Mi'kmaq language

The **Mi'kmaq language** (also spelled Míkmaq, Mi'gmaq, Mi'qmac, or priorly Micmac) is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 9,000 Míkmaq in Canada, and another 1,200 in United States, out of a total ethnic Míkmaq population of roughly 40,000. The word _Míkmaq_ is a plural word meaning 'my friends' (singular _Míkm_); the adjectival form is _Míkmaw_. The language's native name is _Míkmawísimk_  or _Míkmwei_ (in some dialects).

## Writing system

Míkmaq is written with letters of the Roman alphabet. This writing system was created by missionaries in the 19th century. Before, the language was written in Míkmaq hieroglyphic writing, a script of partially-native origin.

## Orthographies

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## References

- Rand, Silas Tertius. 1888. _Dictionary of the language of the Micmac Indians, who reside in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and Newfoundland._ Halifax: Nova Scotia Printing Company. Reprinted 1994: New Delhi & Madras: Asian Educational Services,

## Other websites

- Mi'kmaq Online Talking Dictionary
- Internet Archive of "Míkmaq Language"
- Native Languages page on Míkmaq
- Ethnologue report
- Chris Harvey's page on Míkmawísimk

## Infobox (language)

- **name**: Mi'kmaq
- **nativename**: Míkmawísimk
- **states**: Canada, United States
- **region**: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Gaspé Peninsula, the Newfoundland (island), island of Newfoundland, northern Maine, Boston, Massachusetts
- **ethnicity**: 14,200 Mi'kmaq (1998)
- **date**: 2010 & 2011 censuses
- **ref**: e18
- **familycolor**: Algic
- **fam1**: Algic languages, Algic
- **fam2**: Algonquian languages, Algonquian
- **fam3**: Eastern Algonquian languages, Eastern Algonquian
- **minority**: New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
- **iso2**: mic
- **iso3**: mic
- **glotto**: mikm1235
- **glottorefname**: Mi'kmaq
- **notice**: IPA