ABOUT ALASKA:

Alaska is separated from Russia to the East by the Bering Strait. Alaska was initially owned by the Russian Empire, it was bought by the U.S. after the construction of the first electric telegraph line was suspended by the Western Union. Efforts by the U.S. were made to continue construction of the telegraph which would run from California to Moscow, but Russia did not predict any benefits from continuing its funding. Thus, Alaska was offered to the U.S. by Russia in exchange for the value of the Russian-American telegraph.

Alaska’s culture is abundant in traditions and historical background. In Anchorage, the student body is composed of students with a broad mixture of cultures, and backgrounds speaking 83 different languages. Alaskan Natives use language, poetry, and the arts contribute to their identity. It has been referenced that there may be as many as up to 20 different indigenous Alaskan languages with multiple dialects within each, although the predominant language families are Eyak and Tlingit languages. Their languages makes them unique, but Alaskan people understood the need for a common language and thus, in 1998 Alaska became the 25th state to accept English as its official language. This did not at all mean that the indigenous languages died off, on the contrary it provided Alaskan’s with a way to communicate widely across the globe while at the same time preserving their rich culture within their families.

Here at Day Translations, Inc. we understand the importance of languages and their contribution to an individual’s identity and heritage, as well as understanding the importance of growth and the global market. Thus, the need for translation services is no longer a privilege but a necessity. We are here to provide you with all of your translation needs all around the world.

ALASKA’s LANGUAGES

As of the years 2005-2007, according to the American Community Survey the following language statistics have been recorded:

84.7% speak only English at home (over the age of 5)
4.3% speak Asian
3.5% speak Spanish at home
2.2% speak Indo-European at home (other than Spanish)
5.3% speak another language

There are about 22 indigenous languages that branch off of 4 distinct language families. Out of these 4 language families the 2 main native languages are Eskimo-Aleut and Na-Dene. Although these languages arise from a common ancestor the languages are not necessarily related.

In Alaska it is relatively easy to distinguish language families. The difference between Eskimo-Aleut and Athabascan-Eyak-Tlingit is immediately obvious even to the casual listener. First, the sound systems are very different. For example, AET languages all contain ejective, or popping, consonants, while Eskimo-Aleut languages do not.

Furthermore, the rules of word formation are completely different in the two families. Eskimo-Aleut languages build words by adding suffixes to the right end of a word root, while AET languages build words by adding prefixes to the left end of word root. The Haida and Tsimshian languages are not related to either the Eskimo-Aleut or AET families. Tsimshian is related to three other languages in Canada which together form the Tsimshianic family. Haida, though structurally quite similar to Tlingit, has not been demonstrably related to any other language family in the world. It is a language isolate, a linguistic orphan as it were.

Distinguishing between individual languages within a family of related languages is a much more difficult task. The crucial problem is deciding just how much of a difference justifies calling two speech varieties different languages rather than different dialects.

Here at Day Translations we have many translators who not only understand the differences between individual languages within a family of related languages, but understand the different dialects as well and the differences between the two. Thus, you can always expect to receive a translation that is 100% accurate.