New dictionary breathes life into language (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

New dictionary breathes life into language

[photo inset - Members of the Nippik Inuit Drummers perform in the Inco
Innovation Centre on Monday, Oct. 29. Photo by Chris Hibbs.]

By Jeff Green
http://today.mun.ca/news.php?news_id=3344

It was decades in the making and now the Nunatsiavut Government is confident
the first-ever Labrador Inuit dictionary reflecting the Labrador Inuit
Standardized Writing System  will be around for a long time to come,
inspiring generations of young minds to embrace  the almost-forgotten
language of their grandparents.

On Monday, Oct. 29, the dictionary – along with several other new
interactive learning tools – was officially unveiled in Nain and seven
other sites including on Memorial’s St. John’s campus.

Labradorimi Ulinnaisigutet Inuktitut – English Dictionary has been a dream
for more than 20 years. Its launch will help preserve the Inuktitut
language for generations, noted Daniel Pottle, deputy speaker of the
Nunatsiavut Assembly at the event on Monday.

A new interactive CD-Rom was also launched. Rosetta Stone is designed to
teach people the Inuktitut language by using pictures to establish the
meaning of words and phrases so that there is no translation.

In addition to the new CD-Rom, a new children’s book and a book of stories
generated from a Labrador storytelling festival were launched at the
Beatrice Watts Boardroom in the Inco Innovation Centre.

It was fitting the launch was held there.

Dr. Watts – who received an honorary degree from Memorial in 1992 – is
listed as one of the editors of the new dictionary. Dr. Watts was renowned
throughout Labrador as a skilled educator and passionate community leader.
She devoted her life to preserving and restoring the Inuktitut language of
the Inuit. Early in her teaching career, she observed that Inuktitut was at
risk. Dr. Watts committed herself to reinstating the native language in
school curriculum, and opening the door for a whole new generation of
Labradorians to learn to speak and appreciate their native language.

She passed away in April 2004.

Catharyn Andersen, an MA student in linguistics at Memorial and director of
the Torngâsok Cultural Centre in Nain, is one of the project co-ordinators
of the dictionary.

Dr. Axel Meisen, president of Memorial, spoke at the launch, which was also
attended by Dr. Reeta Tremblay, dean of Arts, as well as students, staff
and faculty members of Memorial.

The Nippik Inuit Drummers also performed at the launch in the lobby of the
Inco Innovation Centre.