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Cree syllabics

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A proof from freshly made Cree typeface

Cree syllabics, found in two primary forms, are the versions of Canadian Aboriginal syllabics that are used to write Cree dialects. Although it was developed mainly to record the Cree and Ojibwe languages, it is also usd to write several other languages of the Algonquian family. [1] It is estimated that over 70,000 Indians across North America, from Saskatchewan in the west to Hudson's Bay in the east, and from the grain belt to Mackenzie and Kewatin in northern Canada, use the script. [2]

History

Cree syllabics were developed by Reverend James Evans, a missionary, in modern-day Manitoba during the 1830s for the Ojibwe language. After studying the phonology of this language, Evans had actually planned on using Roman alphabetic characters in his writing system. However, after learning of the success of the Cherokee syllabary, Evans decided to replace such symbols with alphabetic and syllabic non-Roman symbols.[1]

Initially, Evans' syllabary contained only nine symbols, each of which could denote different vowels based on which of the four orientations it was written in. Later, after learning the Cree language, he attempted to develop a writing system for it, again using Roman characters. However, when Evans encountered trouble in adopting the Roman alphabet to the Cree language, he turned to his syllabary that he developed originally for Ojibwe and used the same system for Cree. [2]

After the publication of a hymnbook written in the newly devised Cree syllabary in 1841, the new writing system was quickly adopted and accepted by the indigenous people, who praised it for the ease of obtaining literacy and valued it for its differences from the Latin script of the colonial languages. Virtually all Cree Indians were literate in the new syllabary in a short amount of time, leading many to call Evans "the man who made birchbark talk." [1]

Structure

Most dialects of Cree can be written with just 12 basic symbols. Unlike most other syllabaries, orientation of a symbol plays a huge factor in Cree writing. Each symbol contains an inherent consonant sound linked with a vowel that is determined by the symbol's orientation, whether right-side-up, rotated 90 degrees to the right, rotated 90 degrees to the left, or upside-down. Since there are up to seven vowel sounds, diacritics may need to be used as well to indicate other vowel sounds. Furthermore, if a word ends in a consonant sound, a diacritic is used to indicate that the last symbol has no vowel quality. [2]

Like English writing, Cree syllabics are written from left to right, with each new line of writing directly under the previous one.

Variants

There are several dialects of Cree but all can be divided into two basic forms: Western and Eastern. Western Cree syllabics are used for dialects west of the Manitoba-Ontario border, while Eastern Cree syllabics are used east of that line. (Not all eastern Cree dialects are written with syllabics: The dialects of eastern Quebec use the Latin alphabet.) The two versions differ primarily in the way they indicate syllable-final consonants, in how they mark the semi-vowel /enwiki/w/, and in how they reflect the phonological differences between Cree dialects. Western Cree syllabics are closest to the original form of the alphabet. [1]

In 1850, Reverend John Horden introduced modifications, most notably additional characters, to the Western syllabary around the James Bay area. This modified syllabary is now known as Eastern Cree syllabics, and is used roughly east of James Bay. In 1865, these changes were eventually standardized. [2] However, the conventional rules regarding the use of Cree can vary greatly from any two given communities. For example, character inventory, shape of characters, writing conventions, and even spelling are different among regions. Plain syllabics, representing only syllable structure, or pointed syllabics, which uses diacritics, are among the varying styles of writing. And furthermore, some writers use spaces or dots between words, while others choose not to use any form of separation between words at all. [1]

Modern Usage

Up until recently, the Cree syllabary has been primarily used only in translations of religious, although mainly Christian, texts and personal letters and records. However, with the development of syllabic typewriters and personal computers, there has been a steady increase of usage of the syllabary in schoolbooks, periodicals, and official documents. There has also recently been a push to include syllabic scripts in international standard character coding in software.[1]

See also

Cree books written in syllabics

  • Hundreds of Eastern James Bay Cree books were published by the Cree School Board of Quebec, Canada. See the catalogue.
  • Hymn Book. (By James Evans) Norway House, 1841.
  • Catechism. (Transl. James Evans) Rossville, É.N.
  • The Holy Bible. (Transl. John Sinclair, Henry Steinhauer) London, 1861.
  • Bunyan: Pilgrim´S Progress. (Transl. John Sinclair) Toronto, 1900.
  • Cree Hymn Book. (By John Mcdougall) Toronto, 1888.
  • Cree Hymn Book. (By Robert Steinauer, Egerton Steinauer) Toronto, 1920.
  • The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Galatians. (Transl. Joseph Reader) Oonikup (Northwest Territory), S.A.
  • The Acts of The Apostles And The Epistles. London, 1891.
  • The Books of The New Testament. London, 1859.
  • The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians; the Epistle of Jacob; the First Epistle General of John. (Transl. Thomas Hullburt) Rossville, 1857.
  • The Travellers´ Spiritual Provision (Calendar) S.L., S. A.
  • The Handbook to Scripture Truth: Words of Admonition, Counsel and Comfort. Toronto, 1893.
  • Prieres, Cantiques, Catéchisme Etc. En Lanque Crise. Montreal, 1886.
  • The Book of Common Prayer, (Transl. John Horden) London, 1889 (Addl. Printings Through 1970).
In: Paleográfiai kalandozások. Szentendre, 1995. ISBN 9634509223

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Daniels, Peter (1996). The World's Writing Systems. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 599–611. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Campbell, George (1991). Compendium of the World's Languages, 2nd ed. pp. 422–428.
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