What is Abenaki?
Q: What is Abenaki?
A: Abenaki is an endangered Algonquian language spoken in Quebec and the northern states of New England.
Q: How many forms does Abenaki have?
A: Abenaki has Eastern and Western forms.
Q: What is the difference between Eastern and Western Abenaki?
A: Eastern and Western Abenaki differ in vocabulary and phonology.
Q: Who spoke Eastern Abenaki?
A: Eastern Abenaki was spoken by several peoples, including the Micmac, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot of coastal Maine.
Q: When was the last known fluent speaker of Eastern Abenaki died?
A: The last known fluent speaker of Eastern Abenaki (Penobscot) died during the 1990s.
Q: Do any Penobscot elders still speak Penobscot?
A: Yes, several Penobscot elders still speak Penobscot.
Q: What is being done to preserve Abenaki?
A: There is an ongoing effort to preserve Abenaki and teach it in local schools, but only a handful of Western Abenaki speakers remain today.
