The
Algonquian (also Algonquin, Algonkian) languages are a subfamily of
Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the
Algic language family (the two Algic languages that are not Algonquian are
Wiyot and
Yurok of northwestern
California). The language family was named for the
Algonquin language, from which it should be carefully distinguished. The term "Algonquin" derives from the
Maliseet word
elakómkwik (pronounced
[?læ'gomogwik]), "they are our relatives/allies".
[1][2] Many Algonquian languages are extremely endangered today, while a number of others have already died out completely.
Speakers of Algonquian languages stretch from the east coast of North America all the way to the Rocky Mountains. The proto-language from which all of the languages of the family descend, Proto-Algonquian, was spoken at least 3,000 years ago, though there is still no scholarly consensus as to where this language was spoken. For information on the peoples speaking Algonquian languages, see Algonquian peoples.
This large family of about 27 languages are generally divided roughly into three major groupings — Central, Plains, and Eastern Algonquian, primarily out of convenience. Only Eastern Algonquian constitutes a true genetic subgroup. The languages are listed below (dialects and subdialects are listed on the Central Algonquian, Plains Algonquian, and Eastern Algonquian pages). This classification follows Goddard (1996) and Mithun (1999).
A. Central and Plains
