Dialects

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Dialects
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Northern vs Southern Potawatomi

• Although there are some different words from
  community to community I prefer to focus on the
  similarities. The Potawatomi which we teach has
  been greatly influenced by the folks in Wisconsin
  but I do know a considerable number of Kansas
  terminologies which I mix among my Potawatomi. I
  tend to think by learning both ways of saying
  something you are able to adapt in either
  community.

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Three Fires Language

• The largest difference occurs in the Potawatomi
  which is spoken in Canada in areas such as Cape
  Croker, Kettle Point, Wasaksing, and Walpole
  Island. This language is usually referred to as
  three fires because it has a mix of Potawatomi,
  Odawa and Ojibwe in it. They also tend to favor
  the Fiero writing system in Canada

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Northern Potawatomi

• They tend to favor the b sound over the p.
• The g sound over the k at least on initial words.
• The t sound over the d.
• So up north they would say bama pi vs. pama pi in
  Kansas. Both mean later on.

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Southern Potawatomi or Kansas Potawatomi

• They tend to favor the p sound over the b.
• The d sound over the t.
• The k sound over the g.
• So they would tend to say Pama pi while up north
  they say Bama pi for later on.

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The difference

• Basically if you put your hand up to your mouth
  and say pama pi and then bama pi you will see the
  difference. One is voiced hence you feel air on
  your hand and one you dont feel air. This is
  called a vowel shift. On the p sound you really
  feel the air while on the b sound you dont.

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So which one is right

• Neither. I believe that the true Potawatomi sound
  is somewhere between the two. Remember we are
  using English letters to represent Potawatomi
  sounds. I think on certain words they will tend
  to sound more like ps instead of bs and some
  words will sound more like gs instead of ks.

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There are some words which are different how come?

• My speculation is that Potawatomi in Kansas had
  later contact with Kickapoo and Sac and Fox while
  those in Wisconsin had later contact with Ojibwe
  and Odawa people. So occasionally a word was
  borrowed. In fact the Kickapoo spoken in Kansas
  is extremely similar to Kansas Potawatomi because
  so many Potawatomi married into the Kickapoo
  tribe Potawatomi became the language of choice
  for most.

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A few different words

• Southern word Northern Word
• Kazho- cat Mayos- cat
• Mshewe- rabbit
  Wabozo-rabbit
• Binagchege- he/she cleans Binchege- he/she
  cleans

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Conclusion

• The differences are slight. Focus on the
  similarities and you will be better off. As you
  learn Potawatomi take some time occasionally to
  learn the other word if you run across it. That
  way you can be respectful to the community you
  are in when you speak.