Algic (or Algonquian) Languages

Information about the Algic languages

Where are the Algic languages spoken?

The Algic languages are spoken by indigenous peoples of North America over a vast geographic area covering 10 provinces in central and eastern Canada, 10 states of the central and eastern United States, and the State of Coahuila in northern Mexico. In addition, the Yurok language spoken in California in the western United States is also an Algic language. The Algic family is one of the largest Native American language families in North America.

Who speaks these languages?

The speakers of Algic languages are members of “First Nations” in North America who inhabited the region long before Europeans arrived and before the creation of Canada and the United States. Today, the speakers live largely on reservations in Canada and the United States.

Total number of speakers (estimated):

Approximately 90,000 according to UNESCO

Approximately 130,000 according to the site ethnologue.com (SIL)

Classification

The Algic language family currently includes 14 languages.

Algonquian Sub-family

Eastern Algonquian Branch

Eastern Abenaki: extinct

Western Abenaki (alternate names: Abnaki; St. Francis): 20 speakers according to SIL

Maliseet-Passamaquoddy: 500 speakers according to UNESCO and 1655 according to SIL

Micmac (alternate names: Inuísimk; Miigmaq): 8500 speakers according to UNESCO and SIL

Munsee (alternate name: Delaware): less than 10 speakers according to UNESCO and SIL

Unami (alternate name: Lenape): extinct in 2002 according to UNESCO

Wampanoag (alternate name : Wôpanâak ): extinct.

Central and Plains Algonquian Branch

Arapaho-Atsina: 1000 speakers according to UNESCO and SIL

Blackfoot: 3200 speakers according to UNESCO and 5000 according to SIL

Cheyenne (alternate name: Tsėhesenėstsestotse): 1720 speakers according to SIL and 21,00 according to UNESCO

Cree: 114,000 speakers according to the 2006 census in Canada, 70,000 according to UNESCO

Fox-Sauk-Kickapoo (alternate name of Fox: Mesquakie): 200 speakers according to UNESCO and 1000 according to Wikipedia

Menomini (alternate name: Menominee): 35 speakers according to UNESCO and 39 according to SIL

Potawatomi: 50 speakers in 1995 according to UNESCO and SIL

Ojibwa (alternate names: Ojibway, Chippewa): 75,000 speakers according to the census of 2000 in Canada and the USA, 80 000 according to UNESCO

Shawnee: 100 speakers according to UNESCO and 200 according to SIL

Ritwan Sub-family

Yurok (alternate name: Weitspekan): 12 speakers in 2002 according to UNESCO and SIL

Wiyot (alternate name: Wishosk): extinct

Comments on the classification of Algic languages:

According to Mithun (1999), whose classification we follow here, only the Algonquin East Branch is a real “genetic” group whose languages are derived from a common proto-language (mother tongue). The Central Branch is considered to be a “geographical” group although these languages clearly belong to the Algonquin family. The similarities between the languages of the Central Branch are attributed by linguists to mutual borrowings related to their geographical proximity rather than a common proto-language.

Are Algic languages in danger?

Yes, all these languages are currently in danger of disappearing.

Algonquin Sub-family

– The Abenaki and Unami languages of the East Branch, are unlikely to have additional native speakers in our times.

The Munsee language has only a small handful of elderly speakers and is, therefore, likely to disappear in the years to come.

Only Micmac might not threatened in the short term, but this situation could quickly change if strong action is not implemented to promote transmission to younger generations.

– Most languages of the Central and Plains Branch are considered endangered, but the Cree and Ojibway languages are the only ones under immediate threat of extinction in the decades to come.

Ritwan Sub-family

The last native speaker of Wiyot died in the 60s.

The Yurok language has only a few elderly speakers and the language is considered to be “in a critical situation” by UNESCO (level 4 on a scale of 5).

In recent years, however, documentation and revitalization programs, and Algic language teaching have begun to emerge. These are often local projects put in place by the authorities of indigenous peoples and by universities.