Algonquin language

Algonquin (also spelled Algonkin; in Algonquin: or ) is either a distinct Algonquian language closely related to the Ojibwe language or a particularly divergent Ojibwe dialect. It is spoken, alongside French and to some extent English, by the Algonquin First Nations of Quebec and Ontario. As of 2006, there were 2,680 Algonquin speakers, less than 10% of whom were monolingual. Algonquin is the language for which the entire Algonquian language subgroup is named; the similarity among the names often causes considerable confusion. Like many Native American languages, it is strongly verb-based, with most meaning being incorporated into verbs instead of using separate words for prepositions, tense, etc.

Classification

thumb|right|Sign at [[La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve in French, Algonquin and English. The Algonquin text "" literally translates to "Be gentle with all things of nature for everyone."]]

(Algonquin) is an Algonquian language, of the Algic family of languages, and is descended from Proto-Algonquian. It is considered a particularly divergent dialect of Ojibwe by many. But, although the speakers call themselves Omàmìwininì or Anishinaabe|, the Ojibwe call them ('those at the end of the lake'). Among (Algonquins), however, the Nipissing are called (the Algonquin orthography for the Ojibwe ) and their language as . The rest of the Omàmìwininìmowin (Algonquin) communities call themselves ('down-stream men'), and the language ('speech of the down-stream men').

Other than (Algonquin), languages considered as particularly divergent dialects of the Anishinaabe language include Mississauga (often called "Eastern Ojibwe") and Odawa. The Potawatomi language was considered a divergent dialect of Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language) but now is considered a separate language. Culturally, (Algonquin) and the Michi Saagiig (Mississaugas) were not part of the Ojibwe–Odawa–Potawatomi alliance known as the Council of Three Fires. The (Algonquins) maintained stronger cultural ties with the Abenaki, Atikamekw and Cree.

Among sister Algonquian languages are Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Cree, Fox, Menominee, Potawatomi, and Shawnee. The Algic family contains the Algonquian languages and the so-called "Ritwan" languages, Wiyot and Yurok. Ojibwe and its similar languages are frequently referred to as a "Central Algonquian" language; however, Central Algonquian is an areal grouping rather than a genetic one. Among Algonquian languages, only the Eastern Algonquian languages constitute a true genetic subgroup.

The northern (Algonquin language) dialect of Anishinabemowin as spoken at Winneway, Quebec (Long Point), and Timiskaming First Nation, Quebec, is a similar dialect to the Oji-Cree dialect (Severn/Anishininimowin) of northwestern Ontario, despite being geographically separated by .

Dialects

There are several dialects of (the Algonquin language), generally grouped broadly as Northern Algonquin and Western Algonquin. Speakers at Kitigan Zibi consider their language to be Southern Algonquin, though linguistically it is a dialect of Nipissing Ojibwa which, together with Mississauga Ojibwa and Odawa, form the Nishnaabemwin (Eastern Ojibwa) group of the Ojibwa dialect continuum.

Phonology

Consonants

The consonant phonemes and major allophones of Algonquin in Cuoq spelling, one of several common orthographies, and its common variants are listed below (with IPA notation in brackets):

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

! colspan=2|

! Bilabial

! Alveolar

! Post- alveolar

! Velar

! Glottal

! rowspan=3| Plosive/ Affricate

! voiced

! voiceless

! aspirated

! rowspan=2| Fricative

! voiced

! voiceless

! colspan=2| Nasal

! colspan=2| Approximant

In an older orthography still popular in some of the Algonquin communities, known as the Malhiot () spelling, which the above Cuoq spelling was based upon, are listed below (with IPA notation in brackets):

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

! colspan=2|

! Bilabial

! Alveolar

! Post- alveolar

! Velar

! Glottal

! rowspan=3| Plosive

! voiced

| rowspan=3 |

! voiceless

| NONE

! aspirated

! rowspan=2| Affricate

! voiced

| rowspan=2|

! voiceless

! rowspan=2| Fricative

! voiced

| rowspan=2|

! voiceless

! colspan=2| Nasal

! colspan=2| Approximant

Aspiration and allophony

The Algonquin consonants p, t and k are unaspirated when they are pronounced between two vowels or after an m or n; plain voiceless and voiceless aspirated stops in Algonquin are thus allophones. So ('day') is pronounced , but ('working day') is pronounced .

Vowels

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

! short and long Malhiot

! short Cuoq

! short IPA

! long Cuoq

! long IPA

| ᴀ

| a

| ~

| à (also á or aa)

| ɛ

| e

| ~

| è (also é or ee)

| ı

| i

| ì (also í or ii)

| o

| o or u

| ~

| ò (also ó or oo)

| ~

Diphthongs

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

! Malhiot !! Cuoq !! IPA !! Malhiot !! Cuoq !! IPA

| ᴀȣ||aw||||ᴀı||ai||

| ɛȣ||ew||||ɛı||ei||

| ıȣ||iw|||| || ||

| oȣ||ow|||| || ||

Nasal vowels

Algonquin does have nasal vowels, but they are allophonic variants (similar to how in English vowels are sometimes nasalized before m and n). In Algonquin, vowels automatically become nasal before nd, ndj, ng, nh, nhi, nj or nz. For example, ('fish') is pronounced , not .