Page Type: languageInnu | Ethnologue

MOE ISO 639-3

Innu

Innu, Innu Aimun Autonym

A language of Canada

ISO 639
moe
Alternate Names
Innu Aionun, Montagnais, Montagnais Innu
Autonym
Innu, Innu Aimun
Population
10,200 (2016 census).
Location:
Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec provinces; Lake Saint John east along Saguenay Valley to north shore Saint Lawrence River, Gulf of Saint Lawrence east to St. Augustin, north to height of land at Schefferville and inland Labrador, Goose Bay and Lake Melville, 11 communities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Bande des Innus de Pessamit, Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam, Innue Essipit, Innu Matimekush-Lac John, Les Innus de Ekuanitshit, Montagnais de Pakua Shipi, Montagnais de Unamen Shipu, Montagnais du Lac St-Jean, Mushuau Innu, Innus de Nutashkuan, Sheshatshiu Innu.
Classification
Algic, Algonquian, Cree-Montagnais
Dialects
Western Montagnais, Eastern Montagnais. Palatalized l-dialect and palatalized n-dialect within Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi language complex or dialect subgroup. There are possibly 3 dialects based on the shifting of Proto-Algonquian *l within Western Montagnais to ‘n’. 2 Western Montagnais communities (Mashteuiatsh, Betsiamites) use ‘l’, as the reflex of Proto-Algonquian *l, and the other Western Montagnais (Uashat-Maliotenam, Matimekosh) use ‘n’. Uashat-Maliotenam and Matimekosh could be classified as Central Montagnais. All Eastern Montagnais speakers use ‘n’.
Typology
Polysynthetic language; fairly free word order.
Language Use
Vigorous except 2 communities. Rapid shift occurring in communities near cities. Strong use in lower north shore communities and Schefferville (Golla 2007). Some of all ages. Most also use French [fra], especially in the Mashteuiatsh communities in Quebec, nearly all fluently. Some also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Naskapi [nsk].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75% in French [fra] or English [eng]. Taught in all schools (Golla 2007). Recent language of instruction in Betsiamites, and taught as a subject in other classes. Taught as L2 in 2 communities. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1990–2004.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Innu
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Culture mainly based on family hunting grounds visited seasonally.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec provinces; Lake Saint John east along Saguenay Valley to north shore Saint Lawrence River, Gulf of Saint Lawrence east to St. Augustin, north to height of land at Schefferville and inland Labrador, Goose Bay and Lake Melville, 11 communities.