Language Perceptions among the Inuit of Arctic Quebec

• Published in: Journal of Language and Social Psychology
• Main Authors: Taylor, Donald M., Wright, Stephen C., Ruggiero, Karen M., Aitchison, Mary C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 1993
• Subjects: Linguistics and Language; Sociology and Political Science; Anthropology; Language and Linguistics; Education; Social Psychology; Arctic; inuit
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0261927x93123002; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0261927X93123002

A common theme that arises from a survey of Arctic peoples around the world is the subtraction of the heritage language by the dominant "southern" language. The present research, conducted in Arctic Quebec, examined Inuit perceptions about the use of Inuttitut, French, and English for themselves, for their children at present, and for their children when they become adults. The results indicate that despite all evidence to the contrary, respondents expect continued Inuttitut vibrancy for the coming Inuit adult generation and that their children as adults will not have their Inuttitut eroded by English or by French.