Algonquin is an Algonquian language, of the Algicfamily of languages, and is descended from Proto-Algonquian. It is considered a particularly divergent dialect of Ojibwe by many. But, although the speakers call themselves Anicinàbe, the Ojibwe call them Odishkwaagamii. Among the Algonquins, however, the Nipissing are called Otickwàgamì and their language as Otickwàgamìmowin. The rest of the Algonquin communities call themselves Omàmiwininiwak, and the language Omàmiwininìmowin. Other than Algonquin, languages considered as particularly divergent dialects of the Anishinaabe language include Mississauga and Odawa. The Potawatomi language was considered a divergent dialect of the Anishinaabe language but now is considered a separate language. Culturally, the Algonquin and the Mississaugas were not part of the Ojibwe–Odawa–Potawatomi alliance known as the Council of Three Fires. The Algonquins maintained stronger cultural ties with the Abenaki, Atikamekw and Cree. Among sister Algonquian languages are Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Cree, Fox, Menominee, Potawatomi, and Shawnee. The Algic family contains the Algonquian languages and the so-called "Ritwan" languages, Wiyot and Yurok. Ojibwe and its similar languages are frequently referred to as a "Central Algonquian" language; however, Central Algonquian is an areal grouping rather than a genetic one. Among Algonquian languages, only the Eastern Algonquian languages constitute a true genetic subgroup. The northern Algonquin dialect of Anishinabemowin as spoken at Winneway, Quebec, and Timiskaming First Nation, Quebec, is a similar dialect to the Oji-Cree dialect of northwestern Ontario, despite being geographically separated by 800 km.
Dialects
There are several dialects of the Algonquin language, generally grouped broadly as Northern Algonquin and Western Algonquin. Speakers at Maniwaki consider their language to be Southern Algonquin, though linguistically it is a dialect of Nipissing Ojibwa, which together with Mississauga Ojibwa and Odawa form the Nishnaabemwin group of the Ojibwa dialect continuum.
Phonology
Consonants
The consonant phonemes and major allophones of Algonquin in Cuoq spelling, one of several common orthographies, and its common variants are listed below : In an older orthography still popular in some of the Algonquin communities, known as the Malhiot spelling, which the above Cuoq spelling was based upon, are listed below :
Aspiration and allophony
The Algonquin consonants p, t and k are unaspirated when they are pronounced between two vowels or after an m or n; plain voiceless and voiceless aspirated stops in Algonquin are thus allophones. So kìjig is pronounced, but anokì kìjig is pronounced.
Algonquin does have nasal vowels, but they are allophonic variants. In Algonquin, vowels automatically become nasal before nd, ndj, ng, nh, nhi, nj or nz. For example, kìgònz is pronounced, not.
Stress
in Algonquin is complex but regular. Words are divided into iambic feet, counting long vowels as a full foot. The primary stress is then normally on the strong syllable of the third foot from the end of the word—which, in words that are five syllables long or less, usually translates in practical terms to the first syllable or the second syllable. The strong syllables of the remaining iambic feet each carry secondary stress, as do any final weak syllables. For example:,,,.
