How many Inuktut dialects are there in Nunavut? Among Inuit, as well as among linguists there is no consensus. Nonetheless, most would group the different forms of speaking Inuktut in Nunavut along these lines:
dialect | community |
Inuinnaqtun |
Qurluqtuq (Kugluktuk) Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay) Ulukhaqtuq (Ulukhaktok), N.W.T. |
Nattilingmiutut |
Uqšuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven) Talurjuaq (Taloyoak) Kuugaarjuk (Kugaaruk) |
Qamani’tuarmiutut |
Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake) |
Paallirmiutut |
Tikirarjuaq (Whale Cove) Arviat |
Aivilingmiutut |
Naujaat Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet) Salliq (Coral Harbour) Kangiqłiniq (Rankin Inlet) |
North Qikiqtaaluk |
Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay) Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) Kangiqtugaapik (Clyde River) Iglulik (Igloolik) Sanirajaq (Hall Beach) Qausuittuq (Resolute) Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord) |
Central Qikiqtaaluk |
Panniqtuuq (Pangnirtung) Qikiqtarjuaq |
South Qikiqtaaluk |
Iqaluit Kimmirut Kinngait (Cape Dorset) |
Sanikiluarmiutut | Sanikiluaq |
There is increasing mobility in Nunavut as Inuit leave their home communities in search of opportunities for work and education. In larger centres, and especially in the capital, Iqaluit, one can hear a range of dialects spoken in the same community.