• In the language itself: Unangam Tunuu ¹⁾.
• ISO 639-3 Code sets: 639-2 and 639-3.

• Classification: Language Family: Eskimo-Aleut → Language Group: Aleut.See arag1246 at Glottolog for more information.
• Script: Cyrillic/Latin

The standardised orthography (was initially) the Cyrillic alphabet ²⁾ and is linked to the Russian orthodox church and the Russian colonisation of Alaska. Nowadays the Latin alphabet is also used by the communities.

Aleut is spoken in the Aleutian Islands, the Pribilof Islands, and the Alaska Peninsula west of Stepovak Bay with an ethnic population of 2.200 people ³⁾. Varieties:

• Atka
  • areas: Atka and Bering Island
• Unalaska (Eastern)
  • areas: Alaskan Peninsula, Unalaska, Belkofski, Akutan, the Pribilof Islands, Kashega and Nikolsk
• Attu (Western).
  • areas: Attu.
  • Western Aleut as marked as extinct ⁴⁾⁵⁾.

^{The map shows the language area of the Aleut languages 6).}

For the Aleut languages, speaker number estimations range from 70 to 490 speakers ⁷⁾. Western Aleut is considered to be extinct ⁸⁾⁹⁾.

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Aleut is protected by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the state of Alaska the right on education in indigenous culture and language is granted by the state law (citation needed). In 1972, the Alaska Bilingual Education Law was enacted and enabled bilingual education; today the demand for this form of education is mainly in the languages Central Yu'pik and Inupiaq ¹⁰⁾. In Russia however Aleut education faces some resistance (citation needed), for further details, see section Russian legislation concerning minority languages on the Mercator Wiki page.

The Pribilof Islands Aleut Communities of St. Paul & St. George Islands are included on the list of Indian Tribes and Tribal governments, that are officially recognized by the U.S.A. and are registered at the government website U.S.A.gov/tribes. For more information about legislation on minority languages in the United States of America, see United States of America legislation concerning minority languages.

The Alaska Native Language Center offers individual or small-group instruction in special topics. Aleut is one of the topics of seminars, workshops and instruction.

• Several learning materials are available on the Alaska Native Language Center, such as:
  • Aleut Grammar (Alaska Native Language Center Research Paper no. 10) by Bergsland, Knut
  • Aleut Dictionary (Unangam Tunudgusii) by Bergsland, Knut. paywall installed
  • How the Atkans Talk" (Niigugis Mataliin Tununxtazangis). paywall installed
  • CD and paper by Berge, Anna and Dirks, Moses. paywall installed

It is unclear whether the language is being taught in schools at all. In Anchorage three schools are members of the Aleutian School District, which offers a standard for the curriculum including education of Alaskan cultural heritage. Aleut language education, however, is not a part of the standard.

Aleutian school district states, among other things that students should have read “a variety of literature within each of the cultural categories” including Alaska Native/American Indian at level three ¹¹⁾ The website offers Unangax Dance photographs taken at The Festival of Native Arts)). Part of the curriculum is Alaskan Studies, in which students learn to identify languages of Alaska and cultural attributes such as dance, music, hunting, world views and beliefs. Native American bodies on legislation, human rights and recognition are also a separate element of the subject Alaskan Studies. Additionally, Alaskan history classes include the Russian period and the work of various missionaries. Awareness on resources and the effects of altering governments are also discussed.

Cultural education is transmitted too through sports, such as baseball, Aleut style, which differs from the American and Russian baseball form and displays Aleut norms and values¹²⁾.

There are no outside-class language courses available for students or adults.

Aleut is studied and taught as part of the minor “Alaska Native Languages” at Fairbanks university ¹³⁾. At a scientific level, Aleut is being preserved and even promoted ¹⁴⁾.

• Alaska Native Language Center
• Aleutian region school district
• Unangam Tunuu Language Tools for exercises and explanations.
• Voices and Sounds of Unangan-Tanam Awaa for Voices and Sounds, Ways of Life, Language community on Facebook
• Unangam Tunuu (Aleut language) Conversation Corpus at the endangered Languages Archive at SOAS University of London

• The Aleut Foundation and their Youtube channel
• Aleut language - Unangax̂ (sign in required)
• Unangax̂ language (sign in required)