What is Abenaki language?
'''Abenaki''', or '''Abnaki''', is an [[endangered]] [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian language]] of [[Quebec]] and the northern states of [[New England]]. The language has Eastern and Western forms. They differ in [[vocabulary]] and [[phonology]]. They are sometimes considered distinct languages. Eastern Abenaki languages were spoken by several [[peoples]], including the [[Mi'kmaq|Micmac]], [[Maliseet]], [[Passamaquoddy]], and [[Penobscot people|Penobscot]] of coastal Maine. The last known [[wikt:fluent|fluent]] speaker of Eastern Abenaki (Penobscot) died during the 1990s.<ref name=eastabnakiEL>{{cite web |url=http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=aaq |title=Abnaki, Eastern |website=Ethnologue |publisher=SIL International |access-date=January 24, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205306/http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=aaq |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, several Penobscot [[elder]]s still speak Penobscot. There is an ongoing effort to preserve it and teach it in the local schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abbe Museum: Penobscot |access-date=Feb 21, 2016 |url=http://www.abbemuseum.org/headline-news/Language/HeadlineNewsLanguage%20Penobscot.html |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320153919/http://www.abbemuseum.org/headline-news/Language/HeadlineNewsLanguage%20Penobscot.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Only a handful of Western Abenaki speakers remain today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.native-languages.org/abna.htm |title=Abnaki-Penobscot (Abenaki Language) |publisher=Native Languages of the Americas |access-date=January 24, 2017}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Languages of North America]] [[Category:Endangered languages]]