Inuinnaqtun (Inuinnaqtun: ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓐ, IPA: [inuinːɑqtun]; natively meaning 'like the real human beings/peoples'), is an Inuit language. It is spoken in the central Canadian Arctic. It is related very closely to Inuktitut, and some scholars, such as Richard Condon, believe that Inuinnaqtun is more appropriately classified as a dialect of Inuktitut.[4] The government of Nunavut recognises Inuinnaqtun as an official language in addition to Inuktitut, and together sometimes referred to as Inuktut.[2][5] It is spoken in the Northwest Territories as well and is recognised as an official language of the territory in addition to Inuvialuktun and Inuktitut.[3]
| Inuinnaqtun | |
|---|---|
| ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓐ | |
| Pronunciation | [inuinːɑqtun] |
| Native to | Canada (Nunavut and Northwest Territories) |
Native speakers | 1,310 (2016 census)[1] |
Eskaleut
| |
Early forms | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Nunavut[2] Northwest Territories[3] |
| Regulated by | Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami[citation needed] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-1 | iu |
| ISO 639-2 | iku Inuktitut |
| ISO 639-3 | ikt Inuinnaqtun, Western Canadian Inuktitut |
| Glottolog | copp1244 |
 Inuit dialects. Inuinnaqtun is olive green. | |
 Inuinnaqtun is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
| Inu- ᐃᓄ- / nuna ᓄᓇ "person" / "land" | |
|---|---|
| Person | Inuinnaq |
| People | Inuinnait |
| Language | Inuinnaqtun; Tikuraq ᑎᑯᕋᖅ |
| Country | Inuinnait Nunangat, Inuit Nunangat ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑦ |
Inuinnaqtun is used primarily in the communities of Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk and Gjoa Haven in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Outside Nunavut, it is spoken in the hamlet of Ulukhaktok,[6] where it is also known as Kangiryuarmiutun, forming a part of Inuvialuktun.[7] It is written using the Roman orthography[8] except in Gjoa Haven, where Inuit syllabics are used (as for Natsilingmiutut).
Inuinnaqtun phrases
edit
| English | Inuinnaqtun | pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Goodbye | Ilaanilu | /ilaːnilu/ |
| Good morning | Ublaami | /ublaːmi/ |
| How are you? | Qanuritpin | /qanuɢitpin/ |
| I am fine | Naammaktunga | /naːmːaktuŋa/ |
| I am good | Nakuyunga | /nakujuŋa/ |
| How about you? | Ilvittauq | /ilvitːauq/ |
| What are you doing? | Huliyutin? | /hulijutin/ |
| What are you going to do? | Huliniaqpin? | /huliniaqpin/ |
| I'm not going to do anything | Huliniahuanngittunga | /huliniahuaŋːitːuŋa/ |
| I love you | Piqpagiyagin | /piqpaɡijaɡin/ |
| I don't know | Nauna | /nauna/ |
| Yes/Yeah | Ii | /iː/ |
| No | Imannaq | /imanːaq/ |
| Who are you? | Kinauvin? | /kinauvin/ |
| Where are you from? | Namirmiutauyutin? | /namiɢmiutaujutin/ |
| Where am I? | Namiitunga? | /namiːtuŋa/ |
| Who is that person? | Kina taamna? | /kina taːmna/ |
| Where is the store? | Nauk niuvirvik? | /nauk niuviɢvik/ |
| How much is this? | Una qaffitaalauyuk? | /una qafːitaːlaujuk/ |
| Do you have a phone? | Talafuutiqaqtutin? | /talafuːtiqaqtutin/ |
| Do you have a camera? | Piksaliutiqaqtutin? | /piksaliutiqaqtutin/ |
| Can you cut this? | Una pilakaalaaqtan? | /una pilakaːlaːqtan/ |
| Would you like to go for a walk? | Pihuuyarumayutin? | /pihuːjaɢumajutin/ |
| This is nice | Una pinniqtuq | /una pinːiqtuq/ |
| I am going to work | Havagiarniaqpunga | /havaɡiaɢniaqpuŋa/ |
| I am going home now | Angilrauniaqpunga | /aŋilɢauniaqpuŋa/ |
| I am hungry | Kaagliqpunga | /kaːɡliqpuŋa/ |
| I need help (help me) | Ikayullannga | /ikajulːaŋːa/ |
| I like those | Aliagiyatka taapkua | /aliagijakta /taːpkua/ |
| I will see you tomorrow | Aqaguttauq | /aqaɡutːauq/ |
| My name is... | Atira... | /atiɢa/ |
| I have a daughter | Paniqaqpunga | /paniqaqpuŋa/ |
| I have a son | Irniqaqpunga | /iɢniqaqpuŋa/ |
| Thanks | Quana | /quana/ |
| Thank you | Quanaqqutin | /quanaqːutin/ |
| Thank you very much | Quanaqpiaqqutin | /quanaqpiaqːutin/ |
| You are welcome | Ilaali | /Ilaːli/ |
| May I ask you a question? | Apirillaglagin? | /apiɢilːaɡlaɡin/ |
| One | Atauhiq | /atauhiq/ |
| Two | Malruuk | /malɢuːk/ |
| Three | Pingahut | /piŋahut/ |
| Four | Hitaman | /hitaman/ |
| Five | Talliman | /talːiman/ |
| Knife | Havik | /havik/ |
| Fork | Kapuraut | /kapuɢaut/ |
| Spoon | Aluut | /aluːt/ |
| Plate | Akkiutaq | /akːiutaq/ |
| Cup | Qallut | /qalːut/ |
| That's all! | Taima! | /taima/ |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Census in Brief: The Aboriginal languages of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit". www12.statcan.gc.ca. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
- ^ a b Official Languages Act, S.Nu. 2008, c. 10, s. 3(1) with Inuit Language Protection Act, S.Nu. 2008, c. 17, s. 1(2).
- ^ a b Official Languages Act, RSNWT 1988, c. O-1, s. 4 in its 2003 version; PWNHC: Official Languages of the Northwest Territories Archived 2021-10-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Condon, Richard; Julia Ogina; The Holman Elders (1996). "Foreword". The Northern Copper Inuit. University of Toronto Press/University of Oklahoma Press. p. xix. ISBN 0-8020-0849-6. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
...the majority of Holman residents speak the central Arctic dialect, Inuinnaqtun...
- ^ "We Speak Inuktut". Archived from the original on 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
- ^ "Let's Speak Inuinnaqtun - About Us". Retrieved 2021-02-27.
- ^ Inuvialuit Cultural Centre: Inuvialuit Digital Library – Language Resources
- ^ CBC Original Voices: Inuinnaqtun
Further reading
edit- Harnum, Betty; McGrath, Janet; Kadlun, Margo. Inuinnaqtun Lessons Phase 1 : Copper Dialect of the Inuit Language. Cambridge Bay, N.W.T.: Kitikmeot Inuit Association, 1982.
- Harper, Kenn. Current Status of Writing Systems for Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun. [Yellowknife, N.W.T.]: Northwest Territories, Culture and Communications, 1992.
- Ohokak, Gwen; Kadlun, Margo; Harnum, Betty. Inuinnaqtun-English Dictionary. Cambridge Bay, Nunavut: Nunavut Arctic College, 1996.
External links
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- Let's Speak Inuinnaqtun
- Inuktut Lexicon Atlas: Inuinnaqtun Word List
- Inuinnaqtun-English Dictionary (1996)
- Tuhaalanga: Learn Inuinnaqtun On-line
- Service Book of the Western Eskimos for Use in the Diocese of Mackenzie River Anglican liturgical text in Inuinnaqtun