In October 2024, a few lab members headed back to nɬeʔképmx territory to work with some of our language consultants.  In Merritt, they recorded more conversational speech with c̓úʔsinek and kʷaɬtəzétkʷu.  This is part of our ongoing project to gather and share conversations and stories in the language, funded by an ISI grant from UBC.  The work took place at CNA headquarters and at Coldwater School — thanks as always to our hosts!  And, of course, our gratitude goes to the speakers for sharing their language with us.

Some students along for the trip made the most of the journey by also recording some Secwepemctsín speakers in Skeetchestn and Williams Lake!

Two beautiful views of Merritt from Sander’s runs!

In September 2024, several lab members went to Merritt to attend the 2024 Language & Culture Móqʷix hosted by Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly.  We got to listen to and learn from many presentations, meet and visit with our consultants and other community members, and just enjoy hearing lots of nɬeʔkpemxcín being spoken.  A highlight was hearing Iona and Aaron Sumexheltza talk about their creative efforts to pass the language on to their (grand-)children.

We also hosted two discussion circles where we shared a bit about our work, and heard others’ thoughts on the topic of language documentation.  It was especially meaningful to hear our consultants discuss the importance of recording their language.  We are very grateful to them and everyone else who spoke to us with such honesty and care.

Thank you to CNA for organizing — we look forward to next year!

In June 2024, there was another trip to the Interior for a few lab members who couldn’t make the spring trip.

First, we stopped in Lytton, BC to see speaker Bev Phillips.  We got to visit together, record a story, and do some targeted elicitation (demonstratives! embedded questions! evidentials!).

As usual, we also headed to Merritt, BC, to see speakers C̓úʔsinek Marty Aspinall and Kʷaɬtəzétkʷu Bernice Garcia.  This marks our first elicitation session in a sushi restaurant.

Thanks everyone — until next time!

Student Brent Hall records another original story from Bev Phillips.

Student Cayla Smith brings hard-hitting questions about evidentials for Bev Phillips.

Student Reed Steiner investigates demonstratives with Bev Phillips.

Professor Lisa Matthewson gets to the bottom of embedded questions with Bev Phillips.

In April 2024, a few of our lab members embarked on a trip to Nɬeʔképmx territory for some in-person elicitation sessions, and to visit with our speakers and collaborators.

First, we were in Merritt, BC.  We visited and worked with speakers C̓úʔsinek Marty Aspinall and Kʷaɬtəzétkʷu Bernice Garcia.  We also had a meeting with our collaborators Mandy Jimmie and Aaron Sumexheltza (and son!).

Next, we headed to Lytton, BC.  There, we met with another speaker, Bev Phillips.

It’s always such a treat to get to see our friends in person.  Kʷúkʷstéyp for your time and energy in welcoming us!

Students (from left) Anna Stacey, Ella Hannon, Sander Nederveen, and Noah Luntzlara in Lytton with speaker Bev Philliips.

Bev Phillips answers questions on subject raising from Anna Stacey.

In April 2024, we talked about our research at LinguisticsNEW, a joint event hosted by the UBC Linguistics department and the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Linguistics department.  We presented a poster at the event, and got to chat with students and faculty about the lab.

The poster is now hung upstairs in the UBC Linguistics department — check it out if you’re ever on campus!

UBC and SFU students mill about the poster session.

Student attendees, including lab members Anna Stacey, Noah Luntzlara, Ella Hannon, and Danica Reid.

In March 2024, we presented an overview of our lab activities at Flash Talks, a UBC Linguistics event where we share a research update with our colleagues in just a couple of minutes!

In October 2023, several lab members attended the Language & Culture Móqʷix hosted by the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly.  The conference took place at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) in Merritt, BC.  We were able to share some of our language work with community members, as well learn from lots of interesting presentations about Nɬeʔképmx traditional practices.

Thank you to the organizers, everyone who came to talk to us about our projects, and everyone who shared some of their knowledge with us.  It was wonderful to hear so much of the language!

After the Móqʷix, we had a bonus visit in Lytton, BC, with speaker Bev Phillips.

Students Danica Reid (left) and Noah Luntzlara (right) prepare to showcase their work (with some lovely Merritt scenery in the background).

Students (from left) Noah Luntzlara, Anna Stacey, Danica Reid, and Brent Hall meet up with speaker Bev Phillips (centre) in Lytton.

In July 2023, several members of our lab attended the 58th International Conference on Salish and Neighbouring Languages (ICSNL).  The conference was hosted by Snuneymuxw First Nation, Simon Fraser University, and the Hul’q’umi’num’ Language & Culture Society.  Attendees also got the chance to have an in-person visit with some of the speakers we work with, C̓úʔsinek Marty Aspinall, and Kʷaɬtəzétkʷu Bernice Garcia, and our collaborator Mandy Jimmie.

To check out all the research the lab showcased at the conference, check out the Publications section of our website.  Thanks to all the organizers for a great conference!

In LING 531 and LING 532, the students spent eight months learning about linguistic field methods from Lisa Matthewson, with a focus on Nɬeʔkepmxcín.  We were so fortunate to work with three speakers: Bev Phillips, C̓úʔsinek Marty Aspinall, and Kʷaɬtəzétkʷu Bernice Garcia.  In April 2023, to celebrate our progress thus far, we held a poster session attended by students and faculty from our department.  Thanks to everyone who came out!

Student Zara (Gazelle) Khalaji Pirbaluti (right) fields question on her poster.

Students Ella Hannon (front left) and Cayla Smith (behind left) take questions on their poster.

Student Anna Stacey (right) presents her poster (with student Farhan Samir (not pictured)).

Student Katie Givens (left) presents their poster.

Student Reed Steiner (centre) explains his poster.

Student Danica Reid (right) walks attendees through her poster.

Student Brent Hall (left) presents his poster.

Nɬeʔkepmxcín is a Northern Interior Salish language, spoken along the Thompson and Fraser Rivers in British Columbia, Canada. This lab group, hosted at the University of British Columbia and managed by UBC faculty and students, works on all aspects of Nɬeʔkepmxcín, including its syntax, semantics, phonetics, and phonology.

We are committed to community language work and to making our linguistic work accessible to community members.

kʷukʷstéyp! (Thank you all!)