The Dené–Yeniseian languages

Primary Language Family

  • This is a family of 49 languages.
    • 2 Yeniseian languages
      • Ket
      • Yug
    • 47 Na-Dené languages
      • 2 Haida languages
      • 45 core Na-Dené languages
  •  In the Na-Dené nuclear family (45)
    • 1 Eyak language
    • 1 Tlingit language
    • 43 Athapaskan languages
      • 14 Canadian languages
      • 9 Pacific coast languages
      • 4 Tanana-Upper Kuskokwim languages
      • 3 Ingalik-Koyukon languages
      • 3 Tahltan-Kaska languages
      • 2 Tanaina-Ahtna languages
      • 2 Tutchone languages
      • 6 Apachean languages
  • Native speakers of Yeniseian languages can be found near the Yenisei River of central Siberia, Russia. 
  • There are about 213 Ket speakers.
  • There are no known living Yug speakers.
  • Native speakers of Na-Dené languages can be found in North America.
  • There are about 169, 359 Navajo speakers. 
This is the only known language family that connects the "New World" of the American continent to the "Old World" of Eurasia. It is likely that early Asia settlers immigrated up through Russia, over Beringia, through Alaska, through Canada, and down the Pacific coast of North America.

The language family is declining, many languages are close to extinction, and many others are extinct. Navajo is the strongest member by far, but it may eventually fall prey to competition from English and Spanish.

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