Nootkan
/ˈnuːt.kən/noun
Relating to the Nootka people, their language, or the Nootka region of Vancouver Island.
Did you know?“Nootkan” belongs to the historical terminology surrounding Nootka Sound, while the people commonly called Nootka increasingly prefer the name Nuu-chah-nulth.
Etymological Timeline
Late 18th Century
Spanish
Nutka
“A Spanish rendering of the name associated with Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island.”
1778
English
Nootka
“The form popularized in English after Captain James Cook’s voyage and descriptions of the sound and its Indigenous inhabitants.”
19th Century
English
Nootkan
“An English adjective and noun referring to the Nootka people, their language, or the surrounding region.”
20th Century
Linguistics
Nootkan
“A label used in linguistic classification for the Nootkan branch or language group within the Wakashan family.”
Modern English
English
Nootkan
“A historical or linguistic term relating to Nootka; Nuu-chah-nulth is generally preferred for the people themselves.”
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