Central Algonquian languages facts for kids

The Central Algonquian languages are a group of languages spoken by many First Nations and Native Americans in North America. They are part of the larger Algonquian family, which is itself part of the even bigger Algic family.

These languages are often grouped together because they were spoken near each other. This is called an areal grouping. It means they shared a geographic area. It does not mean they are more closely related to each other than to other Algonquian languages. Only the Eastern Algonquian group is considered a true "family" based on how languages change over time.

Within the Central Algonquian group, Potawatomi and Ojibwe are very similar. They are often put together in a sub-group called Ojibwe-Potawatomi. Experts like Richard Rhodes and Ives Goddard have studied these languages. They suggested that some Central Algonquian languages, like Ojibwe-Potawatomi and Miami-Illinois, might form a special group called "Eastern Great Lakes" or "Core Central."

What are the Central Algonquian Languages?

This section lists the main languages in the Central Algonquian group. It also shows some of their important dialects. A dialect is a different way of speaking a language.

Cree-Montagnais Languages

The Cree-Montagnais group is also known as Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi. It includes many dialects spoken across a wide area.

• Cree
  • Plains Cree
  • Woods Cree
  • Swampy Cree (Western and Eastern)
  • Moose Cree
  • Atikamekw (also called Attikamek)

• Montagnais-Naskapi
  • East Cree (Northern and Southern)
  • Naskapi
  • Montagnais (also called Innu-aimun or Innu)

Menominee Language

• Menominee (also known as Menomini)

Eastern Great Lakes Languages

This group is sometimes called Core Central. It includes Ojibwe-Potawatomi, Fox, Shawnee, and Miami-Illinois.

Ojibwe–Potawatomi Group

This group is also known as Anishinaabemowin.

• Ojibwe (also called Ojibwa or Ojibway)
  • Northern Ojibwe dialects:
    • Algonquin
    • Oji-Cree (also called Severn Ojibwe)
  • Southern Ojibwe dialects:
    • Saulteaux (also called Plains Ojibwe)
    • Eastern Ojibwe
    • Southwestern Ojibwe (also called Chippewa)
    • Ottawa (also called Odawa)
    • Northern Ojibwe
    • Nipissing Algonquin

• Potawatomi

Fox-Sauk-Kickapoo Languages

This group is also known as Mesquakie-Sauk-Kickapoo.

• Fox (also called Meskwaki or Mesquakie)
• Sauk (also called Sac)
• Kickapoo
• Mascouten (This language is not fully recorded, so we don't know much about it.)

Shawnee Language

• Shawnee

Miami-Illinois Languages

• Miami-Illinois
  • Miami
  • Illinois
  • Peoria
  • Wea

See also

In Spanish: Lenguas algonquinas centrales para niños