Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages (ælˈɡɒŋk(w)iən; also Algonkian) are a subfamily of the Indigenous languages of the Americas that include most languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Indigenous Ojibwe language (Chippewa), which is a senior member of the Algonquian language family. The term Algonquin has been suggested to derive from the Maliseet word elakómkwik (ɛlæˈɡomoɡwik), "they are our relatives/allies". A number of Algonquian languages are considered extinct languages by the modern linguistic definition. Speakers of Algonquian languages stretch from the east coast of North America to the Rocky Mountains. The proto-language from which all of the languages of the family descend, Proto-Algonquian, was spoken around 2,500 to 3,000 years ago. There is no scholarly consensus about where this language was spoken. Plains Algonquian languagesCentral Algonquian languages and Eastern Algonquian languages This subfamily of around 30 languages is divided into three groups according to geography: Plains, Central, and Eastern Algonquian; of these three, only Eastern Algonquian constitutes a true genetic subgroup. The languages are listed below, following the classifications of Goddard (1996) and Mithun (1999). Extinct languages are marked with †, and endangered languages are noted as such. For dialects and subdialects, consult the separate main articles for each of the three divisions. Plains
- Blackfoot Arapahoan (including Nawathinehena (†), and Besawunena (†))
- Arapaho proper
- Gros Ventre (†)
- Cheyenne Central
- Cree–Innu–Naskapi
- Menominee Ojibwe–Potawatomi
- Ojibwe
- Potawatomi
- Sauk–Fox–Kickapoo
- Shawnee
- Miami–Illinois (†) Eastern
- Miꞌkmaq Abenaki
- Western Abenaki
- Eastern Abenaki (†)
- Malecite–Passamaquoddy
- Massachusett
- Narragansett (†)
- Mohegan–Pequot (†)
- Quiripi-Naugatuck-Unquachog (†)
- Mohican (†) Lenape
- Munsee
- Unami (†)
- Nanticoke–Piscataway (†)
