Consonant inventories from Proto-Algonquian to the daughter languages

Will Oxford, 20 June 2023 | how to cite | home

For each language, an annotated consonant chart illustrates the evolution of the consonant system from Proto-Algonquian. In the consonant charts, solid arrows represent mergers or shifts, dotted arrows represent partial mergers or shifts, greyed-out characters represent Proto-Algonquian phonemes that no longer exist in the language, and characters prefixed by a plus sign represent new phonemes.

Each consonant chart is followed by expository notes; the charts themselves are based on the sources cited in these notes.

Note: I compiled this material and created the consonant charts during my PhD studies in 2011, and there are aspects of the content and presentation that could likely be improved.

Contents

Proto-Algonquian

Proto-Algonquian consonant system

Palatalization:

Central languages

Meskwaki

Meskwaki consonant changes

Notes from Bloomfield 1946:

Miami-Illinois

Miami-Illinois consonant changes

Notes from Costa 1991:

Shawnee

Shawnee consonant changes

Notes from Pentland 1979:

Menominee

Menominee consonant changes

Ojibwe

Ojibwe consonant changes

Notes from Bloomfield 1946:

Cree

Cree consonant changes

Mergers (Pentland 1979):

Split (Pentland 1979):

Phonetic change (Pentland 1979):

Exception (Pentland 1979):

Eastern languages

Proto-Eastern Algonquian

Proto-Eastern Algonquian consonant changes

Notes from Goddard 1980:

Mi'kmaq

Mi'kmaq consonant changes

Notes from Hewson 1973 (Newfoundland Mi'kmaq):

Western Abenaki

Western Abenaki consonant changes

Notes from Warne 1975:

Massachusett

Massachusett consonant changes

Notes from Goddard 1981:

Quiripi

Quiripi consonant changes

Notes from Rudes 1997:

Munsee Delaware

Munsee Delaware consonant changes

Notes from Goddard 1982:

Nanticoke

Nanticoke consonant changes

Notes from Pentland 1979:

Plains languages

Cheyenne

Cheyenne consonant changes

Notes from Goddard 1988:

Proto-Arapaho-Gros Ventre

Proto-Arapaho-Gros Ventre consonant changes

Resulting inventory and clusters (Goddard 1974):

Proto-Arapaho-Gros Ventre consonant inventory and clusters

Notes from Goddard 1974:

Arapaho

Arapaho consonant changes

Notes from Goddard 1974:

Gros Ventre

Gros Ventre consonant changes

Notes from Goddard 1974:

Nawathinehena

Nawathinehena consonant changes

Notes from Pentland 1979:

Blackfoot

Blackfoot consonant changes

Notes from Berman 2006 (unless another source is specified):