1 Labrador Inuttitut: Speaking into the Future

• Main Authors: Catharyn Andersen, Torngâsok Cultural Centre, Alana Johns
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: 1 Key to Labrador Inuit Standardized Writing System; K=q; e=ii; o=uu; â=aa; where; Canada; Rigolet; inuit; inuktitut
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.500.7343; http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~ajohns/Andersen~Johns.pdf

Abstract: This paper discusses the issue of language loss in northern Labrador Inuttitut. Like many communities across northern Canada, Labrador is facing the possible complete loss of Inuktitut, demonstrated by the fact that almost no children speak it as a first language any longer. In this paper we outline a number of linguistic properties which make Labrador Inuttitut and a related dialect spoken in Rigolet distinct from neighbouring dialects of Inuktitut. We also report on a number of initiatives taken up by community organizations, school and individuals in their growing efforts to reverse language shift. These include a language survey, dictionaries, youth camps, a language nest, etc. Tamânevugut Labradorimiut uKausinginnik pitjutiKalluta. AsiujikKunata uKausinginnik uKâlausiKaniakKugut. Suli InuKagaluakKuk uKâlasonik Inuktitut amma ippiniavugut inosuttungit taimâk sivuppiatitsisot uKausituKanik.1 We are here at this meeting to speak about our hope for the future of the language of the Labrador Inuit. There are still many people who in Labrador who speak Inuttitut and we hope that Labrador Inuit youth will continue this far into the future. [October 2004, Quebec]