The term Algic was first coined by
Henry Schoolcraft in his Algic Researches, published in 1839. Schoolcraft defined the term as "derived from the words
Allegheny and
Atlantic, in reference to the indigenous people anciently located in this geographical area."[3] Schoolcraft's terminology was not retained. The peoples he called "Algic" were later included among the speakers of Algonquian languages. This language group is also referred to as "Algonquian-Ritwan" and "Wiyot-Yurok-Algonquian."
When
Edward Sapir proposed that the well-established Algonquian family was
genetically related to the Wiyot and Yurok languages of northern
California, he applied the term Algic to this larger family. The Algic
urheimat is thought to have been located in the
Northwestern United States somewhere between the suspected
homeland of the Algonquian branch (to the west of
Lake Superior according to
Ives Goddard[4]) and the earliest known location of the Wiyot and Yurok (along the middle
Columbia River according to Whistler[5]).
Classification of Algic
The
genetic relation of Wiyot and Yurok to Algonquian was first proposed by
Edward Sapir (1913, 1915, 1923), and argued against by Algonquianist
Truman Michelson (1914, 1914, 1935). According to Lyle Campbell (1997), the relationship "has subsequently been demonstrated to the satisfaction of all."[6] This controversy in the early classification of North American languages was called the "Ritwan controversy" because Wiyot and Yurok were assigned to a genetic grouping called "Ritwan." Most specialists now reject the validity of the Ritwan genetic node.[7] Berman (1982) suggested that Wiyot and Yurok share sound changes not shared by the rest of Algic (which would be explainable by either areal diffusion or genetic relatedness); Proulx (2004) argued against Berman's conclusion of common sound changes.[1]
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe (1839). Algic researches, comprising inquiries respecting the mental characteristics of the North American Indians. First series. Indian tales and legends. Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Brothers.
OCLC6836253.
OL17492450M.