MINO-BIZINDAMOG JI-NISIDOTANG : UNDERSTANDING SOUND & MEANING

"From 1984 to 1986, I taught Ojibwe-English words using a folk method that my mother, Eliza Dionne Cree, and I developed for writing the Ojibwe language. My father, Louis Cree, taught me how to pronounce Ojibwe and Cree words using the sounds of the Ojibwe language. Now, 50 years later, I can pronounce any Ojibwe word correctly, in any manner I choose—whether left to right, right to left, inside out, or even upside down. Essentially, Ojibwe can be spoken in any way you desire, as the sound determines the usage and meaning of the word. My father told me that if you learn the sounds, you can express anything in Ojibwe. I have expanded the sounds to include six different dialect variations. I am incorporating these sounds into Zhaawano's stories. Although I have not been formally taught the Ojibwe language and know only a limited vocabulary, I can speak Ojibwe in any way I want, even correcting college instructors. I rely on my memory of the elders who have long passed, and how they sounded is referred to as spirit memory. It's so easy that I'll be teaching this method on Facebook and through Zhaawano's stories that you will find on this website."

- Mikinaakwajiwing Elder Jessie Cree, 2025

Mino-bizindamog ji-nisidotang: "Listen carefully to achieve understanding." In essence, learning how to speak Anishinaabemowin, the language of the People, starts with comprehension. Grasping both the sounds and meanings is essential for learning gidaanikoobijiganag inwewin, the language of your ancestors.

All words in Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, consist of sounds (phonemes) and meanings (morphemes). The most effective way to learn the language is by sounding out the meaning, which requires learning careful pronunciation and, importantly, understanding how sounds convey meaning. For instance, “minonaagwad” translates to "it looks good." "Naagwad" is a word-final meaning it is seen; mino is a prefix meaning "good" or "well." The phonemes “min(w)” and “o” combine to form the morpheme “mino,” which generally indicates a positive sense when placed at the beginning of a word-final or verb. It is never used as a standalone word, and its meaning in Anishinaabemowin has no direct equivalent in another language, making it essential to learn to hear and pronounce it accurately. Before we explore the phonology of the Ojibwe language, let's first examine the spelling systems used on this website.

SPELLING SYSTEMS

Let's examine the different orthographies currently in use. There are essentially three "systems": the Fiero Double Vowel system, used in Ontario (Native Language Instructors' Program), Manitoba (Manitoba Association for Native Languages), Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota; the Macron system, which employs short vowels (marked with a macron) and is less commonly used by individuals in Saskatchewan and Quebec; and Folk Phonetic, which isn't truly a system but rather the method many language teachers and fluent speakers use to write their language. Instead of focusing on the scientific study of speech sounds (phonetics) or the historical development of words (etymology), the language is written exactly as it sounds. This third writing method is inconsistent and varies from one writer to another.

This website uses the Fiero "double vowel" orthography (spelling system) for representing words. However, when words are written phonetically, English sounds ("ee" for "ii", "ew" for "iw", "uck" for "ag" or "ak", etc.) are applied. Basically, the Fiero spelling will be accompanied by one or two "folk" orthographies enclosed in brackets, which may be in a generic Ojibwe phonetic script, Turtle Mountains phonetic script, or both. Syncope, which involves the omission of one or more sounds or letters leading to the loss of unstressed vowels within a word as seen in some South Eastern dialects, is not represented.

Phonetic Spelling:

1. Phonetic Writing Chart - a non-standardized, generic "folk-phonetic" script is used within brackets, partially employing English, but not following the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) standard. Words appear inside brackets with syllables and/or morphs separated by hyphens.

Vowel related sounds:

a before consonants, the "y" sound, and a glottal stop (') sound - a short, distinct, straightforward "a", akin to the "a" in British English "fashion." Examples: izhinam, "s/he has a certain dream or vision, thinks s/he sees something a certain way ([ih-zhih-NAM]). Ayaa, "s/he is in a certain state or a certain place or moves a certain way" ([a-YAH]). Nisawa'igan, "tipi" ([nih-sa-wa-IH-gun])

-a at the end of a word: the "a" is a distinct, straightforward "a" and resembles the "a" in English "blah." Example: MEEH-ka-NA (path, road, trail) - corresponding with Fiero "miikana"

ah before consonants - resembling the long "a" sound in "Khan" of Genghis Khan. Example: [aw-dih-zo-kahn] - Corresponding with Fiero "aadizookaan" (sacred story; nonhuman protagonist of a sacred story).

-wah - the "ah" in "wah" has a long, distinct, straightforward "a" sound. Example: mee-nah-WAH - Corresponds with Fiero ""miinawaa" (also; and; again)
chahg - "aw" has a long, distinct, straightforward "a" sound. Example: [(nin)-jih-CHAHG] (my spirit, my soul) - corresponding with Fiero "ninjichaag"

aw before consonants - resembling the "aw" sound in English "saw"

bay - resembling "ie" in English "pie" Example: [gee-BAY] (ghost; spirit) - corresponding with Fiero "jiibay"

gun - the "u" is similar to the "u" in "gun" - corresponding with "gan" in Fiero spelling

nun - the "u" is similar to the "u" in English "nun" - corresponding with "nan" in Fiero spelling

shun - the "u" is similar to the "u" in English "nun" - corresponding with "shan" in Fiero spelling

aw - similar to the “a” sound in English "dawn" but longer in duration

wah - the "ah" is pronounced like the extended “a” sound in the English word "pecan" - corresponding with "aa" in Fiero. Example: bawaagan [bah-WAAH-gun] - Guardian Spirit Animal; sacred pipe

uck - similar to the "uck" sound in English "luck" - corresponding with "ak" and "ag" in Fiero spelling

ock - similar to the "ag" sound in English "bag" but pronounced longer - corresponding with "aak" in Fiero spelling

wuck - similar to the "uck" sound in English "luck" - corresponding with "wag" in Fiero spelling

knock - resembling the "awk" sound in English "hawk" but pronounced longer - corresponding with "naak" in Fiero spelling. Example: mikinaak [mih-kih-knock] (snapping turtle)

eh - like the “e” sound in English "bet"

beh/deh/geh/keh/meh/neh/seh/teh/weh - a straight "e" sound similar to the "ba" in English "baby." Examples: [ah-nih-shih-nah-BEH] - corresponding with "Anishinaabe" in Fiero script; [gih-gun-a-wish-koht-da-WEHM] (You (plural) tend the fire) - corresponding with "giganawishkodawem" in Fiero script
kehd - a straight "e" sound similar to the "ba" in English "baby." Example: [beh-boon-ih-kehd] - corresponding with "Bebooniked" in Fiero script

eigh - similar to the "eigh" sound in English "height"

wake - similar to English "wake" - corresponding with "weg" in Fiero script

nay - the "ay" sound is similar to the "ay" in English "bay"; corresponding with "ne" in Fiero "Binesi" (Thunderbird)

gwaytch - the "ay" is similar to the “ay” in English "bay"; corresponding with "gwech" in Fiero script
mayne - the "ay" sound is similar to the "ay" in English "bay"; corresponding with "e" in Fiero script
daym/wayn - the "ay" sounds are similar to the "ay" in English "bay"; corresponding with "e" in Fiero script
way/wayn/yay - similar to English "way"; the "ay" corresponds with "e" in Fiero. Example: [zhaw-wayn-nin-dih-win] -"zhawenindiwin" in Fiero script

eñ - the "ñ" in "eñ" is pronounced with a nasal sound, like the "n" in the French word "pain" (bread). Example: [noo-zhis-sheñ] (my grandchild) - corresponding with noozhishehn in Fiero script

"shiñ" is pronounced like the French word "chien" (dog). Example: oozhishenyan [oo-zhis-shiñ-yañ] (her/his grandchild/grandchildren)

"shiñ" is pronounced like the French word "chien" (dog). Example: oozhishenyan [oo-zhis-shiñ-yañ] (her/his grandchild/grandchildren)

ih - similar to the “i” sound in English "bit"

che - similar to "ji" in English "jibberish" - corresponding with "ji" in Fiero

im - similar to the "im" sound in English "rim"

in - similar to the "in" sound in English "win"

ick - similar to the "ick" sound in English "lick" - corresponding with "ig" in Fiero "waawiyekamig" (the Universe)

ew - like the "ew" sound in English "brew"

ee- before consonants: resembling the "ee" sound in English "reel"

gee- is pronounced like English "Je" in "Jezus" - corresponding with Fiero "jii" - Example: jiibay [GEE-beigh] (spirit; soul; ghost)
eeh - like the “ee” sound in English "heed"
we - like English "we"
mee - like English "me" but pronounced longer
nee - "ee" resembles the "ee" in English "reel"
chee - [tchee] corresponding with the "chi" sound in Fiero "gichi"

oh - like the “o” soun in English "off"

-gong - "ong" is similar to the "ong" sound in English "long." Example: Fiero "giizhigong" (in the sky)
-gonk - "onk" is similar to the "onk" sound in English "honk." Example: Fiero "giizhigong" (in the sky) - as pronounced by, among others, members of Obaashiing (Red Lake, Minnesota)

o- like the “oa” sound in English "load." Example: [oh-do-DAYM] - corresponding with the "oo" in Fiero "odoodem" (his clan)

bow- like English "bow" - corresponding with "oo" in Fiero

to - similar to English "to" - Example: [mah-nih-TO] - corresponding with "doo" in Fiero "manidoo" (spirit; mystery)

ooh - like the “oo” sound in English "food"

tu - the "u" sound resembles the "ou" in English "you" - Example: [mah-nih-TU] - corresponding with "doo" in Fiero "manidoo" (spirit; mystery)

Peculiarities:

nh - a nasal ending like the sound in the French name "Jean"

y The letter “y” followed by a long or short vowel resembles the "y" sounds of "yin-yang"

Vowel + ñ: The "ñ" indicates a nasalized vowel. Examples: ñ (also written as "aanh" or "a'anh" in Fiero script), ñ (enh in Fiero script), iiñ (iinh in Fiero script), ooñ (oonh in Fiero script).
An apostrophe (') is used to express a glottal stop.

Consonants: generally pronounced similarly to English consonants.

"sh" sounds like the "sh" in English show or the “su” in English measure - corresponding with "zh" in Fiero script

"zh" sounds like the “su” in English measure - corresponding with "zh" in Fiero script

"j" resembles the "j" sound in "Jim"

"dj" in "djaah" resembles the "j" sound in "Jim." Example: [djaah-sah-keed] - corresponding with Fiero "jaasakiid" (shaking tent seer)
"dj" in "djeez" resembles the "j" sound in "Jim" (Example: [djeez-ah-kawn] - corresponding with Fiero "jiisakaan" (shaking tent)

A capital letter used for a single letter signifies a brief pause or "apnea," a sound akin to a glottal stop, which nonetheless does not disrupt the continuity of a word or sentence. For example: Ka-na-weE-ish-koh-tE-ih-WE ("S/he tends the fire over there"): the capital letters in "Ka", wE, and tE indicate an apnea (small pause in breathing)).

A syllable entirely written in capital letters means that the syllable is stressed. For example: [ah-nih-shih-naa-BEH] (Anishinaabe).

2. Phonetic Writing Chart - based on Mikinaakwajiwing (Turtle Mountains) dialect; non-standardized "folk-phonetics" in brackets using English phonology, though not according the IPA standard. Words are placed inside brackets; individual syllables and/or morphs are not hyphenated.

Essentially, this phonetics system aims to illustrate the directions in which the sounds of words and sentences move. Various techniques are used to clarify this:

The peak of a sentence is achieved by using "carry on," which redirects attention to the subsequent word through inserted morphs — temporarily employed to establish a direct connection to the next word. These "in-between-sounds" that can be added to a sentence are virtually limitless, enabling you to describe anything; sounds like ay, ee, ah, uh, e, o, i, y, along with the use of double consonants (kk, gg, ss, tt, zz, etc.) can alter the meaning of a word.
Double consonants in a word signify that the final sound is repeated in the next syllable.
A capital letter used for a single letter signifies a brief pause or "apnea," a sound akin to a glottal stop, which nonetheless does not disrupt the continuity of a word or sentence. For example: Ka-na-weE-ish-koh-tE-ih-WE ("S/he tends the fire over there"): the capital letters in "Ka", wE, and tE indicate an apnea (small pause in breathing)).
A syllable written completely in capital letters indicates that it is stressed.

Multiple versions of a word are often provided to convey (slight) variations in meaning or emotion.

For examples, see Ojibwe Spelling & Phonology

Fiero Spelling:

The Fiero double vowel orthography is a Roman script created in the late 1950s by Pastor Charles Fiero, in collaboration with fluent speakers, for the Ojibwe language, also known as Anishinaabemowin [Ah-nih-shih-naab-BAY-mo-WIN]. This system employs doubled vowel letters to denote long vowel sounds, setting them apart from short vowel sounds. It is extensively used by Ojibwe language educators and students in both the United States and Canada.

Key features of the Fiero double vowel system:

Long vowels are represented by doubled vowels:

For example, the long "a" sound is written as "aa", the long "i" as "ii", and the long "o" as "oo."
Short vowels are written with single letters:

Short "a", "i", and "o" sounds are represented by single letters, just like in English.
Distinguishes meaning:

The use of long and short vowels can change the meaning of a word, so correct pronunciation and spelling are important.
Based on English alphabet:

The system uses the basic letters of the English alphabet with some additions like "ch," "sh", and "zh" to represent specific Ojibwe sounds.

Example:

"inini" (man) uses the short vowel "i".
"niin" (I, me) uses the long vowel "ii".
"onjida" (much) uses the short vowel "o".
"boozhoo" (greetings) uses the long vowel "oo".

Importance:

The double vowel system is a valuable tool for preserving and teaching the Ojibwe language. It provides a consistent and widely accepted way to write and read the language, making it more accessible to learners.

SHORT VOWELS (FIERO SPELLING)

a This is the sound “bah” resembling the "u" in English cup and but and the "a" in English among and tuba.

anishinaabe - 'human being' ; 'Indigenous person'
anang - 'star’
nisidotam - ‘s/he understands (by hearing)’

ay This sound resembles the sound "ye" as in English bye-bye

jiibay - 'ghost'

e This sound doesn't have a direct equivalent in English; it resembles the [ey] sound in "obey ." Aim to produce a distinct, straightforward [e]. In some words, like Anishinaabe (Indigenous person) and zaagidoode (crawl out), the [e] ending resembles the "e" in bet."

e-bangishimog - 'in the west'

gegoo - ‘something, anything’
bagoneyaa - ‘it has a hole in it’
biindige - ‘enter’

i This is the sound "i"as in English "bit"

ikidoomagad - 'it says something (in a certain way)'

inde' - ‘my heart’
nishwaaswi - ‘eight’

o In Anishnaabemowin, the letter "o" represents various sounds found in English. In the eastern areas, its usage may be optional or sound like the “au” in haughty, or the “u” in put. In the west it is often a long “o” as in “load,” “row,” or “toe”

oshkaabewis - ‘a ceremonial attendant or messenger’ ('o' resembles the 'u' in 'bush')
miskomin - ‘blueberry’ ('o' resembles the 'au' in 'naughty')

ode' - my heart ('o' resembles the 'au' in 'naughty')
bagizo - ‘s/he bathes, goes swimming' ('o' resembles the 'o' in 'row')

animosh - 'dog' ('o' resembles the 'u' in 'bush')

y The letter “y” followed by a long or short vowel resembles the "y" sounds of "yin-yang."

LONG VOWELS (FIERO SPELLING)

aa In English, this sound occurs in the extended “a” sound in the word "pecan". Note that slight variation may exist between speakers, and a single English speaker might not pronounce the vowels in these words exactly the same way.

gaawiin - ‘no’
maajitaadaa - ‘let’s begin’
waabamaa - ‘see him / her’

ii This sound occurs in the English word knee, peach, beat, each.

aaniin - ‘hello’
biindigen - ‘enter, welcome, come in’
googii - ‘dive’

oo This combination always represents a long vowel sound. Sometimes, it resembles the "o" sound found in “load,” “row,” or “toe,” but more often it mirrors the long "u" sound as in "boon" and "too."

oodena - 'settlement, town, village' (pronounce like the "oo" in English "boon.")

noondenim - 'flirt with someone' (pronounce like the "oo" in English "boon.")

indoodem - 'my clan.' (pronounce like the "oa" in English "boat.")

NASAL VOWELS (FIERO SPELLING)

In Ojibwe, nasal sounds are a characteristic of vowel pronunciation, marked by the letter "h" after a vowel or by nasal consonants. In some contexts, the "h" and "n" are not pronounced as distinct sounds. This nasal sound is commonly used in eastern Ojibwe dialects. For example, in the phrase "Aaniin apii waa-anokiiyaanh" ("When am I working?") – the word "anokiiyaanh" has a "French" nasal ending represented by "nh" in the east, while in the west it is "anokiiyaan." Another example: the word "asabikeshiihn" ("spider") has a "French" nasal ending in the east, while in some parts of the west it is 'asabikeshi."

Representation of nasal vowels:

Vowel + nh: The "nh" signifies a nasalized vowel, and the "h" is not pronounced as an individual sound.
Examples: aanh (also written as a'anh), enh, iinh, oonh.
Nasalization before nh, nzh, nz, ns,: The 'n' is not pronounced when these combinations appear.
Examples in words: giigoonh (fish), mindimooyenh (old woman), banajaanh (nestling), gishkanzh (your nail; your claw), makoons (little bear), akiwenziiyens (old man).

Important aspects of nasal sounds in Ojibwe:

Not distinct sounds: The "h" in "nh" does not indicate a separate sound; it denotes nasalization.
Vowel length: Nasalization is more common with long vowels.
Dialectal variation: The extent of nasalization may differ among dialects.
Diminutives: Nasalization frequently appears in diminutive forms, which are words that denote smallness. For example, Makoons [mak-OONH-s], meaning a bear cub.

CONSONANTS (FIERO SPELLING)

NOTE:

The sounds b/p and d/t are not consistently used in the same way. For instance, depending on our location, "boozhoo" is not readily pronounced as "pooh zhoo." Certain sounds are modified to avoid a harsh, staccato effect, resulting in a smoother sound ([booh-shooh] or [booh-zhooh]). In our project, we will explore this by pronouncing the sounds, allowing us to choose the more pleasing pronunciation of words.

biboon - ‘it is winter’
ashkibag - ‘green leaf’

ginibibagaa - 'leaf grows quickly'
gigizheb - ‘it is morning’

gichi'inendan - ‘appreciate something’
miigwech - ‘thanks'; literally,'it is enough’

michigami - 'Lake Michigamme, Minnesota'

danin -' hold someone in a certain place'
biida'oodoon - ‘bring it (here) by boat'
aanakwad - ‘cloud’

giin - ‘you’
Odagaamii - ‘Person of the Fox nation’
ininiwag - ‘men’

hoowah - ‘wow!’

aahaaw - 'okay', 'yes', 'hello', alright'
nahaaw - 'okay', 'yes', 'hello', alright.

Jaanis - 'Charles’

jiibayaabooz - 'Spirit Rabbit'
onjida - ‘on purpose’
zhiibaajiwan - ‘it flows through a tunnel’

makak - ‘basket,’ 'box,' 'trunk,' 'tub'
amik - ‘beaver’

manidoo - ‘spirit, mystery'

miigwechiwitaagozi - 's/he gives thanks, thanks others'

miinan - ‘blueberries’
jiimaan - ‘canoe; boat'

naanan -‘five’

noodin - 'it is windy'; 'wind'

baapitoon- ‘laugh at something’

opwaaganebi - 's/he offers a pipe'

opin - ‘potato’

asin - ‘stone; rock’

oosan - ‘his father’
wiigwaas - ‘birch; birchbark’

ashki-wiiyaas - ‘raw meat’

asabikeshiih - 'spider''
animosh - ‘dog’

nitawag - ‘my ear’

nitoon - 'catch and kill (it)'

waabang - ‘tomorrow’

waabooz - 'rabbit'
nibizindawaa - ‘I listen to someone’

aya'aa - 'a being; a human being'

giiyaw - ‘your body’
indayag - my dogs’

ziibi - river’

migizi - 'bals eagle
aakozi‘ - ‘to be sick’

zhaawan - ‘south’; 'bluebird'

anishinaabewinikaazh - 'call him (in Ojibwe)'

bizhiki - 'bison'

(') glottal stop: similar to the sound in the English interjection "uh-oh." For example, the word "dewe'igan" meaning "drum" has a glottal stop.

CONSONANT CLUSTERS (FIERO SPELLING)

misko'o ‘wear red’

shp

ishpayi'ii ‘above it’

sht

oshtigwaan ‘his head’

shk

ashkibagaa 'there are green leaves'

ishkode ‘fire’
gaayaashk ‘gull’

wiimbaag ‘they are hollow’

aanind ‘some’

biinjina ‘within (the body)’
oninj ‘his hand'; 'his finger’

bookoninjii 's/he breaks h/ hand, has a broken hand'

bangii ‘a little bit’
anang ‘a star’; 'puffball (fungus)'

endaayaang 'where I am at home'

THE USE OF APOSTROPHES

An apostrophe (') is used to express a glottal stop. In Ojibwemowin, the glottal stop, a sound created by briefly stopping the airflow in the vocal tract, is a distinct consonant phoneme. It's a common sound in many dialects and is similar to the sound in the English interjection "uh-oh." For example, the word "dewe'igan" meaning "drum" has a glottal stop.

Some dialects may use /h/ instead of the glottal stop. Anishininiimowin (Oji-Cree) and the Omàmìwininìmowin (Algonquin) dialect have /h/ in its place. Some dialects have both segments phonetically, The Odaawaa and Southwestern Ojibweg have /h/ in a small number of affective vocabulary items in addition to regular (').

Orthography and phonology are distinct but related aspects of language. Orthography refers to the written system of a language, including spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Phonology, on the other hand, is the study of the sound system of a language, focusing on how sounds are organized and used to convey meaning.

Purpose: To understand how speech sounds are organized and used to create meaning in a language. Relationship: Orthography and phonology are interconnected because the written form of a language is ultimately derived from its spoken form. However, orthographies are not always a perfect representation of the sounds of a language. Some languages have a very transparent relationship between spelling and pronunciation (phonemic orthography), while others have a more complex relationship. For example, Ojibwe orthography is considered less transparent than some other languages due to historical sound changes and inconsistencies in spelling.

GLOSSARRY OF TERMS

Agglutination: A morphological process in which words are formed by stringing together morphemes (word parts), each of which corresponds to a single syntactic feature.

Bimaadizi (called pimaatis by the Nakawē Ojibweg of the Northwest) : Literally: "S/he is alive." In Ojibwe, verbs and nouns can be classified as either bimaadizi/pimaatis or bimaadad/pimaatan. Bimaadizi/pimaatis denotes one form of animacy, a certain "active" quality of aliveness. Frequently referred to as "animate" by linguists and Ojibwe language teachers, in contrast to "inanimate."

Bimaadad (called pimaatan by the Nakawē Ojibweg of the Northwest): Literally: "It is alive": One form of animacy, a certain "inactive" quality of aliveness. Often called "inanimate" by linguists and Ojibwe language instructors. Bimaadizi/pimaatis and bimaadad/pimaatan are two interconnected, complementary, and fluid types of existence that are both part of bimaadiziwin, or Life. The distinction between bimaadizi/pimaatis and bimaadad/pimaatan affects verb conjugation, with different verb forms used depending on whether the noun (temporarily or in the specific context) falls into one of the two forms of animacy.

Etymology: The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

Grammar: The set of rules for how a natural language is structured, as demonstrated by its speakers or writers.

Orthography: The conventional spelling system of a language.

Mergers: A sound merger is a linguistic phenomenon where two distinct sounds in a language evolve to become identical. In some dialects of Nakawēmowin (Saulteaux or Plains Ojibwe), the sounds of ⟨sh⟩ and ⟨zh⟩ have merged with ⟨s⟩ and ⟨z⟩ respectively.

Morph: The physical form (either sound or written) that represents a morpheme.

Morpheme: The smallest unit of language that carries meaning. Essentially, a morpheme is an abstract idea of meaning, and a morph is how that meaning is expressed in a word. Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) is known for its polysynthetic nature, meaning it combines several morphemes into single words. These morphemes can be roots, prefixes, or suffixes, and they convey grammatical information like person, number, tense, and more. Ojibwe distinguishes between bimaadizi and bimaadad nouns and also uses a proximate/obviative distinction for third person, helping to clarify relationships between multiple third-person entities.

For example, the Ojibwe word "bimaadizi" ("s/he lives, is alive") contains three morphemes: "bim" (meaning "along in space and time, by"), "-aad-" (meaning "way of being or life; one's character or nature") -izi " (meaning s/he, it is in a state or condition) (the action).

The morphs in this case are the actual word segments: "bim-", "-aad-", and "-izi".

Morphology: The study of meaningful units of language, called morphemes, and how they are combined in forming words.

Particles: A distinct class of words that fulfill specific grammatical functions. They are uninflected words, meaning they don't change form based on grammatical context like nouns or verbs. Ojibwe particles can be categorized into various subclasses, including discourse particles, question particles, and others, each with its own role in sentence structure and meaning.

Phone: A phone is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can be distinguished from other sounds, regardless of whether it carries meaning. It's a physical, concrete sound, represented with square brackets in phonetic notation.

Phonetics: sounds

Phoneme: An abstract unit of sound that distinguishes meaning within a language. In Anishinaabemowin, it is an independent sound that creates a contrast in meaning. For example, in “g” and “k,” as in “giizhig” (sky or day) and “giizhik,” (cedar tree) are different phonemes because they cause a change in meaning.

Phonemic: this term refers to anything relating to phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language. In simpler terms, it's about how sounds are used to create different words. For example, the sounds /k/ and /g/ are phonemes in Anishinaabemowin because they can differentiate words like "giizhik" (cedar) and "giizhig" (sky or day). Anishinaabemowin has a relatively small number of phonemes, typically around 29, consisting of 11 vowels and 18 consonants. The vowels include both oral and nasal sounds.

Phonology: Ojibwe phonology features a system of seven oral vowels (three short and four long) and four nasal vowels. Consonants are distinguished by lenis/fortis or voiced/voiceless contrasts, with some dialects having undergone sound changes like mergers. Stress is not phonemic, but English influence can cause stress shifts.

Polysynthetic: Ojibwe is a polysynthetic language, characterized by its complex verb structure and high morpheme-to-word ratio. This means that a single Ojibwe word can convey a meaning that would require multiple words in less synthetic languages. Polysynthesis in Ojibwemowin involves extensive use of prefixes and suffixes on verb stems to express a wide range of grammatical information, including person, number, tense, modality, and more.

Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. In Ojibwemowin, the word order for simple transitive sentences is flexible. Although verb-initial orders are preferred, all logically possible orders are used.

Tonal cue: Anishinaabemowin does not use tone as a grammatical feature in the same way some other languages do. Unlike languages where tone is essential for distinguishing meaning (such as English), the Ojibwe language primarily depends on other grammatical elements, like word order, suffixes, prefixes, and particles/emphasis markers. Emotion is traditionally expressed through particles/emphasis markers rather than vocal tones. to convey meaning. In regions influenced by Dakota, French, or English, the Ojibwe language may display some tonal variations due to these languages. Occasionally, Ojibwe speakers use tonal cues to emphasize specific words or phrases, which might involve slightly lengthening a word or changing the pitch or intonation of a syllable to highlight it.

NOTE: The peak of a sentence is achieved by employing "carry on," which transfers the focus to the subsequent word through inserted morphs — temporarily used to establish a direct connection to the next word. The morphs that can be added to a sentence are nearly limitless, enabling you to describe anything; ay, ee, ah, uh, and others can alter the meaning of a word.

OJIBWE SPEECH SOUNDS

Ojibwe phonology features a system of seven oral vowels (three short and four long) and four nasal vowels. It counts 18 consonants, making a total of 29 phonemes. Consonants are distinguished by lenis/fortis or voiced/voiceless contrasts, with some dialects having undergone sound changes like mergers. Stress is not phonemic, but English influence can cause stress shifts.

Sound changes and dialectal variation can be distinguished as follows:

Syncope:

Some dialects, like Odaawaa, exhibit syncope (deletion of short vowels), creating new consonant clusters and variations in pronunciation.
Merging:

In some Nakawē dialects, /sh/ and /zh/ have merged with /s/ and /z/, respectively.
Nasalization:

Nasal vowels may be derived from vowel + /n/ sequences, especially before sibilants.
Stress:

While not traditionally phonemic, English influence can cause stress shifts in Ojibwe.

Anishinaabemowin is highly agglutinating, meaning it forms words by stringing together morphemes (the smallest units of language that contain meaning), rather than using multiple affixes to convey different information. Various auxiliaries (helping elements adding meaning and information to a given word) are added or removed to create morphological changes.

In terms of word formation, the language is notably polysynthetic, characterized by a high ratio of morphemes to words. In Ojibwe, every syllable has significance, allowing a single word to serve as a full sentence. When expressing ideas, emphasis is placed on sounds and morphs ("in-between-sounds") rather than grammatical rules. The language's verbal phrasing and pronunciation are distinct from English intonation.

Phonetics (speech sound) and grammar are by definition interconnected. Phonetics does not substitute grammar; instead, it acts as a means to understand how words are formed and how they sound when joined together. In Ojibwe speech, a sentence that is grammatically correct but doesn't sound right appears terrible (or may even be unintelligible) to a fluent first-language speaker.

Phonetics have been overlooked in the modern teaching and learning methods of grammar and collegiate institutions in the US and Canada. Since the 1970s, the focus has shifted from sound to grammar. To express and preserve the richness of Anishinaabemowin, a phonetic and phonic approach to the language is vital. Morphemes (the smallest units of language that carry meaning) and phonemes (a set of speech sounds that can distinguish one word from another) are fundamental to Anishinaabemowin. The richness of our speech is determined by how we utilize the richness of inwewin, the language.

After all, Anishinaabemowin is a SPIRITUAL language where the concept of INCLUSIVENESS (the establishment of relationships with one's community and the spirits) is central. Thus, in learning correct Ojibwe, sounds are not dependent on grammar, yet grammar should always depend on sounds ("phones").

An important rule of thumb in learning the Anishinaabe/Ojibwe language is that whatever you wish to express, whether spoken or written, must sound right.

PARTICLES AND TONAL CUES

Let's examine the significance of a single speech sound ("phone") in the Ojibwe language.

For instance, when you want to say, "Is that right?" or "Do you agree?" many Anishinaabemowin speakers, especially new learners, would use "geget ina." Geget translates to sure, certainly, really, indeed; ina is a yes/no question word. Grammatically, "geget ina" is a perfectly proper (though not necessarily correct) way to express this, and most modern language teachers, who adhere to strict grammar rules, will affirm this. However, elder speakers raised in a traditional Ojibwe setting, and thus deeply familiar with the old language, understand something that many modern teachers may overlook or deem unimportant. To them, even a small sound can make a significant difference. They perceive a substantial distinction between "geget ina" and "gegetina." To them, "ina" implies "our (mine and your) agreement," while "tina" signifies "your agreement." Therefore, geget ina means "is that right for US?" whereas gegetina (pronounced as a single word, in one breath) means "is that right for YOU?" — making it a phrase of courtesy. Using "tina" ("tin-nuh") is more respectful because it carries the T from gegeT. By linking the last letter to the next word, the expression gains a sense of cordiality. Thus, SOUND proves to be more crucial than adhering to grammatically "correct" word patterns...

In the old language, emotion was generally expressed through particles rather than vocal tones. However, in Ojibwe influenced by Dakota and Ojibwe influenced by French and English, tonal cues are also present, though they differ from those in the other languages. Additionally, in Anishinaabemowin, certain important words are highlighted by slightly lengthening the word, similar to slowing down the sentence cadence, but only for that specific word.

Interjection of particles convey certain shades of meaning, such as doubt, assertion, evaluative, etc.

Some examples of Ojibwe particles are:

ahaaw — alright; okay; okay then; O.K.; once more

aaniish naa — you see; well then; well now; well; that is ; how; why?!; what in the world!; how are you? (as greeting only)

aaniin — greetings!, hello!, hi!

da — please, come on (clarification marker)

da naa! — damn it!

daga — please, by all means, come on, well

ehe — yes

eye — (female speaking)

enʼ — yes (male speaking)

enyanhʼ — yes

gaawesaa — Impossible! No way! Can't be done!

gaawiin ingodinoo — I don't care, no matter, forget about it; It's ok (that)

gaye — also; and;as for; as well; or; plus; too

giiwenh — so the story goes; so it is said. Example: Mewinzha giiwenh gaawiin ogii-siigwebinanziinaawaa ziinzibaakwadwaaboo.

go — expressing affirmation, assertiveness, assurance (emphasis marker) (see igo)

haw sa — yes!

igo — expressing affirmation, assertiveness, assurance (emphasis marker) (see go)

iko — used to, formerly, previously, some time ago, it was the custom to.
Example: Anaamoonag iko ningii-tazhi-odaminomin. We used to play under the boat.

ina — question marker for yes/no questions (always placed after the first word in the sentence; used after words ending in a consonant). Da-gimiwan ina? Is it going to rain. Giwiisin ina? Are you eating? but: Gigii-anokii na bijiinaago? Did you work yesterday?

iidog — maybe; must be. Example: Aabiding iidog gii-pabimose 'aw mindimooyenh imaa miikanaang. Once upon a time there was an old lady walking along on the road.

miigwech — thank you

miigwech gayegiin — you're welcome! (literally: it is enough-and-you)

miinawaa — (coordinating conjunction) again; also; and also; and; more and more; once more; other; then

na — Question marker for yes/no questions. It is always placed after the first word in the sentence. If the first word ends in a vowel, use the particle na; if it ends in a consonant, use ina.

nahaaw — okay (assent)

naa — well! (emphatic particle)

oo — oh! oh my!

sa — emphasis marker. Example: Mii sa go ozhiitaawaad igo. They were getting ready.

(a)tayaa — good golly; great many; hey!; indeed!; oh boy! ; oh my! ; too much; well!

way — exclamation. Example: Way, yay, wewiib enda-gizhigaawan iniw ininaatigoon. Goodness gracious, hurry, the maples are running just fast.

waa — my! (exclamation)

yay — exclamation. Example: Way, yay, wewiib enda-gizhigaawan iniw ininaatigoon. Goodness gracious, hurry, the maples are running just fast.