Anishinaabemowin (ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓈᐯᒧᐎᓐ, also called Ojibwe, Ojibwa, or Ojibway, Ojibwemowin) is an Indigenous language spoken in the southern parts of Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada. There are also Ojibwe populations in the United States in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

There are several different dialects of Ojibwe, and it is important to consider which dialect is needed when working with an English into Ojibwe translation as not all dialects are mutually intelligible. Some dialects are written using Roman orthography, others – with syllabics, and some can use either.

Although it is the second most spoken First Nations language after Cree, Anishinaabemowin is currently classified as “Severely Endangered”, with approx. 25,000 speakers listed by the 2021 Census. Translating into Ojibwe requires a thoughtful approach distinct from more commonly spoken languages. Here are some key considerations:

• Multiple dialects: There is a lot of variation in the language across regions so be sure to specify where your target audience will be when requesting translation.
  • Nakawēmowin (ᓇᐦᑲᐌᒧᐎᓐ, also known as Western Ojibwe, Saulteaux, or Plains Ojibway) is spoken by the Saulteaux in Manitoba and Saskatchewan west of Lake Winnipeg.
  • Nishnabemowin (Chippewa, also known as Southwestern Ojibwe) is spoken on the southern shores of Lake Superior and in the areas toward the south and west of Lake Superior in Michigan, Southern Ontario, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
  • Northwestern Ojibwe: This dialect is spoken in Ontario and Manitoba, from northwest of Lake Nipigon, north of Lake of the Woods, south of the Berens River up to the Manitoba border. It is also known as Northern Ojibwe.
  • Anishininiimowin (ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓂᓃᒧᐏᐣ, also known as Severn Ojibwe or Oji-cree) is spoken by northern communities in Ontario and at Island Lake, Manitoba.
  • The Ottawa or Odawa dialect is spoken by the Ottawa people in Southern Ontario and northern Michigan. It is one of the Ojibwe dialects that has undergone the most linguistic change but is still considered an Ojibwe language.
  • Eastern Ojibwe: Eastern Ojibwe is the dialect most commonly associated with the blanket name Ojibwe. It is spoken north of Lake Ontario and east of Georgian Bay in Ontario, including Rama and Curve Lake.
• Writing system: There is no standard writing system used for all Ojibwe dialects. Local alphabets have been developed by adapting the Latin script, usually based on English or French orthography. A syllabic writing system, not related to English or French writing, is used by some Ojibwe speakers in northern Ontario and Manitoba. For some dialects, double-vowel orthography is used, where vowel length can change the meaning of words, requiring careful attention to pronunciation and spelling.
• Language Experts First: Ojibwe translators are, for the most part, not full-time translators but first and foremost they are masters of the language, and often educators, Elders, or community leaders.
• Rich Cultural Context and Idiomatic Expressions: The language includes many idiomatic expressions and cultural references that do not have direct equivalents in other languages.