2007-05-08 14:18:01 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
A widely accepted estimate suggests that at the time of Columbus more than 15 million speakers throughout the Western Hemisphere used more than 2,000 languages; the geographic divisions within that estimate are 300 separate tongues native to some 1.5 million Native Americans N of Mexico, 300 different languages spoken by roughly 5 million people in Mexico and Central America, and more than 1,400 distinct tongues used by 9 million Native Americans in South America and the West Indies.
A few of the root languages are:
NORTH AMERICA
Eskimo-Aleut
Algonquian-Wakashan
Nadene and Penutian
Athabascan
Hokan-Siouan
Aztec-Tanoan
Nahuatlan
CENTRAL AMERICA
Coahuiltecan
Guaycuran
Jicaque
SOUTH AMERICA AND WEST INDIES
Chibchan
Cariban
Ge
Quechua
Aymara
Araucanian
Arawakan
Tup-Guaran.
.
2007-05-08 16:41:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From my studies, it appears that the Algonquian language is the strongest among the First Nations. That linguistic identifier originated in the New England states and moved westward through the centuries.
Note: The term First Nations is often used by the American Indian for identification. Many of them dislike Native American and other political-correct labels.
2007-05-08 21:29:33 · answer #2 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The languages for the First Nations of what country? You need to know that first. For instance the languages would vary for Natives of South Africa as opposed to Native Americans living in Canada. Also, you would have to know the group. Cree or Micmac? Details, we need details!
Although... www.library.ubc.ca/xwi7xwa/lang.htm has a pretty concise list if you feel like browsing it.
2007-05-08 21:32:57 · answer #3 · answered by madeline b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Native Indian!! There are so many languages! It's not like English and French and Spanish !! Each tribe has it's own dialect ! There is just to many to name!! Go to the library and get a book on the subject !!
2007-05-08 21:32:18 · answer #4 · answered by Polar Molar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many First Nations communities all over the world and each community has it's own dialect. The Mohawk language itself, has over 7000 dialects.
2007-05-10 13:57:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no one language. There are many different Native groups in North America and the languages they spoke are just as varied.
There are hundreds of different ones.
Read this wikipedia article to get an idea -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_Languages#Language_families_.26_isolates
2007-05-08 21:58:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋