Great Lakes Algonquian syllabics
| Great Lakes Algonquian syllabics |
|
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Languages | Fox, Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe |
|
Time period
|
mid-nineteenth century–present |
Great Lakes Algonquian syllabics (or Great Lakes Aboriginal syllabics, also referred to as "Western Great Lakes Syllabary" by Campbell) is a writing system for several Algonquian languages that emerged during the nineteenth century and whose existence was first noted in 1880. It was originally used near the Great Lakes: Fox (also known as Meskwaki or Mesquakie), Sac (the latter also spelled Sauk), and Kickapoo, these three constituting closely related but politically distinct dialects of a single language for which there is no common term; in addition to Potawatomi. Use of the script was subsequently extended to the Siouan language Ho-Chunk (also known as Winnebago). Use of the Great Lakes script has also been attributed to speakers of the Ottawa dialect of the Ojibwe language, but supporting evidence is weak.
Consonant and vowel letters that comprise a syllable are grouped into units that are separated by spaces. The system is of interest to students of writing systems because it is a case of an alphabetic system acquiring aspects of a syllabary.
The Great Lakes script is unrelated to Cree syllabics, which was invented by James Evans to write Cree and extended to a number of other Canadian indigenous languages.
The script is based upon "a European cursive form of the Roman alphabet". Vowel letters correspond with French writing conventions, suggesting a French source.
The early development of the system is not known. In 1880, when first reported, use of the script was widespread among speakers of Fox and Sac. Some remarks by Potawatomi speakers suggest that the first Potawatomi usage was in approximately the same period.
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