Talk:Ojibwe writing systems

Names for writing systems
I am proposing to change the section titles used to name several of the Ojibwe writing systems.


 * 1) Fiero double vowel system --> Double vowel system
 * 2) Rhodes double vowel system --> Ottawa-Eastern Ojibwe double vowel system
 * 3) Hybrid system --> Northern Ojibwe writing system

Rationales:
 * 1) While Charles Fiero is recognized in several sources as the developer of this practical orthography, memorializing this achievement is hardly necessary, and "Double Vowel" is the generally used name.
 * 2) No one uses the term "Rhodes double vowel system". The reference is to the minor variant of the Double vowel system that is used for Ottawa and Eastern Ojibwe, as in dictionary prepared by Rhodes. A more descriptive title is appropriate. I propose also to make this into a subsection since the topic is evidently a minor derivative of the main section on the Double vowel system.
 * 3) "Hybrid system" is used by no one. There is no generally accepted term for this orthography, but a more descriptive term seems appropriate. This orthography is used by speakers of Severn Ojibwe, Berens River Ojibwe, and other neighbouring communities in northern Ontario and presumably northern Manitoba so "Northern Ojibwe" as a cover term is appropriate.

Thanks. Jomeara421 (talk) 04:32, 4 October 2009 (UTC)

Idiosyncratic terminology for describing structure of syllabic characters
The section on the syllabary uses the terms 'initial' and 'medial' to describe the structure of syllabic characters, presumably on analogy to the well-attested use of 'final' to refer to characters for syllable-closing consonants (of course all three terms are used to describe Algonquian word structure). These terms do not appear in this usage in the published literature on the syllabary that I am familiar with. So I will take the liberty of rewriting the content using 'initial' and 'medial'; if an appropriate reference can be found then it can be revised. Jomeara421 (talk) 01:15, 11 October 2009 (UTC)