Dialects of Ojibwe

While over 63 languages have the potential to be spoken in 'Merganser,' much of the focus of the series is paid to the Anishinaabe peoples. As a result, an analysis of the dialects of Ojibwe, which all Anishinaabe people besides the Potawatomi speak natively, would do much to establish the political and ethnic divides that are presented in 'Merganser.'

Northern
There are two northern dialects, Oji-Cree (Severn) and Algonquin. They are both divergent, although from what I can tell, this is for different reasons in each case. Oji-Cree has a significant amount of Cree influence, and Algonquin is simply a very divergent form of Ojibwe. In the real world, Algonquin is the easternmost dialect of Ojibwe, and the Algonquins still have close ethnic ties with the Abenaki, who are remembered in mainstream Ojibwe legends but not closely kept as allies, at least in the real world. Both of these dialects are likely to be stigmatized in this world, as they have a closer relationship with the Cree than other dialects.


 * 1) Anishinini
 * 2) Algonquin

Transitional

 * 1) Nipissing
 * 2) North of Superior
 * 3) Berens River
 * 4) Northwestern

Southern

 * 1) Ottawa
 * 2) Eastern Ojibwe
 * 3) Southwestern Ojibwe (Chippewa)
 * 4) Border Lakes
 * 5) Saulteaux