaman	qugaaĝix̂	*aŋalku-	angekex	angaɫkuq	angaɫquq	angaɫkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angatkuq	angakkuq	angakkuq	angakkuq	angakkuq	angakkuk	angakkuq	angakkoq	angakkiq
	Sky	inix̂	*qilaɣ	qilex	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	qilak	kilak	qilak	qilak	qilak
	Kiss on nose/kiss	qingul	*kungik	singeq	singaq(-ghaqaa)	cingaq	cingaq	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik	kunik
	Feather	haka	*culuk	silek	siluk	culuk	culuk	suluk	chuluk	suluk	suluk	huluk	suluk	huluk	huluk	huluk	suluk	suluk	suluk	suluk	suluk	huluk	suluk	siik
	Milk	mulukax	*emug, itug	ituk/emunge	ituk/emuk	muk	ituk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk	ituk	miluk	miluk	ituk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk	immuk
	Here it is!	wa	*uva	hwa	hwa	w'a	w'a	uvvaa	uvvaa	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uvva	uhha	uffa	uppa
	Kayak	iqyaq	*qyaq	qajax	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qayavialuk	qayaq	qayaq	qayaq	qajaq	qajaq	qajaq	qajaq	kajak	qajaq	qajaq	saqqit
Adjectives	Cold! Brrr! How cold!	ababa	*alaapaa					alaapa	alaappa	alaappa	alaappa	alaappa	alaappa	alaappa	alaappa	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii	ikkii
	Still/also/more	ahlii	*culi	sali	salin	cali	cali	suli	chuli	suli	suli	huli	suli	huli	huli	huli	suli	suli	suli	suli	suli	huli	suli	suli
	Swell	hums	*puvet	puvceqertéẋ	puuvaaquq	puge-	puve-	puit-	puit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puvit-	puik-	puiq-
	Long	adul	*takǝ(v)	takevaláẋ	taakǝlʁi	takequq	takequq	tagiruq	tagiruq	takiruq	takiruq	takiruq	takiyuq	takiyuq	takiyuq	takiyuq	takijuq	takijuq	takijuq	takijuq	takijuk	takihuuq	takisooq/takivoq	tagiliq
	Fat	ignatul	*quvi	quginaẋ	quginaq	quili	quvinaq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	quiniq	kuinik	quiniq	quineq	quiniq
	White	quhmax̂	*qătǝ-ʁ	qetex	qeteq	qeteq	qeter-	qatiq	qatiq	qatiq	qatiq	qatiq	qatiq	qakuqtaq	qaquqtaq	qakuqtaq	qakuqtaq	qakuqtaq	qakuqtaq	qakutaq	kakuttak	qakuqtuq	qaqortoq	qaartiq
	Grey hair	qidaayux	*qirʁǝʁ	qircéreɫeẋ	qiiq	qiiq	qiiq	qiʁriq	qirʁiq	qirʁiq	qirʁi	qirʁiq	qiyriq	qiiq	qiriq	qiiq	qiiq	qiiq	qiiq	qiiq	kiik	qiiq	qeeq	qiiq
	Copper	kanuuyax̂	**kanɣu-ja	kanuje	kanuya	kanuyaq	kanuyaq	kannuuyaq	kannuyaq	kannuyaq	kannguyaq	kannuyaq	kannuyaq	kannuyaq	kannuyaq	kanuhaq	kannujaq	kannujaq	kannujaq	kanusaq	kannujak	kannussaq	kanngussak	kanngutsak
Numbers	1	ataqan	*ataʁu-ci-	ateresex	ataaziq	atauciq/atuusiq	atauciq	atausiq	atauchiq	atausriq	atausiq	atauhiq	atausiq	atauhiq	atauhiq	atauhiq	atausiq	atausiq	atausiq	atausiq	atausik	atauhiq	ataaseq	alaasiq
	2	aalax̂	*malǝʁu-	malrug	malghuk	malluk	malruk	marluuk	marluk	malruk	malruk	malruk	malruk	malruuk	malruuk	malruuk	marruuk	marruuk	marruuk	maqruuk	magguuk	marluk	marluk	martut
	3	qankun(-s)	*pingajunt	pingejug	pingayut	pingaun	pingayun	pingasut	pingachut	piñgasrut	piñgasut	piñgahut	pingasut	pingahut	pingahut	pingahut	pingasut	pingasut	pingasut	pingasut	pingasut	pingahut	pingasut	pingasit
	4	siiching	*cǝtama-	sitamij	sitamat	staamat	cetaman	sitaman	chitaman	sisaman	sisaman	hihaman	sitaman	hitaman	hihamat	hitamat	sitamat	tisamat	sitamat	sitamat	sitamat	hihamat	sisamat	siamat
	5	chaang	*taɫiman	tasímengíyi	taɫimat	taɫiman	taɫiman	tauliman	taliman	talliman	talliman	talliman	talliman	talliman	tallimat	tallimat	tallimat	tallimat	tallimat	tallimat	tallimat	taddimat	tallimat	tattimat
	6	atuung	*aʁvinelegh	inglex	aghvínelek	arwinlgen	arvinglegen	arwinilik	arwinilik	itchaksrat	itchaksat	itchakhat	arvinillik	arvinillik	arviniq	arvinraq	arviniqtut	arviniliit	pingasuujuqtut	pingasuujurtut	pingasuujuttut	arhiniddit	arfinillit	arpiniit
	10	hatix̂	*qulǝ(ŋ)	qulex?	qula	qulin	qula	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	qulit	kulit	qulit	qulit	qutit
		Aleut	Proto-Eskimo	Naukan Yupik	Sirenik	Siberian Yupik	Alutiiq	Yup'ik	Seward Inupiaq	Qawiaraq	Malimiutun	North Slope	Uummarmiutun	Siglitun	Inuinnaqtun	Natsilik	Kivalliq	Aivilik	North Baffin	South Baffin	Nunavik	Labrador Inuttut	North Greenlandic	West Greenlandic	East Greenlandic

See also

• Proto-Eskimo language
• Proto-Eskimo–Aleut language
• Eskimology

Bibliography

• Bernet, John W. 1974. An Anthology of Aleut, Eskimo, and Indian Literature of Alaska in English Translation. Fairbanks, Alaska.
• Conference on Eskimo Linguistics, and Eric P. Hamp. 1976. Papers on Eskimo and Aleut Linguistics. Chicago: Chicago Linguistic Society.
• Dumond, Don E. 1965. On Eskaleutian Linguistics, Archaeology, and Prehistory.
• Fleming, Harold C. 1987. "Towards a definitive classification of the world's languages." Diachronica 4.1/2:159-223.
• Fortescue, Michael D. 1984. Some Problems Concerning the Correlation and Reconstruction of Eskimo and Aleut Mood Markers. København: Institut for Eskimologi, Københavns Universitet. ISBN 87-87874-10-5
• Fortescue, Michael D., Steven A. Jacobson, and Lawrence D. Kaplan. 1994. Comparative Eskimo Dictionary with Aleut Cognates. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. ISBN 1-55500-051-7
• Fortescue, Michael. 1998. Language Relations across Bering Strait: Reappraising the Archaeological and Linguistic Evidence. London and New York: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-70330-3
• Greenberg, Joseph H. 2000. Indo-European and Its Closest Relatives: The Eurasiatic Language Family, Volume 1: Grammar. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
• Greenberg, Joseph H. 2002. Indo-European and Its Closest Relatives: The Eurasiatic Language Family, Volume 2: Lexicon. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
• Holst, Jan Henrik 2005. Einführung in die eskimo-aleutischen Sprachen. Hamburg: Buske.
• Marsh, Gordon H. 1956. The Linguistic Divisions of the Eskimo–Aleut Stock.
• Swift, Mary D. 2004. Time in Child Inuktitut: A Developmental Study of an Eskimo–Aleut Language. Studies on Language Acquisition 24. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-018120-7

External links

• The LINGUIST List MultiTree Project: Eskimo–Aleut Family Tree
• Alaska Native Language Center