Algonquian languages
Algonquian languages are a family of indigenous languages of North America that are part of the Algic languages family. The Algonquian family is divided into three main geographic groups: Plains, Central and Eastern. However, only Eastern Algonquian is a true genetic subgroup, the others being only geographical divisions (i.e. the languages were spoken in the same area, they are not more related to each another than languages from other groups). The Algonquian family includes around 30 languages.
Eastern Algonquian
[edit | edit source]See detailed page: Eastern Algonquian
Eastern Algonquian languages are indigenous to the Atlantic coast of Canada and United States and the regions immediately inland from it. Prior to European contact it included at least 17 languages. On those, Mi'kmaq and Malecite-Passamaquoddy languages are the only two with a relatively appreciable number of speakers today. Some others still have a few speakers, but most Eastern Algonquian languages are extinct.
See the detailed page for the list of Eastern Algonquian languages.
Central Algonquian
[edit | edit source]Central Algonquian languages include:
- Cree languages
- Fox
- Kickapoo
- Mascouten (extinct and unattested)
- Menominee
- Miami-Illinois
- Ojibwe languages
- Potawatomi
- Sauk
- Shawnee
Plains Algonquian
[edit | edit source]Plains Algonquian languages are indigenous to the Great Plains of Northern United States and Southern Canada. Within the Algonquian languages family, Plains Algonquian languages are the ones that diverged the most from the common ancestor, Proto-Algonquian.
Plains Algonquian languages include:
- Arapahoan languages
- Arapaho
- Besawunena (extinct)
- Gros Ventre
- Ha'anahawunena (extinct)
- Nawathinehena (extinct)
- Blackfoot
- Cheyenne