Inuinnaqtun
Inuktitut, Kangiryuarmiutun
Spoken in: Canada (Nunavut and Northwest Territories)
Total speakers: approximately 2,000
Language family: Inuit 
Official status
Official language in: Nunavut and Northwest Territories (Canada)
Regulated by: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Language codes
ISO 639-1: iu
ISO 639-2: iku
ISO 639-3: ikt 
Communities where Inuinnaqtun is spoken

Inuinnaqtun (meaning Like the real human beings/peoples) is an indigenous language of Canada. It is related very closely to Inuktitut, and many people[who?] believe that Inuinnaqtun is only a dialect of Inuktitut. The governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut recognise Inuinnaqtun as an official language in addition to Inuktitut. [1]

Inuinnaqtun is used primarily in the communities of Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk in the western Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. To a smaller extent it is also spoken in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. Outside of Nunavut it is spoken in the hamlet of Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, where it is called Kangiryuarmiutun. It is written using the Latin alphabet.

Contents

Inuinnaqtun phrases

English Inuinnaqtun pronunciation
Hello Haluuqtuq /haluːqtuq/
Good bye Ublaakun /ublaːkun/
Good morning Ublaami /ublaːmi/
How are you? Qanuritpin/KANOKITPIN? /qanuɢitpin/
I am fine Naammaktunga /naːmːatuŋa/
I am good Nakuyunga /nakujuŋa/
How about you? Ilvittauq /ilvitːauk/
What are you doing? Huliyutin? /hulijutin/
What are you going to do? Huliniaqpin? /huliniaqpin/
I'm not going to do anything Huliniahuanngittunga /huliniahuanŋitːuŋa/
I love you Piqpagiyagin /piqpagiyagin/
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 /havagiaɢniaqpuŋa/
I am going home now Angilrauniaqpunga /aŋilɢauniaqpuŋa/
I am hungry Kaagliqpunga /kaːgliqpuŋa/
I need help (help me) Ikayullannga /ikajulːanŋa/
I like those Aliagiyatka taapkua /aliagijakta /taːpkua/
I will see you tomorrow Aqaguttauq /aqagutːauq/
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 Naammaktak /naːmːaktak/
May I ask you a question? Apirillaglagin? /apiɢilːaglagin/
One Atauhiq /atauhiq/
Two Malruuk /malɢuːk/
Three Pingahut Pee-nga-hoot
Four Hitaman He-ta-mun
Five Talliman Tal-li-mun
Knife Havik Ha-vik
Fork Kauraut Ka-pu-rout
Spoon Aluut A-loot
Plate Akkiutaq Aa-key-ou-taak
Cup Qallut Ka-loot
That's all! Taima! Tei-ma

References

  1. ^ Northwest Territories Official Languages Act, 1988 (as amended 1988, 1991-1992, 2003)

Further reading

  • Harnum, Betty, Janet McGrath, and Margo Kadlun. 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.
  • Inuinnaqtun English Dictionary. Cambridge Bay, Nunavut: Nunavut Arctic College, 1996.

External links


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