Inuinnaqtun
Inuinnaqtun (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. The government of Nunavut recognises Inuinnaqtun as an official language in addition to Inuktitut, and together sometimes referred to as Inuktut. 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.
| Inuinnaqtun | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Canada (Nunavut and Northwest Territories) |
Native speakers | 1,310 (2016 census) |
Eskaleut
| |
Early forms | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Nunavut Northwest Territories |
| Regulated by | Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami |
| 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, where it is also known as Kangiryuarmiutun, forming a part of Inuvialuktun. It is written using the Roman orthography except in Gjoa Haven, where Inuit syllabics are used (as for Natsilingmiutut).