Pentlatch language

{{Short description|Salishan language}}

{{Infobox language

| name = Pentlatch

| nativename = {{lang|ptw|Pənƛ’áč}}

| states = Canada

| region = Vancouver Island

| extinct = 1940, with the death of Joe Nim Nim

| ref = linglist

| familycolor = salishan

| fam1 = Salish

| fam2 = Coast Salish

| fam3 = Central

| iso3 = ptw

| glotto = pent1242

| glottorefname = Pentlatch

| linglist = ptw

| map = Pentlatch.png

| revived = began 2017, declared living by 2023

| ethnicity = Pentlatch people

| speakers2 = 2 semispeakers (2023)

}}

The Pentlatch, Pentl’ach, Puntlatch, Puntlatsh or Puntledge language is a Salishan language that is spoken on Canada's Vancouver Island in a small area between Comox and Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Pentlatch people formerly numbered at least 3,000 with at least 90 settlements in the area. The language became extinct after the death of the last fluent speaker Joe Nim Nim in 1940,Terry Glavin, [https://magazine.macleans.ca/share/article/2895581a-89e4-45c9-a537-b0511fe1cfcf/c59ce1ca-9ade-4366-9392-d50e34575f12?fbclid=IwAR0m3INF8uh5Qw_qoFU1hcUkO-XFEDZw4DLDChDDbjJ5IlSxAWq7kyeviv0 "A lost world returns"], Maclean's, November 11, 2020. but researchers from Qualicum First Nation declared it to be a living language in December 2023.{{Cite news |last=Marlow |first=Kathryn |date=2023-12-02 |title=It was deemed extinct. But now pentl'ach has been declared a living language thanks to Qualicum researchers |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pentl-ach-officially-declared-a-living-language-added-to-b-c-list-of-first-nations-languages-1.7045803}} There are currently two people who are semispeakers of Pentlach, and 20 people are learning it.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-18 |title=Qualicum First Nation reconstructs 'sleeping' language |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/qualicum-first-nation-reconstructs-sleeping-language-7994105 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}

In 2017, Qualicum Elder Bill Recalma, a speaker of Pentlatch, began working to record and teach what he knew of the language. He and his son Jessie have been working together to help revive it. The Pentlatch celebrated a ceremony celebrating the language's reawakening due to their efforts.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-17 |title=Last holder of 'extinct' Pentl'ach language brings it to life with Qualicum researchers |url=https://www.cheknews.ca/last-holder-of-extinct-pentlach-language-brings-it-to-life-with-qualicum-researchers-1050149/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=CHEK |language=en-CA}} In 2023, the Pentlatch language was reclassified by Qualicum researchers as a living language and was added to the list of official First Nations' languages in British Columbia.