![]() | It has been suggested that this article should be split into articles titled Western Abenaki language and Eastern Abenaki language. (discuss) (August 2024) |
![]() | This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{lang}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. (December 2022) |
Abenaki | |
---|---|
Eastern: Alnombak, Alnôbak, Eastern Abnaki, Wawenock Western: Abenaqui, Alnombak, Saint Francis, Western Abnaki | |
Eastern: Alənαpαtəwéwαkan Western: Alnôbaôdwawôgan | |
Native to | Canada, United States |
Region | Quebec, New Brunswick, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire |
Ethnicity | 1,800 Abnaki and Penobscot (1982)[1] |
Native speakers | 14 Western Abenaki (2007–2012)[2] Last fluent speaker of Eastern Abenaki died in 1993.[2] |
Latin script | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | Either:aaq – Eastern Abenakiabe – Western Abenaki |
Glottolog | east2544 Eastern Abenakiwest2630 Western Abenaki |
![]() Western Abenaki is classified as critically endangered by the Endangered Languages Project (ELP). | |
People | Alnôbak (Wôbanakiak) |
---|---|
Language | Alnôbadôwawôgan |
Country | Ndakinna Wabanaki |
Abenaki (Eastern: Alənαpαtəwéwαkan, Western: Alnôbaôdwawôgan), also known as Wôbanakiak,[3] is an endangered Eastern Algonquian language of Quebec and the northern states of New England. The language has Eastern and Western forms which differ in vocabulary and phonology and are sometimes considered distinct languages.
Western Abenaki was spoken in New Hampshire, Vermont, north-western Massachusetts, and southern Quebec.[4] Odanak, Quebec is a First Nations reserve located near the Saint-François River—these peoples were referred to as Saint Francis Indians by English writers after the 1700s.[5] The few remaining speakers of Western Abenaki live predominantly in Odanak and the last fully fluent speaker, Cécile (Wawanolett) Joubert died in 2006.[4] A revitalization effort was started in Odanak in 1994; however, as of 2004 younger generations are not learning the language and the remaining speakers are elderly, making Western Abenaki nearly extinct.[6]
Eastern Abenaki languages are spoken by several peoples, including the Penobscot of what is now Maine. The last known natively fluent speaker of Penobscot Abenaki, Madeline Shay, died in 1993.[7][8] However, several Penobscot elders still speak Penobscot, and there is an ongoing effort to preserve it and teach it in the local schools;[9] much of the language was preserved by Frank Siebert.[10] Other speakers of Eastern Abenaki included tribes such as the Amoscocongon who spoke the Arosagunticook dialect,[11] and the Caniba, which are documented in French-language materials from the colonial period.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search