Editing Dialect continuum (section)

== Cree and Ojibwa ==

[[Cree language|Cree]] is a group of closely related [[Algonquian languages]] that are distributed from [[Alberta]] to [[Labrador]] in [[Canada]]. They form the Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi dialect continuum, with around 117,410 speakers. The languages can be roughly classified into nine groups, from west to east:

* [[Plains Cree language|Plains Cree]] (y-dialect)
* [[Woods Cree]] or Woods/Rocky Cree (ð-dialect)
* [[Swampy Cree]] (n-dialect)
** Eastern Swampy Cree
** Western Swampy Cree
* [[Moose Cree]] (l-dialect)
* [[East Cree]] or James Bay Cree (y-dialect)
** Northern East Cree
** Southern East Cree
* [[Atikamekw language|Atikamekw]] (r-dialect)
* Western Montagnais (l-dialect)
* [[Innu language|Innu-aimun]] or Eastern Montagnais (n-dialect)
* [[Naskapi language|Naskapi]] (y-dialect)

Various Cree languages are used as languages of instruction and taught as subjects: Plains Cree, Eastern Cree, Montagnais, etc. Mutual intelligibility between some dialects can be low. There is no accepted standard dialect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://linguistlist.org/issues/6/6-744/|title=LINGUIST List 6.744: Cree dialects|website=www.linguistlist.org|date=1995-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=CA|title=Canada}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.native-languages.org/cree.htm|title=Cree Language and the Cree Indian Tribe (Iyiniwok, Eenou, Eeyou, Iynu, Kenistenoag)|website=www.native-languages.org|access-date=10 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404114314/http://www.native-languages.org/cree.htm|archive-date=4 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Ojibwe language|Ojibwa]] (Chippewa) is a group of closely related [[Algonquian languages]] in [[Canada]], which is distributed from [[British Columbia]] to [[Quebec]], and the [[United States]], distributed from [[Montana]] to [[Michigan]], with [[diaspora]] communities in [[Kansas]] and [[Oklahoma]]. With Cree, the [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] dialect continuum forms its own continuum, but the [[Oji-Cree language]] of this continuum joins the Cree–Montagnais–Naskapi dialect continuum through [[Swampy Cree language|Swampy Cree]]. The Ojibwe continuum has 70,606 speakers. Roughly from northwest to southeast, it has these dialects:

* Ojibwa-Ottawa
** [[Algonquin language|Algonquin]]
** [[Oji-Cree language|Oji-Cree (Northern Ojibwa)]] or Severn
** Ojibwa
*** [[Western Ojibwa language|Western Ojibwa]] or Saulteaux
*** [[Chippewa language|Chippewa (Southwestern Ojibwa)]]
*** [[Northwestern Ojibwa]]
*** [[Central Ojibwa language|Central Ojibwa]] or Nipissing
*** [[Eastern Ojibwa language|Eastern Ojibwa]] or Mississauga
** [[Ottawa dialect|Ottawa (Southeastern Ojibwa)]]
* [[Potawatomi language|Potawatomi]]

Unlike the Cree–Montagnais–Naskapi dialect continuum, with distinct n/y/l/r/ð dialect characteristics and noticeable west–east k/č(ch) axis, the Ojibwe continuum is marked with [[Syncope (phonetics)|vowel syncope]] along the west–east axis and ∅/n along the north–south axis.