As of May 2013, language researcher Dr. Judy Thompson estimated that there are 30 Tahltan speakers. A new Language and Culture office is exploring evening "language immersion" classes, a Mentor-Apprentice program, and creating a "language nest" for teaching the language to young children. Scholarships are planned for part-time language learners. As of May 2014, the Dzimēs Chō T’oh/Iskut Language Nest has opened to teach children the language, and two more have been opened since. The Mentor-Apprentice program has also begun, through the First Peoples' Cultural Council. Lacking written documentation, it was unclear to the language revitalization coordinator how to teach the language, and how to explain the grammar. "After a year of study, Oscar Dennis says he, along with Reginald and Ryan Dennis, have finally cracked the code on Tahltan language's fundamental patterns." As a
Dene language, like
Navajo, Tahltan has "encoded" patterns in which small pieces are added to words to create meaning. "Dr. Gregory Anderson from the
Living Tongues Institute visited our territory, and was so impressed with the team's work that he said he 'couldn't improve upon it. ==Phonology==