NaDene

Na-Dene (also written NaDene) is a proposed macro-family of Indigenous languages of North America. In this hypothesis, the Athabaskan languages—including Navajo and Apache—are related to Eyak of Alaska and to Tlingit of the Pacific Northwest, forming a broader Na-Dene group.

Origin and status: The Na-Dene proposal was first introduced by linguist Edward Sapir in the early 20th century. Since then, many linguists have supported some form of Na-Dene relationship, but the evidence for deep genetic links remains contested, and there is no complete consensus on membership or internal branching.

Geographic and demographic distribution: If valid, the Na-Dene macro-family would have spanned much of northwestern North America, with Athabaskan languages spoken across Alaska, western Canada, and the American Southwest; Eyak (now extinct) once in south-central Alaska; and Tlingit in southeastern Alaska and parts of British Columbia.

Linguistic features and research: Athabaskan languages are known for complex verb systems and polysynthesis; Na-Dene comparisons focus on shared lexicon, phonological correspondences, and grammatical patterns. However, the degree of relatedness is debated, and some researchers treat Na-Dene as a valid genealogical group, while others view it as a hypothesis needing more evidence.

Current status: Eyak is extinct, while Athabaskan languages and Tlingit remain spoken by communities with ongoing revitalization efforts. The Na-Dene hypothesis continues to be a topic of scholarly discussion and is treated differently across linguistic classifications.