Pacific Northwest languages

In fact, the Pacific Northwest is an area of exceptional linguistic diversity and contains languages belonging to a large number of (apparently) unrelated families.

However, the close proximity of multiple languages has created many opportunities for mutual interaction, with the result that the Pacific Northwest forms a linguistic area, with many areal features that are shared across language families.

[1] The linguistic area is centered on the Salishan, Wakashan and Chimakuan families.

These languages are well known for their complex phonetic systems, particularly their large number of dorsal obstruents.

Tlingit, for example, among its total of 47 consonants, has about 24 different stops and fricatives in the velar, uvular, and glottal areas (as well as five different lateral obstruents).