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Labels promote Inuktitut vocabulary

For English and Inuktitut speakers, things have two names

JANE GEORGE

Labels like these are designed to help people recognize letters, syllabics, and the meaning of words.

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The Nunavut Literacy Council has developed a simple and eye-catching way to improve literacy in Nunavut: sets of labels that show an object's name in English, Inuktitut syllabics and Roman orthography.

"Somebody had done up some labels and put them in the drugstore and other places in town. Elders had said how great that was for them so that they knew what they were looking at. People thought it was a really great idea, and the labels stayed around for absolute ages," said Kim Crockatt, from the Nunavut Literacy Council.

The labels show the names in their singular and plural forms. There's a set for tools and hardware labels, as well as sets for common objects in homes, stores and offices.

"It's really important for kids and other people who are learning Inuktitut to see things and connect them to the objects. So, it's a great way to promote literacy and language skills," Crockatt said.

There was not enough money to produce the labels in Innuinaqtun and French.

"When people see Inuktitut print everywhere it helps them learn to recognize the letters and the meaning of the words. It's good for kids too. We didn't create labels for absolutely everything but this will give people a good start," said Quluaq Pilakapsi, the council's Inuktitut Resource Coordinator in Rankin Inlet.

Shortly before Literacy Week, Oct. 3 to 9, schools, libraries and learning centres received a sample of the printed labels as well the CDs with templates for the labels.

"The CDs have PDF files so they can print them up with the nice borders. They can also take the labels and make changes to them," Crockatt said.

The council also has instructions for making a calendar as a way to promote Inuktitut and lots of information sheets on how parents can help their children's literacy skills.

The labels are available through the Nunavut Literacy Council at 867-983-2678 or by sending an email to kimcr@polarnet.ca.

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