Mi'kmaq (Míkmawísimk)

Mi'kmaq is an Algonquian language spoken in Canada and the USA, mainly in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and also in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Maine. In 2016 there were 7,345 native speakers of Mi'kmaq, which is also known as Micmac, Mi'gmaq, Miigmao or Restigouche. The Mi'kmaq called themselves L'nu'k (the people) and their language L'nui'sin. The word Mi'kmaq comes from their word nikmaq, meaning "my kin-friends."

Mi'kmaq was originally written with a 'hieroglyphic' system. In 1691 a French missionary named Fater La Clerq noticed Mi'kmaq children using the system as a memory aid and adapted it to write scriptures. In 1894 a method of writing Mi'kmaq with Latin alphabet was devised by Silas T. Rand, who used it to translate religious works, a number of other material and a grammar. A new spelling system, the Francis-Smith orthography, was devised in 1974 by Bernie Francis and Doug Smith. It became the official orthography of the Míkmaq Nation in 1980, and is used in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Mi'kmaq alphabet and pronunciation

Mi'kmaq alphabet pronunciation

Notes

Download an alphabet chart for Mi'kmaq (Excel)

Sample text in Mi'kmaq

Msit mimajulnu'k weskwijinu'ltijik alsumsultijik aqq newte' tett wkpimte'tmut aqq koqwajo'taqnn wejkul'aqmititl.
(Article 1, Wtui'katikn wjit Koqwajo'taqann Mimajuinu'k Wejkuaqmi'tij)

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample text in the Mi'kmaq 'hieroglyphic' script

Sample text in Mi'kmaq 'hieroglyphic' script

Sample video in and about Mi'kmaq

Information about Mi'kmaq | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Mi'kmaq
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi'kmaq_language
http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq.htm
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca/mikmaq.html

Examples of the various written forms of Mi'kmaq
http://198.62.75.1/www1/pater/JPN-micmac.html

Mi'kmaq Pronunciation and Spelling Guide
http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq_guide.htm

Mi'kmaq Resource Centre
http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca

Online Mi'kmaq lessons
http://www.firstnationhelp.com/ali/
http://www.learn.migmaq.org

Online Mi'kmaq dictionaries
http://www.mikmaqonline.org
http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/Maliseet/dictionary/

Algonquian languages

Abenaki, Algonquin, Arapaho, Atikamekw, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Cree (East), Cree (Moose), Cree (Plains), Cree (Swampy), Cree (Woods), Fox, Innu (Montagnais), Kickapoo, Malecite-Passamaquoddy, Loup, Massachusett (Wampanoag), Menominee, Miami, Míkmaq, Mohegan, Mohican, Munsee, Narragansett, Naskapi, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, Ottawa, Penobscot, Powhatan, Potawatomi, Quiripi, Sauk, Shawnee, Unami (Lenape)

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 03.02.24

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