MALECITE-PASSAMAQUODDY: a language of Canada

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: MAC

ISO 639-2: alg

Population	655 mother tongue speakers of Malecite in Canada (1998 Statistics Canada). Population total both countries 1,500 speakers out of 3,000 to 4,000 ethnic population (1998 SIL).
Region	New Brunswick, villages along the Saint John River. Malecite mainly in Canada, Passamaquoddy in Maine, USA. Also spoken in USA.
Dialects	MALECITE (MALISEET), PASSAMAQUODDY.
Classification	Algic, Algonquian, Eastern.
Comments	English is preferred by most younger ones. Most speakers are older, but in some communities younger ones may speak it. Interest in the language is increasing in some places. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions 1870.

Also spoken in:

USA

Language name	MALECITE-PASSAMAQUODDY
Population	887 speakers in USA (1990 census).
Dialects	MALECITE (MALISEET), PASSAMAQUODDY.
Comments	Bilingualism in English. Most speakers of Passamaquoddy are elderly (1998) with younger speakers in a few areas. English is preferred by most younger ones. Bible portions 1870. See main entry under Canada.