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How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

Paradigm Classes

Paradigm classes are a way of grouping similar words. This dictionary groups words into paradigm classes according to how the words pattern when inflected. Understanding how to use one word in a paradigm class, allows one to apply that knowledge to other words in the same class.

Below are the paradigm classes used in this Dictionary.

Abbreviation Label
Noun Class 1 consonant noun stems
Noun Class 1A regular consonant noun stems: jiimaan
Noun Class 1B shorter consonant noun stems: nika
Noun Class 1C consonant /ny/ noun stems: awesiinh
Noun Class 1D consonant /y/ noun stems: nimaamaa
Noun Class 2 long vowel-w noun stems
Noun Class 2A w-loss noun stems: anishinaabe
Noun Class 2B /w/ noun stems: ikwe
Noun Class 3 short vowel-w noun stems: inini
Noun Class 4 consonant-w noun stems
Noun Class 4A /oo/ noun stems: mitig
Noun Class 4B /w/ noun stems: amik
Noun Class 4C shorter consonant-w noun stems: makwa
Noun Class 5 consonant-y noun stems
Noun Class 5A regular consonant-y noun stems: asin
Noun Class 5B shorter consonant-y noun stems: aki
Noun Class 6 special /aa/ noun stems
VAI intransitive animate verbs
VAI Class 1 vai vowel stem
VAI Class 1A vai long vowel stems
VAI Class 1B vai short vowel stems
VAI Class 2 vai consonant stems
VAI Class 2A vai consonant /n/ stems
VAI Class 2B vai consonant /m/ stems
VAI2 vai2 /am/ stems
VII intrasitive inanimate verbs
VII Class 1 vii long vowel stems
VII Class 2 vii short vowel stems
VII Class 2A vii short vowel stems; no /n/
VII Class 2B vii short vowel stems; some /n/
VII Class 2C vii short vowel stems; always /n/
VII Class 3 vii consonant stems
VII Class 3A vii consonant /d/ stems
VII Class 3B vii consonant /n/ stems
VTA transitive animate verbs
VTA Class 1 vta consonant stems
VTA Class 1A vta regular consonant stems
VTA Class 1B vta shorter consonant stems
VTA Class 2 vta changeable /N/ stems
VTA Class 2A vta regular changeable /N/ stems
VTA Class 2B vta shorter changeable /N/ stems
VTA Class 3 vta changeable /s/ stems
VTA Class 3A vta regular changeable /s/ stems
VTA Class 3B vta shorter changeable /s/ stems
VTA Class 4 vta changeable /Nn/ stems
VTA Class 4A vta regular changeable /Nn/ stems
VTA Class 4B vta shorter changeable /Nn/ stems
VTA Class 5 vta /aw/ stems
VTA Class 6 vta consonant-w stems
VTA Class 6A vta regular consonant-w stems
VTA Class 6B vta shorter consonant-w stems
VTA Class 7 vta glottal-w stems
VTA Class 8 vta irregular stems
VTI transitive inanimate verbs
VTI1 vti /am/ stems
VTI2 vti /oo/ stems
VTI3 vti /i/ stems
VTI4 vti /aa/ stems