Kivalliq dialect

Last updated
Kivalliq
Caribou
Kivallirmiutut
Native to Canada
Regioncoastal Kivalliq Region, Nunavut
Eskimo–Aleut
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottolog cari1277
Inuktitut dialect map.svg
Inuit dialects. Kivalliq is the lighter green to the west of Hudson Bay.
Lang Status 80-VU.svg
Kivallirmiutut is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Kivalliq, also known as Kivallirmiutut, Caribou Eskimo, or formerly as Keewatin, is a dialect of Eastern Canadian Inuktitut [1] which is spoken along the northwestern shores of Hudson Bay in Nunavut.

Contents

Location

The Kivalliq dialect is most commonly spoken in five Canadian communities: Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, and Arviat. [1] Baker Lake and Arviat are the only two communities in Canada that speak Kivalliq as the sole dialect of Inuktitut. Most speakers of Kivalliq are located in the Eastern Nunavut community of Arviat, [1] with approximately 90% of the population speaking Kivalliq as their mother tongue. [2]

Dialect group

Kivalliq dialect is part of the subgroup Keewatin, within the broader dialect group of Eastern Canadian Inuktitut. [1]

Subdialects

Kivalliq has several subdialects: Qairnirmiut, Hauniqtuurmiut, Paallirmiut, and Ahiarmiut. [1]

Writing system

Kivalliq uses Inuktitut Syllabics as a writing system. [3] Syllabics is the most common Inuktitut writing system across Nunavut and Nunavik. [3] There is no uniform writing system in place for all dialects of Inuktitut, which can be explained by the sporadic introduction of missionaries to Nunavut in the 1800s. [3] It is commonly accepted that Edmund Peck introduced Inuktitut Syllabics to the Inuit, based on his travels as a missionary in Nunavut. [3]

Language vitality status

According UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, the Kivalliq dialect of Inuktitut is classified as vulnerable. [4]

Government policy

The Government of Nunavut has made efforts to protect the use of Kivalliq under Canadian law with the Consolidation of Official Languages Act and the Indigenous Languages Act. Under the Consolidation of Official Languages Act, Inuktitut became an official language of Nunavut. [5] The first official implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act occurred in 2019 with the Revitalizing and Strengthening Inuktitut in Nunavut Program, as a collaborative effort between The Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut, and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. [6] [7] Major revitalization efforts within this program include introducing a laddered approach to language education in Nunavut, such that language certification, diplomas, and BEds can be achieved in Inuktitut language. [6]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inuktitut syllabics</span> Abugida-type writing system used in Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rankin Inlet</span> Place in Nunavut, Canada

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Inuktitut, also known as Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, is one of the principal Inuit languages of Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the tree line, including parts of the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, to some extent in northeastern Manitoba as well as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. It is one of the aboriginal languages written with Canadian Aboriginal syllabics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kivalliq Region</span> Region in Nunavut, Canada

The Kivalliq Region is an administrative region of Nunavut, Canada. It consists of the portion of the mainland to the west of Hudson Bay together with Southampton Island and Coats Island. The regional centre is Rankin Inlet. The population was 10,413 in the 2016 Census, an increase of 16.3% from the 2011 Census.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arviat</span> Hamlet in Nunavut, Canada

Arviat is a predominantly Inuit hamlet located on the western shore of Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada. Arviat is derived from the Inuktitut word arviq meaning "Bowhead whale". Earlier in history, its name was Tikirajualaaq, and Ittaliurvik,.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baker Lake, Nunavut</span> Hamlet in Nunavut, Canada

Baker Lake is a hamlet in the Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut on mainland Canada. Located 320 km (200 mi) inland from Hudson Bay, it is near the nation's geographical centre, and is notable for being Nunavut's sole inland community. The hamlet is located at the mouth of the Thelon River on the shore of Baker Lake. The community was given its English name in 1761 from Captain William Christopher who named it after Sir William Baker, the 11th Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whale Cove, Nunavut</span> Place in Nunavut, Canada

Whale Cove, is a hamlet located 74 km (46 mi) south southwest of Rankin Inlet, 145 km (90 mi) northeast of Arviat, in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada, on the western shore of Hudson Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut</span> Hamlet in Nunavut, Canada

Chesterfield Inlet is a hamlet located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut, Canada, at the mouth of Chesterfield Inlet. Igluligaarjuk is the Inuktitut word for "place with few houses", it is the oldest community in Nunavut. The community is served by air, Chesterfield Inlet Airport, and by an annual supply known as sealift.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribou Inuit</span> Ethnic group living in northern regions of Canada

Caribou Inuit, barren-ground caribou hunters, are Inuit who live west of Hudson Bay in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, between 61° and 65° N and 90° and 102° W in Northern Canada. They were originally named "Caribou Eskimo" by the Danish Fifth Thule Expedition of 1921–1924 led by Knud Rasmussen. Caribou Inuit are the southernmost subgroup of the Central Inuit.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tulloch, Shelley. "Preserving Inuit Dialects in Nunavut" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2017-02-08). "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Arviat [Population centre], Nunavut and Nunavut [Territory]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Palluq-Cloutier, Jeela. "The Standardization of Inuktut in the Education System in Nunavut".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  5. "CONSOLIDATION OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT" (PDF). 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. 1 2 Heritage, Canadian (2019-09-09). "Revitalizing and Strengthening Inuktut in Nunavut". gcnws. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  7. "Government Bill (House of Commons) C-91 (42-1) - First Reading - Indigenous Languages Act - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-06.