Cree 100 - Indigenous Linguistic Groups

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Questions and Answers

How many unique vowel sounds are present in the Standard Roman Orthography (SRO) for Cree?

7 (correct)

Which of the following are the vowel letters used in SRO?

a, e, i, o (correct)

a, e, i, ä

a, e, i, y

a, e, i, u

What do macrons and carets signify in the SRO system?

Short vowel sounds

Long vowel sounds (correct)

Different consonant sounds

Tone variations

Why is the correct pronunciation of vowel sounds in SRO important?

It affects the meaning of the words. Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the overall meaning of expression in Cree language apart from pronunciation?

Body language and gestures Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding the consonant sounds in the SRO is true?

There are 10 consonant sounds. Signup and view all the answers

In context to Cree dialects, what is the main impact of intermarriage among neighboring communities?

Influence on dialect mingling Signup and view all the answers

What are the short vowels in the SRO system represented as?

Unmarked Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following dialects of Cree is primarily focused on in this course?

Y dialect Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct pronunciation of 'I/Me' in the Th dialect of Cree?

nītha Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the Cree dialects spoken in Saskatchewan?

Three main dialects known as non-palatalized are present in Saskatchewan. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'nēhiyawēwin' refer to?

The southern Y dialect of Cree Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the Cree dialects does the Standard Roman Orthography (SRO) writing system address?

Regional variations in dialect pronunciation Signup and view all the answers

How many dialects of Cree are technically spoken across Canada?

9 Signup and view all the answers

Which feature characterizes the R dialect of Cree?

The pronunciation of the 'r' is rolled. Signup and view all the answers

What does the phonetic form of writing Cree no longer used refer to?

A previous orthographic system for Cree Signup and view all the answers

Which long vowel is pronounced like the ‘oo’ in ‘soon’?

ō Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct pronunciation of the short vowel 'o' in SRO?

Like 'oo' in 'soot' Signup and view all the answers

Which consonant variation is represented by 'k' in SRO when a word starts and ends with it?

It is pronounced as a cross between 'g' and 'k' Signup and view all the answers

How is the consonant 'c' pronounced in its southern variation?

Like 'ts' in 'cats' Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a word containing the long vowel 'ē'?

tēpwē Signup and view all the answers

What should one pay special attention to when pronouncing the consonants 'c', 'k', 'p', and 't'?

Their pronunciation is affected by dialect variation Signup and view all the answers

In Cree, what characterizes the short vowel 'i'?

It is pronounced like the 'i' in 'if' Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a word spelled with the long vowel 'ā'?

āhāsiw Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cree word for 'blood'?

mihko Signup and view all the answers

Which word represents the action of hunting big game in Cree?

māciy Signup and view all the answers

Identify the Cree word that means 'spit'.

sihko Signup and view all the answers

What is a minimal pair in the provided content?

māci & maci Signup and view all the answers

Which letter should NEVER be used in the Y dialect of Cree?

v Signup and view all the answers

What should NOT be included when writing in Cree?

capitalization Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the words 'nipiy' and 'nīpiy'?

They have a change in vowel length. Signup and view all the answers

Which option correctly describes the spelling of 'e' in SRO writing?

Always spelled as 'ē' or 'ê' Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the Cree word 'mayaw'?

as soon as Signup and view all the answers

In the Cree sounds chart, how is the letter 't' pronounced at the beginning of a word?

As in 'still'. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a change in consonant sound in Cree minimal pairs?

yōtin – nōtin Signup and view all the answers

What type of word is 'ōta' in Cree?

Preposition Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct pronunciation of the letter 't' when it is the last letter in a word?

A softer aspirated sound. Signup and view all the answers

Which pair exemplifies the change of a complete vowel in Cree?

ōta – āta Signup and view all the answers

What does the word 'yōtin' mean in Cree?

It is windy Signup and view all the answers

Which sound is associated with the vowel 'ā' in the Cree sounds chart?

As in 'father'. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Indigenous Languages in Canada

Canada has 12 major Indigenous linguistic groups, including the Algonkian/Algonquian family, comprising 14 languages.
Cree is recognized as a dominant Indigenous language within this family.

Cree Dialects

Cree is spoken in 9 different dialects across Canada, with 5 primary 'non-palatalized' dialects:
- Y (Plains Cree) - dominant focus of this course, with a southern and northern version (nēhiyawēwin).
- Th (Woodland Cree) - nītha (I/Me) with a long vowel.
- N (Swampy Cree) - nīna (I/Me).
- L (Moose Cree) - nīla (I/Me).
- R (Atikamēk Cree) - nīra (I/Me) with a rolled ‘r’ sound.

Standard Roman Orthography (SRO)

A standardized writing system for writing Cree dialects, replacing older phonetic systems.
Utilizes 14 letters of the English alphabet, including 4 vowels and 10 consonants.

Vowels in SRO

4 vowels: a, e, i, o, which generate 7 distinct vowel sounds.
Long vowels are marked with a macron (ā, ē, ī, ō); short vowels remain unmarked (a, i, o).
Importance of precise pronunciation as it can alter word meanings (minimal pairs).

Consonants in SRO

10 consonant sounds: c, h, k, m, n, p, s, t, w, y.
Important pronunciation variations exist for c, k, p, t across dialects.
Examples include:
- c can sound like 'ts' (southern) or 'ch' (northern).
- k is pronounced between ‘g’ and ‘k’.
- p has aspirated endings; softer at the end of words.
- t varies in aspiration.

Minimal Pairs

Reflect similar spelling and pronunciation with different meanings, categorized into four types:
- Type 1: Change in vowel length (e.g., nipiy - water vs. nīpiy - a leaf).
- Type 2: Change in consonant (e.g., yōtin - it's windy vs. nōtin - fight him/her).
- Type 3: Change of vowel (e.g., ōta - here vs. āta - although).
- Type 4: Addition of a letter (e.g., nēhiyaw - Cree person vs. nēhiyawē - speak Cree).

SRO Spelling Rules

Avoid using English letters: b, d, f, g, j, q, u, v, x, z in Y dialect.
Always include macrons/carets above vowels to indicate long sounds.
Do not use capitalization or punctuation when writing in Cree.
Avoid spelling with digraphs or double consonants/vowels.
Retain the silent ‘i’ in spelling.

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Description

Explore the foundational concepts of Cree dialects and their spelling systems in the context of Indigenous languages in Canada. This quiz covers the first two weeks of the course content, focusing on the Algonkian linguistic family. Prepare to deepen your understanding of Cree language essentials.