# Language family and region **What language subfamily is the Ojibwe language a part of?** The Ojibwe language is a part of the *Algonquian language subfamily.* **What language family is the Algonquian subfamily a part of?** The Algonquian language subfamily is a part of the *Algic language family.* **In what regions of North America is the Ojibwe language spoken?** The Ojibwe language is spoken throughout the regions including *the Great Lakes and northern plains.* # Morphology **What morphology does the Ojibwe language have?** The Ojibwe language has *polysynthetic morphology.* > **What is polysynthetic morphology?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysynthetic_language) > Polysynthetic morphology is a highly synthetic morphology where the language is highly inflected and words are composed of many morphemes. > > > **What is synthetic morphology?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_language) > > Synthetic morphology is where the language has a higher morpheme-to-word ratio because it uses inflection and agglutination to denote how words relate to one another in a sentence. > > > > > **What is agglutination?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agglutination) > > > Agglutination is the morphological process of making words by stringing together morphemes. > > > > > > **What is morphology?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(linguistics)) > > > Morphology is the study of words, the way they are formed, and how they relate to one another in a language. > > > > **What are the pieces that make up words called?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme) > > > > The pieces that make up words are *morphemes.* They are the smallest units which have independent meaning in a language. > > > > **What do agglutinative languages rely on?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphological_typology) > > Agglutinative languages rely on discrete particles, like prefixes, suffixes, and infixes, for inflection. # Gender **How is gender distinguished in Ojibwe?** In Ojibwe, gender is distinguished between *animate* and *inanimate.* > **What are animate nouns typically?** > Animate nouns are typically living things, things which have a "spirit," or things that have great spiritual significance according to the Ojibwe. > > **What things have a spirit, generally?** > > Things which are able to move typically have a spirit. > > **What are inanimate nouns typically?** > Inanimate nouns are typically nonliving things. # Number **How is number distinguished in Ojibwe?** In Ojibwe, number is simply distinguished between singular and plural. > **What can be either singular or plural?** > In Ojibwe, *nouns* and *pronouns* can either be singular or plural. > > **How do plural forms differ from word to word?** > > Plural forms differ from word to word depending on the *gender*, *root*, and *historical stress.* > > > > **What can you determine by examining the plural form of a word?** > > By examining the plural form of a word, you can determine the word's *gender* and *root.* > > > **What do animate plurals end in?** > > > Animate plurals end in *-g.* > > > > > > **What do inanimate plurals and obviate nouns end in?** > > > Inanimate plurals and obviate nouns end in *-n.* > > > > > > **What determines the "linking vowel" between the root of the word and the plural suffix?** > > > The *underlying form* of a root determines the "linking vowel" between the root of the word and the plural suffix. > > **Do verbs inflect for number?** > *Yes*, in Ojibwe verbs inflect for the number of their subject and object. > > **Do some nouns and verbs lack a singular form?** > *Yes*, in Ojibwe some nouns and verbs lack a singular form. # Person **What does the Ojibwe language do with the third person that most other Algonquian languages also do?** Like most other Algonquian languages, the Ojibwe language differentiates between two kinds of third person: *a proximate* and *an obviative* third person. > **What is the proximate third person?** > The proximate third person is the traditional third person. > > **What is the obviative third person?** > The obviative third person is used to denote a less important third person if more than one third person is mentioned. **What are the singular animate gender "persons?"** The singular animate gender persons include: * X - Unspecified actor. * 1 - First person singular. * 2 - Second person singular. * 3 - Third person, animate. * 3' - Animate obviative, or fourth person animate. * 3'' - Third person animate, possessed by obviative. **What are the plural animate gender "persons?"** The plural animate gender persons include: * 1p - First person plural, exclusive. * 21 - First person plural, inclusive. * 2p - Second person plural. * 3p - Third person plural, animate. * 3'p - Third person plural, animate obviative, or animate fourth person proximate plural. **What are the inanimate gender "persons?"** The inanimate gender persons include: * 0 - Third person singular, inanimate. * 0' - Third person singular, inanimate obviative. * 0p - Third person plural, inanimate. * 0'p - Third person plural, inanimate obviative. > [!note] > These categories of person are built into the nouns and pronouns. The person of nouns and pronouns determines what verb forms are used. # Pronouns **How can pronouns present themselves in Ojibwe?** In Ojibwe, pronouns can present themselves as *independent words* or a *series of prefixes and suffixes.* **What distinction do Ojibwe pronouns make in the first person plural?** The distinction that Ojibwe pronouns make in the first person plural is between the *inclusive* and *exclusive* first person plural. > **What is the inclusive first person plural pronoun?** > The inclusive first person plural is *giinawind* and means "we including you." > > **What is the exclusive first person plural pronoun?** > The exclusive first person plural is *niinawind* and means "we excluding you." **What are the personal pronouns in Ojibwe?** The personal pronouns in Ojibwe are: | Person | Number | Pronoun | | ------------- | -------- | --------- | | 1st | Singular | niin | | 2nd | Singular | giin | | 3rd | Singular | wiin | | 1st inclusive | Plural | giinawind | | 1st exclusive | Plural | niinawind | | 2nd | Plural | giinawaa | | 3rd | Plural | wiinawaa | **What are the pronomial prefixes in Ojibwe?** The pronomial prefixes in Ojibwe are: | Word begins with ... | 1st or "n-" | 2nd or "g-" | 3rd or "w-" | | --------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | | o | ((n)i)ndo- | gido- | odo- | | a, aa, e, or i | ((n)i)nd- | gid- | od- | | aa (by some Red Lake speakers) | niy- | giy- | ow- / oy- | | oo | n- | g- | od- | | ii | n- | g- | w- | | b | (n)im- | gi- | (o)- | | d, g, ', j, z, zh | (n)in- | gi- | (o)- | | p, t, k, h, ch, m, n, s, sh, w, y | ni- | gi- | (o)- | **How do the demonstrative pronouns differ between dialects of Ojibwe?** The demonstrative pronouns differ in their *phonetic forms* between dialects of Ojibwe. ... **What are the "indefinite" pronouns in Ojibwe?** The indefinite pronouns in Ojibwe are: | Pronoun | Translation | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | Awiya | Someone | | Gegoo | Something | | Gaawiin awiya | Anybody, nobody, no one | | Gaawiin gegoo | Anything, nothing | | Gakina awiya | Everybody, all of them (animate things) | | Gakina gegoo | Everything, all of them (inanimate things) | # Verbs **What information do verbs mark in Ojibwe?** Verbs mark the animacy (animate or inanimate), person, and plurality of the subject and object of the verb. > **What is the subject of the verb?** > The subject of the verb is the one performing the action. > > **What is the object of the verb?** > The object of the verb is the one who is affected by the action being performed. **What are the different classes of verbs in Ojibwe?** The different classes of verbs in Ojibwe are: | Subject | Type | Object | Theme | Abbreviated | | --------- | ------------ | --------- | ----------------- | ----------- | | Inanimate | Intransitive | None | | VII | | Inanimate | Intransitive | None | Inherently plural | VIIp | | Animate | Intransitive | None | | VAI | | Animate | Intransitive | None | Pseudo-VAI | VAI2 | | Animate | Intransitive | None | Optional object | VAIo | | Animate | Intransitive | None | Inherently plural | VAIp | | Animate | Transitive | Inanimate | -am stem | VTI | | Animate | Transitive | Inanimate | -oo stem | VTI2 | | Animate | Transitive | Inanimate | -i stem | VTI3 | | Animate | Transitive | Inanimate | -aam stem | VTI4 | | Animate | Transitive | Animate | | VTA | | Animate | Transitive | Animate | Inverse only | VTAi | > **What does it mean for a verb to be transitive?** [(1)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitive_verb) > A verb is transitive when the action transfers from something performing it to something being affected by it. **How do verbs mark tenses in Ojibwe?** In Ojibwe, verbs mark tenses with *prefixes.* > **What are the prefixes for marking tenses in Ojibwe?** > The prefixes for marking tenses in Ojibwe are: | Tense | Prefix | Explanation | | -------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | a'- | Aorist past | An action that started and finished in the past... | | gaa'- | Simple past | An action that was completed in the past. | | ga(d)- and da- | Future | An action that will happen in the future. | | wii'- | Desiderative future | An action the speaker wants, hopes, or wishes to happen in the future. | **What else can be added to the beginning of verbs to add additional meaning and information?** Verbs can have "*preverbs*" added to the beginning of them to add additional meaning and information. **What is the preferred order for prefixes on verbs?** The preferred order for prefixes on verbs is: Personal prefix + tense prefix + directional prefix + relative prefix + any number of preverbs + the verb. **What are the three orders of Ojibwe verbs?** The three orders of Ojibwe verbs are the *independent*, *conjunct*, and *imperative* orders. > **When is the independent order used?** > The independent order is used when simply stating a fact. > > **What is the conjunct order?** > The conjunct order is used in subordinate clauses, questions (other than yes-no questions), and participles. > > **What are participles in Ojibwe?** > > Participles are *verbal nouns*, which mean something along the lines of "someone who is (the verb)" or "does (the verb)." > [!example] > For example, the word *babaamaadizi* means "to travel." *Babaamaadizi* becomes *bebaamaadizid*, meaning "Someone who travels." > **What is the imperative order?** > The imperative order is used when issuing commands. > > **What are the three different imperatives in Ojibwe?** > > The three different imperatives in Ojibwe are the: > > * *Immediate* imperative - The action must be done right away. > > * *Delayed* imperative - The action should be done eventually. > > * *Prohibitive* imperative - The action is not allowed. > [!example] > An example of each imperative using the word *nibaa* (to sleep): > * Immediate imperative - *Nibaan!*, meaning, "Sleep (right now)!" > * Delayed imperative - *Nibaakan!*, meaning, "Sleep (in a little bit)!" > * Prohibitive imperative - *(Gego) nibaaken!*, meaning, "Don't sleep!" **How are negatives introduced?** Negatives are introduced with the word *gaawiin* and then the actual words in their negative form. > **How are negative forms created generally?** > Generally, negatives are formed by adding a particular suffix after the root but before the other suffixes. The particular suffixes are: > * *sii* after a vowel for independent order. > * *zii* after a *n* for independent order. > * *si* after a vowel for conjunct order. > * *zi* after a *n* for conjunct order. > > > **What are the exceptions for using the negative form suffixes?** > > The exceptions for using the negative form suffixes are that in some words: > > * The final constant is dropped and *sii* or *si* is added to the remaining vowel. > > * The final *m* is converted to an *n* before adding *zii* or *zi.* > > * A linking vowel *i* or *aa* is added after the final consonant and then *sii* or *si* is added. **What are the four modes that a verb can be marked for in Ojibwe?** The four modes that a verb can be marked for in Ojbwe are: * *Indicative* - Neutral. * *Dubitative* - Expresses doubt about the validity of what you're saying. * *Preterit* - Emphasizes that the action occurred in the past, or was attempted or intended to happen but not completed. * *Preterit-dubitative* - Expresses doubt about a past action. > [!example] > * Indicative > * *Bakade*, meaning, "He is hungry." > * *Imaa ninamadab*, meaning, "I'm sitting there." > * Dubitative - *Bakadedog*, meaning, "He must be hungry; he could be hungry." > * Preterit - *Imaa ninamadabiban*, meaning, "I was sitting there; I meant to sit there." > * Preterit-dubitative - *Imaa namadabigoban*, meaning, "She must have sat there; she could have sat there." # Preverbs **What are preverbs?** Preverbs are prefixes that come before verbs, nouns, and particles to provide additional meaning. > **How are the prefixes organized and ranked?** > Prefixes are organized into four classes and ranked by six degrees: > * Class 1 - Tense, aspect, mode, or syntactic prefix appearing on verbs. > * e-, gaa-, waa- (subordinator). > * ga[d]-, da-, daa-, ji-, ge[d]- (modal). > * a'- [e'-], gii'- [gaa'-], wii'- [waa'-] (tense). > * aano-, bwaa- (negativity). > * Class 2 - Directional prefix occurring on verbs. > * Class 3 - Relational prefix occurring on verbs (and on some nouns and particles). > * ako- [eko-], onji- [wenji-], izhi- [ezhi-], apiichi- [epiichi-], dazhi- [endazhi-], daso- [endaso-]. > * Class 4 - Lexical prefix occurring on verbs, nouns, or particles. > * Aspectual. > * Manner, degree, quality / evaluative, quantitative / numeric. > > **What are preverbs called when they occur before a noun?** > Preverbs are called *prenouns* when they occur before a noun. > > **How are preverb class units written?** > Preverb class units are written *separated by a hyphen* except for class 4 preverbs indicating manner, degree, quality / evaluative, or quantitative / numeric. > > **How are several preverbs of the same class written?** > Several preverbs of the same class are written as *a single block in order of rank of importance*, with the most import preverb closest to the word. > > **Where are pronomial prefixes written?** > Pronomial prefixes are written directly at the *beginning of the word group.* **What is the structure of a verb in Ojibwe from beginning to end?** The structure of a verb in Ojibwe from beginning to end is: * Pronomial prefix. * Preverb class 1. * Preverb class 2. * Preverb class 3. * Preverb class 4. * Verb initial. * Verb medial. * Verb concrete final. * Verb abstract final. * Negativity. * Pronomial suffix. * Mode. > [!example] > Example of the preverbs with the verb *nibaa* (to sleep): | Ojibwe | English | Description | | ---------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Nibaa | He / she sleeps | Has no preverbs | | Ninibaamin | We sleep | Has no preverbs, but does have a pronomial prefix and suffix | | Gii'-nibaa | He / she slept | Has past tense preverb (class 1) | | Ningii'-nibaamin | We slept | Has past tense preverb (class 1) and pronomial affixes | | Gii'-maajii-nibaa | He / she started to sleep | Has past tense preverb (class 1), and a lexical preverb (class 4) | | Ningii'-majii-nibaamin | We started to sleep | Has past tense preverb (class 1), a lexical preverb (class 4), and pronomial affixes | # Nouns **What do nouns distinguish with suffixes?** Nouns distinguish *plurality*, *animacy*, *obviation*, and *case* with suffixes.