Chevak Cupꞌik dialect

Their unique cultural and linguistic identity has allowed them to form a single-site school district, the Kashunamiut School District, rather than joining a neighboring Yupʼik school district. English and Cupʼik bilingual education is done at this school. There is a tri-language system in Chevak; English, Cupʼik, and a mixture of the two languages. Before 1950 formal education for students in Chevak took place in the Qaygiq (semi-underground men's community house), and in the homes of the people. == Vocabulary comparison ==

The comparison of some words in the two dialects. == Phonology ==

There are 18 letters used in the Cupʼik alphabet: a c e g i k l m n p q r s t u v w y. These letters are not used in the Cupʼik alphabet except for certain names: b d f h j o x z. Vowels: • Short vowels: a i u e • Long vowels: aa ii uu • Diphthongs: ai ui au iu ua ia Consonants: • Stops: p t c k q • Voiced fricatives: v l y g r w • Voiceless fricatives: vv ll ss gg rr ww • Voiced nasals: m n ng • Voiceless nasals: m n ng == Russian loanwords ==

The Russian loanwords used in Chevak Cupʼik date from the period of the Russian America (1733–1867). • '''''' (< ) 'sugar' • '''''' (< ) 'tea' • '''''' (< ) 'tea kettle' • '''''' ( < ) 'shoe' • '''''' (< ) 'clock' • '''''' (?< ) 'salted fish' • '''''' (< ) 'pencil' • '''''' (< ) 'pocket' • '''''' (< ) 'bread' • '''''' (< ) 'horse' • '''''' (< ) 'butter; margarine' • '''''' (< ) 'burlap sack' • '''''' (< ) 'milk' • '''''' (< ) 'hammer' • '''''' (< ) 'coat; jacket' • '''''' (< ) 'tent' • '''''' (< ) 'pillow' • '''''' : (< ) 'match' • '''''' (< ) 'thousand; one thousand dollars' • '''''' : (< ) 'box; cardboard box' == The names of days and months ==

• erneq day • Agayuneq ('praying') Sunday • Pekyun ('movement') Monday • Aipirin ('next') Tuesday • Pingayirin ('third') Wednesday • Citamirin ('fourth') Thursday • Tallimirin ('fifth') Friday • Maqineq ('steambath') Saturday • iraluq month • Agayuulek ('icicles') January • Nakrutlek ('accurate shooter') February • Neqlelek ('white front geese') March • Tunturalek ('reindeer') April • Cupun ('breaking river ice') May • Kaugun ('clubbing fish') June • Essgun ('newly hatched eggs') July • Putukuarun ('waddling ducks & geese') August • Amiirairun ('shedding') September • Cauyaun ('drumming') (in Chevak) / Ipukaqun (in Hooper Bay) October • Kanruyauciq ('frost') November • Angunquyugtuun ('big toe') December == See also ==