Dialect Groups
The Cree dialects can be broadly classified into nine groups. From west to east:
| ISO-3 | ISO-3 name | Linguasphere | Linguasphere name | dialect type | additional comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cre | Cree (generic) | 62-ADA-a | Cree | ||
| cwd | Woods Cree (Nīhithawīwin) |
62-ADA-ab | Woods Cree | th / k / s / ī | Also known as "Woods/Rocky Cree". In this dialect ē has merged into ī. |
| crk | Plains Cree | 62-ADA-aa | Plains Cree | y / k / s / ī (northern) y / k / s / e (southern) |
Divided to Southern Plains Cree (Nēhiyawēwin) and Northern Plains Cree (Nēhiyawēmowin). In the Northern dialect, ē has merged into ī. |
| crw | Swampy Cree (Nēhinawēwin) |
62-ADA-ac | Swampy Cree, West (Ininīmowin) |
n / k / s / e | Also known as "West Main Cree." In the western dialect, š has merged with s. |
| 62-ADA-ad | Swampy Cree, East (Ininiwi-Išikišwēwin) | n / k / s\š / e | |||
| crm | Moose Cree (Ililīmowin) |
62-ADA-ae | Moose Cree | l / k / s\š / e | Also known as "West Main Cree." "Central Main Cree," "West Shore Cree," or "York Cree." |
| crl | Northern East Cree (Īyiyū Ayimūn) |
62-ADA-af | Cree, East | y / č / s\š / ā | Also known as "James Bay Cree" or "East Main Cree". The long vowels ē and ā have merged in the northern dialect but are distinct in the southern. Southern East Cree is divided between coastal (southwestern) and inland (southeastern) varieties. Also, the inland southern dialect has lost the distinction between s and š. Here, the inland southern dialect falls in line with the rest of the Naskapi groups where both phonemes have become š. Nonetheless, the people from the two areas easily communicate. |
| crj | Southern East Cree (Īnū Ayimūn) |
62-ADA-ag | Cree, Southeast | y / č / s\š / e (coastal) y / č / š~s / e (inland) |
|
| 62-ADA-b | Innu | ||||
| nsk | Naskapi | 62-ADA-ba | Mushau Innuts | ||
| 62-ADA-baa | Koksoak | y / č / š~s / ā | Western Naskapi (Kawawachikamach) | ||
| 62-ADA-bab | Davis Inlet | n / č / š~s / ā | Eastern Naskapi (Mushuau Innu or Natuashish) | ||
| moe | Montagnais | 62-ADA-bb | Uashau Innuts + Bersimis | ||
| 62-ADA-bbe | Pointe Bleue | l / č / s\š / e | Western Montagnais (Leluwewn); also known as the "Betsiamites dialect" | ||
| 62-ADA-bbd | Escoumains | ||||
| 62-ADA-bbc | Bersimis | ||||
| 62-ADA-bbb | Uashaui Innuts | n / č / s\š / e | Western Montagnais (Nehilawewin), but sometimes called "Central Montagnais" or "Piyekwâkamî dialect" | ||
| 62-ADA-bba | Mingan | n / č / s\š / e | Eastern Montagnais (Innu-aimûn) | ||
| 62-ADA-c | Atikamekw | ||||
| atj | Atikamekw (Nehirâmowin) |
62-ADA-ca | Manawan | r / k / s\š / e | |
| 62-ADA-cb | Wemotaci | ||||
| 62-ADA-cc | Opitciwan |
Read more about this topic: Cree Language
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