Achagat Inupiatun Alphabet

Uvlullautaq Nalauġmiut nunaŋatnin,
Good day from the south.

I put together this simple overview of our alphabet pronunciation to assist with literacy development. We have our own writing system - we don't need to improvise spelling.

Pisangitkikpin for the chipmunk sound files - not sure what happened there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0JRawdXTpc

+tlavik? "May/Can I do X?"

This grammar is useful if you're asking someone or a group of people if you can do something.

Isiqattaatlaviik? Can I visit?

from Isiqattaaq- to visit

Isitlaviik? May I come in/enter?

from isiq- to enter

Niġitlaviik? Can I eat?

from niġi- to eat

Uqatlaviik? Can I talk/speak?

from uqaq- to speak

Makitlaviik? Can I stand?

from makit- to stand

Savatlaviik? Can I work?

from savak- to work

Minġuiqsiatlaviik? Can I rest?

from minġuiqsiaq- to rest

Igatlaviik? Can I cook?

from iga- to cook

-llasisuk- "To want to be able to"

Iñupiaraaq- To speak Iñupiatun

Iñupiaraallasisukpiich? Do you want to be able to speak Iñupiaq?

Atuq- To sing

Atullasisukpa? Does he want to be able to sing?

Makit-To stand

Makillasisukpisi? Do you (3+) want to be able to get up?

Agliqi- To read

Agliqillasisukpat? Do they (3+) want to be able to read?

Key phrases

Quyagikpin iḷisuataipŋa.
Thank you (1) for teaching me.

Quyagikpin niġipqaglugikma
Thank you (1) for feeding me.

Uvlaakunlu
I’ll see you tomorrow.

Uvlaakutqigunlu
I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.

Ikpaksraaġunlu
I’ll see you in a few days.

Matnugunlu/Iḷaatnilu
I’ll see you later.

Key questions

Pagmapak aptaviich?
Are you busy now?

Aptaviich?
Are you busy?

Sunauna?
What is this?

Suna taamna?
What is that (away from both speakers)

Qanuq taiñiaqpa “bike” Iñupiatun?
How is “bike” said in Iñupiatun?

Kaŋiqsillaitchikpin, sukaiḷippayaaġutin
I don’t understand you, speak slowly.

Sugalaqavich?
What have you been up to?

Suvich?
What are you doing?

Suniaqpich uvlupak?
What are you going to do today?

Common time indicators

Sumulikpan?
What time?

Qanuq sassaq iḷiva?
What time is it?

Atausiġuqtuq..........One o’clock

Malġuguqtuq..........Two o’clock

Piŋasuguqtuq..........Three o’clock

Sissamaguqtuq..........Four o’clock

Tallimaguqtuq..........Five o’clock

Itchaksraguqtuq..........Six o’clock

Tallimat malġuguqtuq..........Seven o’clock

Tallimat piŋasuguqtuq..........Eight o’clock

Quliŋŋuġutaiḷaġuqtuq..........Nine o’clock

Quliguqtuq..........Ten o’clock

Qulit atausiġuqtuq..........Eleven o’clock

Qulit malġuguqtuq..........Twelve o’clock

Qakugu?
When? (future: can mean day or general time)

Qaŋa?
When (past)

Akkupak
Right now

Pagmapak
Now

Iḷaatni
Later/Sometime

Aqagu
Later on/in a little while

Uvlaaq
Morning

Uvlaapak
This morning/all this morning

Uvlaami
At a specific point this morning/in the morning

Uvluq
Day/afternoon

Uvlupak
Today/all day today

Uvlumi
At a specific point in time today/in the day

Anaqapak
This evening

Anaqami
In the evening

Common greetings

Uvlaallautaq
Good morning

Uvlullautaq
Good day/afternoon

Anaqaksrallautaq/Anaqallautaq
Good evening

Qaŋa tai!
It’s been a long time (since I’ve seen you)!

Qanuqitpich?
How are you?

Quviasuktuŋa
I am happy (in the state of being)

Iqaisuktuŋa
I am feeling lazy

Alaisuktuŋ
I am lonely

Nakuuŋitchuŋa
I am not doing well (lit. I am not good)

Nakuuruŋa
I am good

Aptaruŋa
I am busy

Piichigiga nuliaġa/uiġa
I miss my wife/my husband

Kiña atqin?
What’s your name? (literally: “Who is your atiq?” This typically asks for your Iñupiaq name)

Atiġa Aqukkasuk // Uvaŋa Aqukkasuk
My atiq (namesake) is Aqukkasuk // I am Aqukkasuk

Iñupiaqsisiqaqpich?
Do you have an Iñupiaq name?

Kiña Iñupiaqsisin?
What is your Iñupiaq name?

Kiña Nalauġmiusisin?
What is your English name?

Kiña iḷvich?
Who are you?