Haisla language
The Haisla and their language, along with that of the neighbouring Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv peoples, were in the past incorrectly called "Northern Kwakiutl".Haisla is closely related to the other North Wakashan languages, Oowekyala, Heiltsuk, Kwak'wala, and, to a lesser extent, Nuuchahnulth (Nootka), Nitinat, and Makah.Haisla is a VSO (verb-initial) language, with "highly polysynthetic, suffixing, [and] possibly with no (lexical) N–V distinction".[5] Emmon Bach, in 'One The Surface Verb q'ay'ai| qela', cited the following points as the structure for building words: A.[6] Haisla has a wide range of classificatory roots, something shared with its fellow Northern Wakashan languages.Haisla, however, does make use of the independent demonstrative forms qi, qu, etc., which serve as optional yet frequently occurring first elements in nominal groups.This root is then modified with the proper ending reflecting the subject of the verb, e.g. K̓un duqʷel qi sáakax̄i "I don't see the grizzly".Haisla, however, does use the independent demonstrative forms qi, qu, etc., which serve as optional and frequently occurring first elements in nominal groups.Unique to Haisla is the addition of the optional demonstrative clitics qu and qi, which help make the spatial explicitness of a clause more vivid.DuqʷelseeJohn-diJohn-goneqicRINVw̓ac̓iacx̄idog.RINVDuqʷel John-di qic w̓ac̓iacx̄isee John-gone RINV dog.RINV"John saw the dog"Due to the large number of language groups on the Northwest Coast, there was a great deal of contact through trade and cultural exchange.Within the Wakashan language family, "core arguments are identified only by pronominal enclitics attached to the initial predicate.Eden Robinson, a Heiltsuk/Haisla author raised in British Columbia, has written and lectured on the subject of language revitalization.