Ojibwa at U of T
- The word Ojibwa designates several closely related languages of the Algonquian language family of North America, with varieties spoken in Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, as well as in Minnesota.
- Learning Ojibwa provides a new opportunity for understanding the history of our country and one of its First Nations. If you wish to do graduate work in any area involving Aboriginal people, knowledge of Ojibwa will be helpful.
- If you are interested in teaching in many parts of Canada, knowledge of Ojibwa would be valuable, and it is important for many government jobs as well.
- Ojibwa culture is rich and varied. Knowledge of Ojibwa will give you a deeper understanding of the outstanding Ojibwa artists and authors.
- Visit the Aboriginal Studies website for more information.
- Consult the A&S calendar for specific course offerings.
- Is Ojibwa an oral language rather than a written one?
There are actually two writing systems for Ojibwa, one called Roman (with letter like in English) and one called syllabics. You would learn both of these in this class. There is also a strong oral tradition in the language. - I hear that the writing system is hard to learn.
The writing system is based on syllables rather than individual sounds, and people usually learn it quite quickly. - I have never been a good language learner, and I hear that Ojibwa is very hard to learn.
Any language is difficult to learn in some ways. This class will teach you about Ojibwa culture as well as about the language. An assistant is available to help you outside of class time, and the program is building resources to enable you to listen to the language whenever you choose.
