Comox language
| Comox | |
|---|---|
| Comox-Sliammon, Sliammon | |
| ʔayʔajuθəm | |
| Native to | Canada |
| Region | British Columbia |
| Ethnicity | 2,037 Comox people in 3 of 4 communities (2018, FPCC). |
Native speakers | 47 in 3 of 4 communities, unknown number in 4th community (2018, FPCC) |
Salishan
| |
| Dialects |
|
| NAPA | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | coo |
| Glottolog | como1259 Comoxisla1276 Island Comoxslia1241 Sliammon |
| ELP | Éy7á7juuthem (Comox) |
A map of Coast Salish languages in the Pacific Northwest
Sliammon Homalco Klahoose | |
Comox (Mainland Comox: ʔayʔajuθəm; Island Comox: ʔayʔajusəm) is a Coast Salish language historically spoken in the northern Georgia Strait region, spanning the east coast of Vancouver Island and the northern Sunshine Coast and adjoining inlets and islands. More specifically, ʔayʔajuθəm was traditionally spoken in Bute Inlet (also known as Church House), in Squirrel Cove (also known as Cortes Island), and in Sliammon, located in the area now known as Powell River.
The term K̓omoks is not originally a Comox word, but rather a Kwak'wala term meaning "plenty", "abundance", or "wealth”. It initially was used for the Island Comox from the area now known as Comox Indian Reserve No. 1 but it used by linguists for the language and all those speaking this language. ʔayʔajuθəm means “speaking well.”