Narragansett (ˌ) is an extinct Algonquian

Algonquian languages

The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...

 language formerly spoken in most of what is today Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

 by the Narragansett people. It was closely related to the other Algonquian languages of southern New England like Massachusett

Massachusett language

The Massachusett language was a Native American language, a member of the Algonquian language family. It is also known as Wôpanâak , Natick, and Pokanoket....

 and Mohegan-Pequot. The earliest study of the language in English was by Roger Williams

Roger Williams (theologian)

Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...

, founder of the Rhode Island colony, in his book A Key Into the Language of America

A Key Into the Language of America

A Key into the Language of America is a book written by Roger Williams in 1643 describing the Native American languages in New England in the 17th century...

(1643).

External links

• Narragansett Grammar
• Narragansett Language information