Innu-aimun (also called Innu) is an Algonquian language spoken by the Innu of Labrador and Quebec in Eastern Canada.

Spoken over a vast territory, Innu consists of two dialect areas: West-Central (Mashteuiatsh, Essipit, Pessamit, Uashat mak Mani-utenam, Matimekush) and East (Ekuanitshit, Nutashkuan, Unaman-shipit, Pakua-shipit, Sheshatshiu, Mushuau (Natuashish)).

West-Central Innu is further divided into two sub-dialects: West (Mashteuiatsh, Essipit, Pessamit) and Central (Uashat mak Mani-utenam, Matimekush). Western Innu is also referred to as the ‘l’ dialect, since the sound that was historically /r/ became /l/ in this dialect, whereas in the other dialects (Central and Eastern) this sound is now pronounced /n/.

Eastern Innu is also further divided into two sub-dialects: The Mamit dialect of the Lower North Shore, Quebec (Ekuanitshit, Nutashkuan, Uanaman-shipit, Pakua-shipit) and the Labrador dialect (Sheshatshiu, Mushuau). Sheshatshiu Innu shares many features with the Quebec dialects, while Mushuau Innu (spoken in Natuashish) shares many words and features with the neighbouring Naskapi language of Kawawachikamach, Quebec.

 

Quebec Innu speak French as their second language, while Labrador Innu speak English.

(The ISO 639-3 code for Innu is moe.)

More information:  https://www.innu-aimun.ca/english/dictionaries/