The Central Algonquian languages are commonly grouped together as a subgroup of the larger Algonquian family, itself a member of the Algic family. Though this grouping is often encountered in the literature, it is an areal grouping rather than a genetic one. This means the languages are grouped together because they were spoken near each other, not because they are any closer related to one another than to any other Algonquian language. Within the Algonquian family, only Eastern Algonquian constitutes a valid genealogical group.
Within the Central Algonquian grouping languages that are closely related are Potawatomi and Chippewa otherwise known as the Ojibwe, which are generally grouped together as an Ojibwa-Potawatomi sub-branch. David J. Costa spectulcated in his 2003-2004 web publications that within Central Algonquian there is a specific language sub-branch he refers to as “Eastern Great Lakes”. The hypothesis for this subgroup is based on lexical and phonological innovations.
Family division
The languages are listed below along with dialects and subdialects. This classification follows Goddard (1996) and Mithun (1999).
1. Cree-Montagnais (also known as Kirištino˙ or Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi)
i. Cree
Plains Cree
Woods Cree
Western Swampy Cree
Eastern Swampy Cree and Moose Cree
Atikamekw(also known as Attikamek, Attikamekw, Atikamek or Tête de Boule)
ii. Montagnais-Naskapi
East Cree (also known as James Bay Cree or Eastern Cree)Naskapi
Northern East Cree
Southern East Cree
Montagnais(also known as Innu-aimun or Innu)
2. Menominee (also known as Menomini) I. Eastern Great Lakes (also known as Core Central)
a. Ojibwe–Potawatomi (also known as Ojibwe–Potawatomi–Ottawa, Anishinaabemowin, or the Anishinaabe language)
3. Ojibwe (also known as Ojibwa, Ojibway, Ojibwe–Ottawa, Ojibwemowinor the Anishinaabe language)
i. Northern
Algonquin
Oji-Cree(also known as Severn Ojibwe, Anishininiimowin or the Anishinini language)
ii. Southern
Saulteaux(also known as Nakawēmowin, Plains Ojibwe or Western Ojibwe)
Eastern Ojibwe(also known as Mississauga Ojibwa or Jibwemwin)
Southwestern Ojibwe(also known as Chippewa, Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Ojibwemowin or Ojibway)
Ottawa(also known as Odawa or Daawaamwin)
Northern Ojibwe(also known as Northwestern Ojibwe)
Nipissing Algonquin(also known simply as Algonquin)
4. Potawatomi
5. Fox(also known as Fox-Sauk-Kickapoo or Mesquakie-Sauk-Kickapoo)
Fox(also known as Meskwaki, Mesquakie, or Meshkwahkihaki)
Sauk(also known as Sac and Fox)
Kickapoo
Mascouten (unattested)
6. Shawnee (Ša˙wano˙ki)
7. Miami-Illinois
Miami
Illinois
Peoria
Wea
Miyo Wahkohtowin Community Education Authority (MWCEA) and Dr. Earle Waugh Dir. Center for Culture & Health Family Medicine, University of Alberta (U of A) are partnering to develop a web based interactive First Nations language portal with dictionary and curriculum based resources to further the development for Cree language in Canada.
Region: Northeastern Wisconsin, on what was formerly the Menomini Reservation.
Region: Northeastern Kansas: Horton; central Oklahoma: McCloud, Jones; Texas: Nuevo Nacimiento. Also spoken in Mexico.
Region: 2 communities in Quebec and Labrador. Those in Kawawachikamach are about 10 km northeast of Schefferville in northeastern Quebec at the height of land (watershed). On December 15, 2002 most of the Mushuau Innu moved from Utshimassits (Davis Inlet) to Natuashish on the mainland. Natuashish is an isolated community in Labrador.
Region: 11 communities in Quebec and Labrador, from Lake St. John eastward along the Saguenay Valley to the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence eastward to St. Augustin, northward to the height of land at Schefferville and inland Labrador (Goose Bay, Lake Melville). Western Montagnais is in 4 communities: […]
Region: Far north Manitoba and Saskatchewan, inland southwest from Churchill, Manitoba into Saskatchewan.
Region: Ontario, along the coast of Hudson Bay and northern west coast of James Bay, and inland into Saskatchewan.
Region: Southern tip of James Bay, Moosonee, Ontario. This community and surrounding area (Moose Factory, Ontario). Has speakers of Moose Cree, East Cree, and Swampy Cree in it.
Region: West central Quebec, east coast of lower Hudson Bay and James Bay, communities of Whapmagoostui, Chisasibi, Wemindji, and most people in Eastmain.
Region: North central Manitoba westward across Saskatchewan and central Alberta to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Also spoken in USA.
Region: Quebec, southeastward from James Bay, inland to the height of land (watershed) east of Lake Mistissini. Coastal communities of Waskaganish, some speakers in Eastmain. Inland, in Mistissini, Waswanipi, Nemaska, and Ouje-Bougoumo.
Region: Three isolated communities on reservations of Manuane, Obedjiwan, Weymontachie, between La Tuque, Quebec, and Senneterre, Quebec, 200 to 400 km north of Montreal in south central Quebec, along the upper reaches of the St. Maurice River.