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INUKTITUT OUR LANGUAGE

 

Learning new languages is always fun and interesting. Inuktitut is a language varied by many dialects and there are differences by the region and even between communities. Here are some words and phrases that you would find in everyday life presented in English and Inuktitut. There are links included below as well to learn more about Inuktitut for those who wish to learn more. Inuit write in something called syllabics.

 

Inuktitut is the name of some of the Inuit languages spoken in Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the tree line, including parts of the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, to some extent in northeastern Manitoba as well as the territories of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and traditionally on the Arctic Ocean coast of Yukon.

It is recognized as an official language in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. It also has legal recognition in Nunavik—a part of Quebec—thanks in part to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and is recognised in the Charter of the French Language as the official language of instruction for Inuit school districts there.

 

It also has some recognition in Nunatsiavut—the Inuit area in Labrador—following the ratification of its agreement with the government of Canada and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Canadian census reports that there are roughly 35,000 Inuktitut speakers in Canada, including roughly 200 who live regularly outside of traditionally Inuit lands. Source - Wikipedia under the creative commons license.

 

You can also find more about syllabics relating to Inuit language at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuktitut_syllabics

 

For more about Inuktitut visit the Uqausivut program page at the Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families.

 

You can also check out Tusaalanga Inuktitut online at http://www.tusaalanga.ca/

 

You will see below several common words and phrases, as well as common animals, objects etc. You will see the words in English and Roman Orthography to make them easier to pronounce. The second chart also offers the phonetic variations to make them even simpler. Start off with this simple list of the days of the week. Then you can read further in the tables that follow.

 

  • Sunday - Naattingujaq

  • Monday - Naggajjau

  • Tuesday - Aippiq

  • Wednesday - Pingatsiq

  • Thursday - Tisammiq

  • Friday - Tallirmiq

  • Saturday - Naattingujalaarniaq

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