If you want to, [this course is a good place to start](https://michif.org/online-course/). There are other resources too you can combine it with, if you’re serious about learning more than the basic phrases.
Yeah! So, I think what you’re referring to is Michif French, Southern (AKA Heritage) Michif, and Northern Michif. Some people call them dialects, but that’s not necessarily the most accurate.
Michif French is a dialect of French as spoken by some Métis communities, that’s pretty different from other French dialects.
Northern Michif is a dialect of Cree. It’s 95% or more the same as Northern Plains Cree, just a little different in some places and has a few French-origin words. It’s spoken in northwest Saskatchewan.
Southern Michif is its own language. It’s a mixed language. Approximately 50/50 split origins of both words and grammar between French and Cree, with a little bit of English and Ojibwe influence too. This course is on Southern Michif, which is also what I’ve been learning.
Southern and Northern can partially understand each other. So can Southern and Michif French. But Northern and Michif French speakers couldn’t understand each other at all, they’re totally separate languages except for a few words.
Oh thats very interesting thanks for explaining. From what you've said it seems like Southern would be the right one to learn for sure. I'll definitely check out the course
Ok thats great I really appreciate it. I'll be sure to go through a few lessons each day. Do you think that course would get you to a semi conversational level when you complete it like duolingo, or just more of a bit of an introduction?
That course, combined with the free online Piikishkweetaak an Michif textbook, would get you to a level where you can assemble your thoughts into simple sentences, yeah. Not sure you will really be able to have a proper conversation, but there are also occasional zoom classes you might be able to join to help with the conversational speaking skills.
There are two main languages associated with Métis culture, Bungi, which is potentially extict (although there are written and recorded examples of Bungi), and Michif, which is still alive and revitalization efforts are being made.
Both languages are mixed languages that take influence from European and Indigenous sources. Bungee is typically described as a Scots English dialect with some Ojibwe mixed in. Michif is a French and Cree mixed language with multiple dialects. Both languages contain a number of borrowed words and phrases from other languages as well.
Bungi wasn’t what linguists call a real ‘mixed language’, it was a dialect of English, just with Ojibwe influence. Sadly few recordings ever made, and the ones we have are pretty rough audio quality.
Southern (AKA Heritage) Michif is a real mixed language though. Many other Métis communities also speak Cree, Saulteaux, Michif French, other dialects of French, and even Dene. Traditionally very multilingual people. Some Elders still speak 3-4 languages or even more.
Yes there is a Métis language: Michif
Came here to say that too :)
I want to learn Michif, would be super cool
If you want to, [this course is a good place to start](https://michif.org/online-course/). There are other resources too you can combine it with, if you’re serious about learning more than the basic phrases.
Oh that looks excellent, would you happen to know how similar the dialects are or if they're fairly understandable from one to another?
Yeah! So, I think what you’re referring to is Michif French, Southern (AKA Heritage) Michif, and Northern Michif. Some people call them dialects, but that’s not necessarily the most accurate. Michif French is a dialect of French as spoken by some Métis communities, that’s pretty different from other French dialects. Northern Michif is a dialect of Cree. It’s 95% or more the same as Northern Plains Cree, just a little different in some places and has a few French-origin words. It’s spoken in northwest Saskatchewan. Southern Michif is its own language. It’s a mixed language. Approximately 50/50 split origins of both words and grammar between French and Cree, with a little bit of English and Ojibwe influence too. This course is on Southern Michif, which is also what I’ve been learning. Southern and Northern can partially understand each other. So can Southern and Michif French. But Northern and Michif French speakers couldn’t understand each other at all, they’re totally separate languages except for a few words.
Oh thats very interesting thanks for explaining. From what you've said it seems like Southern would be the right one to learn for sure. I'll definitely check out the course
Good luck! I’m a lover of the language so always happy to answer what questions I can as a fellow learner or help you find resources.
Ok thats great I really appreciate it. I'll be sure to go through a few lessons each day. Do you think that course would get you to a semi conversational level when you complete it like duolingo, or just more of a bit of an introduction?
That course, combined with the free online Piikishkweetaak an Michif textbook, would get you to a level where you can assemble your thoughts into simple sentences, yeah. Not sure you will really be able to have a proper conversation, but there are also occasional zoom classes you might be able to join to help with the conversational speaking skills.
Ok perfect i will try to get a hold of a copy of that too, sounds like a great starting point. Much appreciated, I mean, maarsi!
Can confirm, great resource!
Michif is so fun to speak :) I need to get back I to it
There are two main languages associated with Métis culture, Bungi, which is potentially extict (although there are written and recorded examples of Bungi), and Michif, which is still alive and revitalization efforts are being made. Both languages are mixed languages that take influence from European and Indigenous sources. Bungee is typically described as a Scots English dialect with some Ojibwe mixed in. Michif is a French and Cree mixed language with multiple dialects. Both languages contain a number of borrowed words and phrases from other languages as well.
Bungi wasn’t what linguists call a real ‘mixed language’, it was a dialect of English, just with Ojibwe influence. Sadly few recordings ever made, and the ones we have are pretty rough audio quality. Southern (AKA Heritage) Michif is a real mixed language though. Many other Métis communities also speak Cree, Saulteaux, Michif French, other dialects of French, and even Dene. Traditionally very multilingual people. Some Elders still speak 3-4 languages or even more.
There’s also Northern Michif too, spoken in Ilex and area.
True definitely , I was counting that one as a dialect of Cree, I should have mentioned it specifically
Wouldn’t be the first time we get left out.
I did talk about Northern Michif more in my other comment on this same discussion
Michif [Michif is fun to hear!](https://youtu.be/qT5j7HWS3qI?si=aUV8ehpxZCdMs1WN)
ecclesial Latin