top of page

Xaad Kíl

Haida language

haida_0.jpg
About Xaad Kíl

 

Xaad Kíl is the language spoken in the communities of Hydaburg, Craig, Kasaan and Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. The Haida language does not have any demonstrable genetic relationship to any other language. There are only four remaining speakers in Alaska, and about 20 speakers on Haida Gwaii in British Columbia. There are two dialects: Northern and Southern. Alaskan Haida speak a subdialect of the Northern dialect called Kaigani Haida.

 

Northern Haida has a feature exclusive to just a few languages in the world, known as radical consonants. These consonants are articulated with the base of the tongue in the throat. Haida is taught at the University of Alaska Southeast and is supported by resources from the Sealaska Heritage Institute.

Recordings

Sán uu dáng g̲íidang?

Díi 'láagang.

Sán uu dángs G̱íidang?

Díi 'láa áahlganggang.

Háw'aa.

Áang.

Ge'é.

Hágwsdaa!

Háws dáng Hl k̲íngsaang.

Díi gwíi hl sdíihl.

K̲’ahngáa.

Híndaa.

Dáng díi k̲uyáadaang.

Dagwáang

How are you?

I'm fine.

And, how are you?

I'm doing fairly well.

Thank you.

Yes.

No.

Get going! Come on! Go ahead!

I will see you again. (farewell phrase)

Come back to me. (Leave response)

Poor thing.

Scram! Beat it! Let me see it!

I love you.

Dear (term of endearment)

bottom of page