Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (the others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). Stretching from the east coast of North America all the way to California, the Algonquian language family includes Ojibwe, Cree, Fox, Shawnee, Menominee, Mohican, Potawatomi, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Sauk, Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Arapaho, Massachusett, Narraganset, Illinois, Powhatan, Nanticoke, Munsee, Lenni Lenape and others.
The Algonquian language family is renowned for its complex morphology and sophisticated verb system. Statements that take many words to say in English can be expressed with a single "word". Ex: (Menominee) enae:ni:hae:w "He is heard by higher powers" or (Plains Cree) k-a:sta:hikoyahk "it frightens us." Languages in this family typically mark at least two distinct third persons, so that speakers can keep track of central characters in narrative.
These languages have been famously studied in the structuralist tradition by Leonard Bloomfield and Edward Sapir among others. Many of these languages are extremely endangered today, while others have died completely.
Because Algonquian languages were some of the first that Europeans came in contact with in North America, the language family has given many words to English. Many eastern U.S. states have names of Algonquian origin (Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin), as do many cities: Milwaukee, Chicago, et al. The capital of Canada is named after an Algonquian trade group--the Odawa.
English words of Algonquian origin
- tomahawk (tomah'hauk) sharp biting stick
- skunk (shekãkwa) spray of smelly water
- squash (askootaskwash) fruit of health/life
- wampum (wapapyaki) trade good
- succotash (msikwatash) food mixed together
- pecan ("pakan" - "nut" via Mobilian Trade Jargon)
- Chicago (chee-kaw-goh) skunk cabbage
- pone (as in corn-pone) from Powhatan appoans "bread"
- raccoon (ärähkun) scratches with its hands
Algonquian names for animals
- Makwa - Bear
- Nigig - Otter
- Mahigan - Wolf
- Moz - Moose
- Adik - Caribou
- Pijiw - Lynx
- Winack - Groundhog
- Wawackeci - Deer
- Wadjack - Muskrat
- Cangweci - Mink
- Cigosi - Weasel
- Adjidamo - Squirrel
- Wabicese - Marten