Nunatsiaq News must improve Inuktitut

Since Nunatsiaq News is our newspaper, a lot of us look forward to laying our hands on each week’s edition. But the syllabics portion is becoming quite embarrassing.

Let me turn your attention to the pictures of Zebedee Nungak (page 12) and Jerry Ell (page 13). Now, read the captions under those pictures.

Syllabics-only readers will ask: “what the heck is a maligauqti? (Translation of Mina Corkett’s letter to the editor)

If I were asked to translate the caption of Mick Mallon’s letter into English, it would read: “To outdo Nungak!”

These glaring errors are only from your Jan. 3, 1997 edition. What other surprises are in store for syllabics-only readers in the upcoming 50 editions of Nunatsiaq News in 1997?

My two wishes for Nunatsiaq News in 1997 are:

1. That Nunatsiaq News respect Inuktitut as an official language within Nunatsiaq; and

2. That Nunatsiaq News hire a syllabics proof-reader.

John Illupalik
Igloolik

(Editor’s note: The publisher advises that Nunatsiaq News plans to hire an Inuktitut reporter/editor in 1997. As for the Jan. 3 “blizzard” edition, we feel our translator did an admirable job translating more than 7,500 English words under deadline pressure, not to mention all the advertisements.)