Native Languages of the Americas:
Abnaki-Penobscot Language (Abénakis, Alnôbak)
Language: Abenaki-Penobscot is an Algonkian language once spoken
by two related tribes, the Abenaki and the
Penobscot. Today only a handful of Canadian Abenakis still speak the
Western Abenaki language, which they call Alnobak, Alnombak, or Aln8bak (the 8 was used by Jesuit linguists to represent a nasalized, unrounded 'o').
The last fully fluent speaker of Eastern Abnaki/Penobscot has passed on, but several Penobscot elders still speak some of the language and are
working to revive its use in the Penobscot Nation today.
People: The Abnakis and Penobscots, together with the
Maliseets, the
Passamaquoddys, and the
Mi'kmaqs, were me mbers of the
old Wabanaki Confederacy,
traditional adversaries of the Iroquois. These allies from the
eastern seaboard spoke related languages, and "Abnaki" and "Wabanaki" have the
same Algonquian root, meaning "people from the east." Today there are about 12,000 Abnakis living in
New England and Quebec (where they fled British aggression in the 1600's), and 3000 Penobscots
living primarily in Maine.
Western Abenaki Radio:
Homepage of a Native radio station airing language lessons and programs in Abenaki.
Abenaki-language MP3's can be downloaded directly from their site!
Wijokadoak: Abenaki Language Project:
This non-profit Abenaki organization runs a language learning camp for children, among other projects.
Abenaki-Penobscot Language Lessons and Linguistic Descriptions
Spoken Abenaki:
Abenaki language lessons from an Odanak elder. With audio files of Abenaki words and phrases.
Abenaki Lessons:
Online Abnaki lessons from the Cowasuck tribe.
Abenaki Alphabet:
Phonology and spelling of the Abenaki language.
Abenaki (Alnôba):
Profile of the Abenaki language including a phonological inventory, orthographies and a prayer.
Abenaki Language: Description:
Marianne Mithun's linguistics profile of Abenaki-Penobscot.
Abenaki Language: Orthography:
Excerpt from Gordon Day's Western Abenaki dictionary.
Abanaki and English Dialogues:
Scanned-in copy of Joseph Laurent's 1884 Abnaki grammar.
Native American culture
Abenaki-Penobscot Vocabulary:
Abenaki Lexicons:
