French‐Algonquian interaction in Canada: A Michif case study

Abstract

This paper discusses the language contact situation between Algonquian languages and French in Canada. Michif, a French‐Plains Cree mixed language, is used as a case study for linguistic results of language contact. The paper describes the phonological, morphological, and syntactic conflict sites between the grammars of Plains Cree and French, as an example of heritage language interactions with French in areas of similar language contact. The usefulness of such examination is two‐fold. First, the particular conflict sites should assist speech‐language pathologists in their speech and language assessment and intervention with Indigenous children in similar language contact situations. Secondly, the methodology followed should provide direction for future research in speech‐language pathology concerning this and other language contact situations.