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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Approximately 90,000 according to UNESCO<\/p>\n
Approximately 130,000 according to the site ethnologue.com (SIL)<\/p>\n
The Algic language family currently includes 14 languages.<\/p>\n
Algonquian Sub-family<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Eastern Algonquian Branch<\/p>\n Eastern Abenaki<\/strong>: extinct<\/p>\n Western Abenaki<\/strong> (alternate names: Abnaki; St. Francis<\/em>): 20 speakers according to SIL<\/p>\n Maliseet-Passamaquoddy<\/strong>: 500 speakers according to UNESCO and 1655 according to SIL<\/p>\n Micmac<\/strong> (alternate names: Inu\u00edsimk; Miigmaq<\/em>): 8500 speakers according to UNESCO and SIL<\/p>\n Munsee <\/strong>(alternate name: Delaware<\/em>): less than 10 speakers according to UNESCO and SIL<\/p>\n Unami <\/strong>(alternate name: Lenape<\/em>): extinct in 2002 according to UNESCO<\/p>\n Wampanoag <\/strong>(alternate name : W\u00f4pan\u00e2ak )<\/em>: extinct.<\/p>\n Central and Plains Algonquian Branch<\/p>\n A<\/strong>rapaho-Atsina<\/strong>: 1000 speakers according to UNESCO and SIL<\/p>\n Blackfoot<\/strong>: 3200 speakers according to UNESCO and 5000 according to SIL<\/p>\n Cheyenne<\/strong> (alternate name: Ts\u0117hesen\u0117stsestotse<\/em>): 1720 speakers according to SIL and 21,00 according to UNESCO<\/p>\n Cree<\/strong>: 114,000 speakers according to the 2006 census in Canada, 70,000 according to UNESCO<\/p>\n Fox-Sauk-Kickapoo<\/strong> (alternate name of Fox: Mesquakie): 200 speakers according to UNESCO and 1000 according to Wikipedia<\/p>\n Menomini <\/strong>(alternate name: Menominee): 35 speakers according to UNESCO and 39 according to SIL<\/p>\n P<\/strong>otawatomi<\/strong>: 50 speakers in 1995 according to UNESCO and SIL<\/p>\n O<\/strong>jibwa<\/strong> (alternate names: Ojibway, Chippewa): 75,000 speakers according to the census of 2000 in Canada and the USA, 80 000 according to UNESCO<\/p>\n Shawnee<\/strong>: 100 speakers according to UNESCO and 200 according to SIL<\/p>\n Ritwan Sub-family<\/span><\/p>\n Yurok<\/strong> (alternate name: Weitspekan): 12 speakers in 2002 according to UNESCO and SIL<\/p>\n Wiyot<\/strong> (alternate name: Wishosk): extinct<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Yes, all these languages are currently in danger of disappearing.<\/p>\n Algonquin Sub-family<\/span><\/p>\n – The Abenaki<\/strong> and Unami<\/strong> languages of the East Branch, are unlikely to have additional native speakers in our times.<\/p>\n The Munsee<\/strong> language has only a small handful of elderly speakers and is, therefore, likely to disappear in the years to come.<\/p>\n Only Micmac<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n – Most languages of the Central and Plains Branch are considered endangered, but the Cree<\/strong> and Ojibway<\/strong> languages are the only ones under immediate threat of extinction in the decades to come.<\/p>\n Ritwan Sub-family<\/span><\/p>\n The last native speaker of Wiyot<\/strong> died in the 60s.<\/p>\n The Yurok<\/strong> 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).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Western Abenaki language site with online courses:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.westernabenaki.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Micmac language sites:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.mikmaqonline.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.firstnationhelp.com\/ali\/<\/a><\/p>\n Arapaho language site with online courses through the University of Colorado:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.colorado.edu\/csilw\/arapahoproject\/language\/<\/a><\/p>\n Blackfoot Nation site (no courses):<\/p>\n www.blackfoot.org<\/a><\/p>\n Cheyenne Dictionary:<\/p>\n http:\/\/cheyenne.110mb.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Cree language site with online courses:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.eastcree.org\/en\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n Menomini Nation site (no courses):<\/p>\n http:\/\/menominee-nsn.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n Menomini language site:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.umich.edu\/ ~ Ojibwe \/<\/a><\/p>\n Potawatomi Nation site with online courses:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.potawatomi.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Official Website of the Yurok Nation (no courses):<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.yurok.com<\/a><\/p>\n Yurok Revitalization Website by the University of Berkeley:<\/p>\n http:\/\/linguistics.berkeley.edu\/ ~ Yurok \/<\/a><\/p>\n Official Website of the Wiyot Nation with courses:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.wiyot.com<\/a><\/p>\n Mithun, Marianne. The languages of Native North America<\/em>. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. (1999).<\/p>\n Campbell, Lyle. American Indian languages: the historical linguistics of Native America<\/em>. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (1997)<\/p>\n Site devoted to American Indian languages:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.native-languages.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Sites devoted to the defense of indigenous languages and cultures of Canada:<\/p>\nComments on the classification of Algic languages:<\/h5>\n
Are Algic languages in danger?<\/h5>\n
Some sites to learn more<\/h5>\n
Sources:<\/h5>\n