Neutral Huron language

Neutral or Neutral Huron was the Iroquoian language spoken by the Neutral Nation.

Neutral
Neutral Huron
Attawandaron/Attiwandaronk
Native to	Canada
Region	Ontario; also near Buffalo, New York
Ethnicity	Neutral Nation
Era	last attested 1671[1]
Language family	Iroquoian Northern Neutral
Language codes
ISO 639-3	None (mis)
Linguist List	qeb
Glottolog	neut1237

The name Neutral, given to them by the French, reflected their attempt to stay neutral in the Huron–Iroquois wars. They were called Attawandaron by the Wendat, likely meaning 'they understand the language'.

Mithun (1979:145, 188–189)^[2] cites Jesuits pointing out that the Neutral language was different from the Wendat language, in that the Neutrals were "vne Nation differente de langage, au moins en plusieurs choses" (Thwaites 21:188)^[3] / "a Nation different in language, at least in many respects" (Thwaites 21:189).^[3] Mithun further cites work by Roy Wright (Mithun 1979:160)^[2] where the latter notes from the Neutral name given to Chaumonot that the Neutral language did not have sound changes that distinguish Wendat from other Northern Iroquoian languages. Hanzeli (1969),^[4] referencing Thwaites (21:228–230),^{[3][note 1]} notes Brébeuf and Chaumonot considered Neutral different enough from Wendat to write a separate Neutral grammar and dictionary, now lost.

Two proper names of Neutral are preserved, a town name ⟨Ounontisaston⟩ and its chief's name ⟨Souharissen⟩. The first may mean 'mountain corner' (cf. Huron /onõtiˈsahtih/) making an Iroquoian language.^[5]