Ottawa

OTW

shifting

Alternate Names: Odawa, Ojibway, Ojibwe

Dialects: A member of macrolanguage Ojibwa ,.

Genealogy:

Algic
Algonquian
Ojibwa-Potawatomi

Demographics: 7,100 in Canada (1996 First Nations Language of Origin Map). Nishnaabemwin is an emergent language, fusion of Ottawa and Eastern Ojibwa ,, having a couple thousand speakers (Golla 2007). Population total all countries: 12,500. Ethnic population: 60,000.

Language Use: Dying out in many areas. Still vigorous on Manitoulin Island. Mainly adults. Also use English [eng].

Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1841–1844.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Canada

Other Comments: Called Eastern Ojibwa in Bloomfield’s (1957) grammar. In southern Ontario also called Chippewa.