Book
The concept is similar in both languages, meaning written or printed literature. However, in English, there are various genres and an emphasis on leisure, while in Inuktitut, the emphasis is on preserving oral traditions through writing. For instance, the word ‘Unikkausik’ means not only ‘books’ but also ‘Sayings’ and ‘Tales,’ while ‘Atuagak’ means ‘Book (to read) (Inuktitut-English Dictionary [IED]).
Child
Both English and Inuktitut use the word to symbolize offspring, an individual human being of a young age and someone growing. However, the Inuktitut language has more varieties of relationships within and outside a family related to children. For instance, there is the word ‘Tiguak’ that means ‘adopted child,’ while the word ‘Akullik’ means ‘middle child’ (IED). Such a differentiation emphasizes the cultural and societal variety of terms and meanings in Inuktitut, reflected in words with different roots rather than same-root words used in English.
Hair
This word generally means the same in both languages: the growth of fine threads on one’s head. However, the terminology differs between English and Inuktitut, as the former concentrates on commercialization (hairstyles and products). In contrast, the latter has a more straightforward and more down-to-earth meaning. For instance, there are such words as ‘Tutuk’ – ‘Tangly hair’ and ‘Kitjak’ – ‘Cut hair’ (IED). Still, the Inuktitut language also has some words about the beauty industry, such as ‘Hair curler’ — ‘IKisolittiutik,’ ‘Hair drier’ — ‘IKisolittigivik,’ ‘Hair net for a woman’ — ‘Nuluannguak,’ and others (IED).
Home
Inuktitut has two words meaning ‘home’: ‘Angiggak’ and ‘TukKavik’ (English-Inuktitut Dictionary [EID]). ‘TukKavik’ consists of two morphemes, with the second one also found in such words as ‘IniukKavik’ – ‘Clothesline’ and ‘MotukâKavik’ – ‘Garage’ (IED). This allows assuming that the word ‘home’ in Inuktitut means a place where something is found/located/connected. Meanwhile, in English, the word ‘home’ means the place one comes from, lives, or one’s country as opposed to a foreign country (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English [LDCE]). Hence, the similarity between the two languages’ definitions is that ‘home’ is a dwelling. In contrast, the difference is in the emphasis on the ‘collective’ in the Inuktitut language as opposed to something more personal in English.
Light
The concept of light, which means ‘opposing to darkness,’ is similar in both languages. However, in Inuktitut, a stronger emphasis is placed on the environmental and natural dimensions. Due to this difference, the Inuktitut language has unique words for ‘Light a stove’ — ‘Kiatsak’ and ‘Northern Lights’ — ‘Atsanik,’ among others (IED).
Love
In both languages, love is defined as a universal human emotion with various expressions and epithets. However, in Inuktitut, a range of terms describe various expressions of love, such as love for one’s family, community, or land. Meanwhile, love is primarily regarded as an individualistic feeling (LDCE) in English. Another difference is that in Inuktitut, one word – ‘Tatik’ – is used not only for ‘love’ but also for ‘Belief’ and ‘Faith’ (IED), which emphasizes a cultural and environmental relation.
Mother
In both languages, the term is universal and is defined as a female parent. The English ‘mother’ and the Inuktitut ‘Anânak’ both mean a key member of a family structure (EID; LDCE). The difference is that the English word ‘mother’ is a more neutral term that can be applied in different situations. Meanwhile, in Inuktitut, there are many variations of linguistic nuances, such as ‘Mother‑in‑law — Ukuagek,’ different words for grandmothers: ‘Grandmother on father’s side — Ânak,’ ‘Grandmother on mother’s side — Anânsiak,’ and others.
Night
While in both languages, the concept of night represents a period of darkness after the day, the Inuktitut language gives a more cultural and symbolic meaning to the word. For instance, there is a separate work for a starry night – ‘Ullugialijak’ (IED). There are also separate words for ‘last night’ and ‘night-fall’: ‘Unnuak’ and ‘Unnuk,’ respectively (IED). The Inuktitut language pays more attention and value to the symbolic and mysterious nature of the night rather than merely using the word to mark the dark part of the day.
Radio
In both languages, the concept of a radio is used as a means of transmitting information through audio signals for communication and entertainment. However, in the English language, the emphasis is put on the technological aspect of the radio, with words such as ‘broadcast,’ ‘transmitter,’ ‘station,’ and others existing to describe it (LDCE). Meanwhile, in Inuktitut, the word is strongly related to listening: the word for ‘radio’ is ‘Nâlautik,’ while the word for ‘listen’ is ‘Nâlak’ (IED). What is more interesting is that the word ‘Nâligak’ means ‘lord,’ and ‘Nâlak’ stands not only for ‘listen’ but also for obey’ (IED). Hence, the Inuktitut language gives less significance to the technological side of the radio and more to the listening and obeyance aspects.
Snow
A similar aspect of the definition of snow in both languages is the emphasis on its appearance and physical characteristics. For instance, in English, such words describe snow as ‘icy,’ ‘powdery,’ ‘slushy,’ and others (LDCE). In Inuktitut, there are also several words to describe various types of snow, including ‘snow that has fallen,’ ‘snow blind,’ and ‘snowbank around the house’ (EID). The differences are in Inuktitut’s focus on the types of snow rather than adjectives and in Inuktitut’s intrinsic cultural significance, which is missing in English.
Works Cited
English-Inuktitut Dictionary. N.d. Web.
Inuktitut-English Dictionary. N.d. Web.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. N.d. Web.
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