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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: MIC
ISO 639-2: mic
| Population | 7,310 mother tongue speakers (1998 Statistics Canada) out of 14,200 population in Canada (1998 SIL). In Canada, 1,500 are in mainland Nova Scotia, 4,000 on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 800 on Prince Edward Island and Lennox Island, 4,550 on the east coast of New Brunswick, 3,150 on the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, 200 in Newfoundland. Population total both countries 8,500. |
| Region | Central and northern Nova Scotia. The mainland has 6 major villages: Afton, Picto, Truro, Shubanakati, Bear River, and Yarmouth, and some small communities; Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia with 5 major villages: Memberto, Eskasoni, Chapel Island, Wakmatkug, and Waikoqomaq; and one small village: Prince Edward Island; the east coast of New Brunswick: Fort Folly, Big Cove, Indian Island, Burnt Church, Eel Ground, Red Bank, Pabino Falls, and Eel River Bar; and eastern Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, with 3 villages: Gespe'q, Gesgapeqiaq, and Listuguj; and Newfoundland with 1 major village: Conn River. Also spoken in USA. |
| Alternate names | MI'GMAW, MIIGMAO, MI'KMAW, RESTIGOUCHE |
| Dialects | NORTHERN MICMAC, SOUTHERN MICMAC. |
| Classification | Algic, Algonquian, Eastern. |
| Comments | Speakers of Mi'gmaw (Restigouche) Quebec dialect have difficulty understanding other dialects. Bilingualism in English. Most adults speak Micmac. Many adults below 35 do not speak it. Younger ones may prefer English. Most children learn English first, but there is an effort in many communities to teach children Micmac. In some communities usage is more vigorous. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. 3 major writing systems used in teaching and writing. NT 1874, in press (1999). |
| USA |
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