Sireniki Eskimo Language refers to a language spoken by the Sirenik Eskimos, an indigenous group inhabiting the coastal areas of the Bering Sea in Siberia, Russia. This language is part of the Eskimo-Aleut language family, which includes other Eskimo dialects like Inuit and Yupik.
With approximately 100 speakers, Sireniki Eskimo Language is critically endangered, meaning it is at risk of becoming extinct in the near future if no efforts are made to revitalize and preserve it. The language is primarily spoken in two settlements: Sireniki and Uelkal, located on the Chukotka Peninsula in northeastern Russia.
Sireniki Eskimo Language features a rich phonological system, characterized by consonants, vowels, and complex consonant clusters. Its grammar exhibits a highly agglutinative nature, allowing for the creation of intricate words through the addition of numerous affixes to a word stem.
The vocabulary of Sireniki Eskimo Language reflects the unique environment and traditional lifestyle of the Sirenik Eskimos, including words related to activities such as hunting, fishing, and navigating the sea ice. Moreover, the language uses various suffixes and word forms to express grammatical information like tense, aspect, and mood.
Given its limited number of speakers and the decline in intergenerational transmission, efforts are underway to preserve Sireniki Eskimo Language. Collaborative initiatives involving linguists, community members, and cultural organizations aim to document and record the language, develop language-learning materials, and promote its use within the Sirenik Eskimo community.
