Lexical Roots of Old Cree: An Etymological Dictionary

Lexical Roots of Old Cree: An Etymological Dictionary is the result of over two decades of research on historical and contemporary Cree dialects. Built from extensive linguistic fieldwork with nearly a hundred fluent speakers and supported by lexical databases and textual corpora, it offers a detailed reconstruction of Old Cree roots and their evolution across dialects such as Moose Cree, Southern East Cree, Atikamekw, and Western Innu.

Lexical roots--the smallest meaningful units of words--are central to Cree’s polysynthetic structure, where words can function as entire sentences. By meticulously tracing these roots, this dictionary provides critical insights into how words were formed in Old Cree and how they continue to be structured in modern dialects.

Beyond linguistic reconstruction, this work addresses practical challenges in Cree lexicography, particularly those arising from orthographic variations and dialectal differences. It serves as a valuable resource for lexicographers, linguists, and community members engaged in language preservation and revitalization.

The research draws from historical manuscripts, early dictionaries, and oral traditions, ensuring a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to linguistic analysis. At a time of rapid linguistic erosion, this dictionary not only documents Cree’s rich lexical heritage but also supports ongoing efforts to sustain and strengthen the language for future generations. It stands as a testament to the knowledge generously shared by fluent speakers and to the enduring vitality of Cree linguistic traditions.

Kevin Brousseau is a lexicographer of Cree known for his dictionaries of Moose Cree and East Cree. He also maintains a lexical database on the Abitibi dialect of Anishinabe with plans to publish a dictionary. In the past he has undertaken linguistic fieldwork in other Cree dialects such as Eastern Swampy Cree, Atikamekw, and Western Innu. Aside from lexicography, his interests include dialectology and historical linguistics. He is a Wāswānipīwiyiniw (Waswanipi Cree) and lives in Oujé-Bougoumou, a small Cree community where he practices full-time as a family doctor.