Abstract:

The Cree-Innu linguistic atlas is a collaborative participatory action research project with partners involved in the preservation and the documentation of native american languages of the Algonquian language family. It was started in 2005 with a number of Cree, Innu and Naskapi communities. It is now being expanded to other languages of the same family: Western Cree, Metis, and Ojibway dialects.
The linguistic atlas (www.atlas-ling.ca) offers interactive maps, downloadable texts, activities, and sound files. It is based on a conversation CD and manual, originally developed for second language acquisition of East Cree (Blacksmith et al. 2002). The atlas currently contains 21 topics of conversation in over 15 languages and dialects of Cree-Innu.
Pedagogical applications include language acquisition via downloadable language lessons, and linguistic training via the discovery of the characteristics of this language family as well as the variation between languages and dialects at the phonological, morphological and lexicological levels. Our goal is to make some linguistic principles accessible to students in a playful way, facilitating the understanding of both the diversity and the deep unity of a family of native american languages.
In addition to documenting dialectal variation, the project also offers training and support for native speakers in language preservation and documentation, using information technology (IT). The central database is web-based, allowing collaboration at a distance. The atlas uses a Google map populated by an on-line relational database.
In this multimedia presentation, we show and discuss the tools, technology, and method used to implement this wide-reaching documentation effort, as well as its pedagogical applications.

References:
[1] The Cree-Innu linguistic Atlas- L'atlas linguistique cri-innu: Prototype (2004): http://www.eastcree.org/cree/en/grammar/# Current development (2005-2011): www.atlas-ling.ca/
[2] Blacksmith, L., Junker, M-O, MacKenzie, M., Bobbish-Salt, L., Whiskeychan, A. (2002). Cree conversation Manual/ Manuel de conversation crie. Edited by M.-O. Junker. 43 pages. ISBN 1-894843-25-8. Download from
http://www.eastcree.org/cree/en/resources/cds/
[3] Junker, M-O. ed. (2002) Cree conversation crie - iinuu/iyiyuu ayimitaau. CD (Audio). 70mn. ISBN 894843-24-X. Download order form and description from: http://www.eastcree.org/cree/en/resources/cds/

Keywords:

Native american languages, algonquian, cree, innu, linguistic atlas, endangered languages, google map, relational database.