Míkmaq language

language
name=Míkmaq
nativename=Míkmawísimk
states=Canada, United States
region=Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Gaspe Peninsula (Quebec), Newfoundland, northern Maine, Boston (Massachusetts)
speakers=8,750 in Canada
familycolor=American
fam1=Algic
fam2=Algonquian
fam3=Eastern Algonquian
iso2=mic|iso3=mic

The Míkmaq or Mi'kmaq language (spelled Micmac in English, and Míkmaw or Mìgmao in Míkmaq) is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 9,000 Míkmaq in Canada, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=89189&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=705&Temporal=2006&Theme=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&GID=837928 Statistics Canada 2006] ] and another 1,200 in United States, out of a total ethnic Míkmaq population of roughly 40,000. The word "Míkmaq" is a plural word meaning 'my friends' (singular "Míkm" [Micmac Teaching Grammar. Delisle / Metallic 1976.] ); the adjectival form is "Míkmaw". [ [http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq.htm Native Languages of the Americas: Mi'kmaq (Mi'kmawi'simk, Mi'kmaw, Micmac, Míkmaq)] ] The language's native name is "Míkmawísimk" [ [http://www.languagegeek.com/algon/mikmawisimk/mikmawisimk.html Chris Harvey's page on Míkmawísimk] ] or "Míkmwei" [Micmac Teaching Grammar. Delisle / Metallic 1976.] (in some dialects).

Writing system

is also given in the table below; this orthography is more complex than the table suggests, particularly as far as vowel quantity and quality is concerned.

Grammar

Notes

References

* Maillard, M. l'abbé, redigée et mise en ordre par Joseph M.Bellenger, ptre. "Grammaire de la langue mikmaque." Nouvelle-York, Presse Cramoisy de J.M. Shea, 1864. Reprinted 2007: Toronto: Global Language Press, ISBN 1-897367-14-7
* Pacifique,Père. 1939. "Leçons grammaticales théoriques et pratiques de la langue micmaque." Sainte-Anne de Restigouche, P.Q. Reprinted 2007: Toronto: Global Language Press, ISBN 1-897367-15-5
* Rand, Silas Tertius. 1875. "First reading book in the Micmac language." Halifax: Nova Scotia Printing Company. Reprinted 2006: Vancouver: Global Language Press, ISBN 0-9738924-8-X
* Rand, Silas Tertius. 1888. "Dictionary of the language of the Micmac Indians, who reside in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and Newfoundland." Halifax: Nova Scotia Printing Company. Reprinted 1994: New Delhi & Madras: Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0954-9

External links

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'kmaq Online Talking Dictionary]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20041013121327/http://www.mikmaq.com/language/index.html Internet Archive of "Míkmaq Language"]
* [http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq.htm Native Languages page on Míkmaq]
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=mic Ethnologue report]
* [http://www.languagegeek.com/algon/mikmawisimk/mikmawisimk.html Chris Harvey's page on Míkmawísimk]