Atikamekw language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atikamekw |
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| atikamekw nehiromowin | ||||
| Native to | Canada | |||
| Region | Quebec | |||
| Ethnicity | Atikamekw | |||
| Native speakers | 6,200 (2016 census)e25 | |||
| Language family |
Algic
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| Linguasphere | 62-ADA-c | |||
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Atikamekw (the people call it Atikamekw Nehiromowin, which means "Atikamekw native language") is a special type of Cree language. It is part of the larger Algonquian language family. This language is spoken by the Atikamekw people who live in southwestern Quebec, Canada.
Almost all Atikamekw people speak their language. This means it is one of the indigenous languages that is least likely to disappear. Many studies show that it is quite strong and healthy.
What is Atikamekw Language?
The Atikamekw language belongs to a group of languages that are very similar. This group includes Cree, Montagnais, and Naskapi. These languages are all part of the Central branch of the Algonquian languages. The Algonquian languages themselves are part of an even bigger family called Algic.
Sometimes, people think of Atikamekw as a special way of speaking Cree. It's like how different regions might have different accents or words, but they are still speaking the same main language.
Unique Sounds and Words
One interesting thing about Atikamekw is how it uses a specific sound. In an older language called Proto-Algonquian, there was an "L" sound. In Atikamekw, this "L" sound changed to an "r" sound. Other Cree languages might use an "n", "j", "l", or "ð" sound instead. Because of this "r" sound, Atikamekw is sometimes called the "r-Dialect of Cree".
Another special feature of Atikamekw is that it has many words borrowed from the Anishinaabe language. When a language borrows words, it means it takes words from another language and uses them as its own. This shows how different cultures and languages can influence each other over time.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma atikamekw para niños
