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Inuktitut (Canada) style guide

Style Guide Conventions

  • (+) marks a recommended correct translation, (-) an incorrect one.
  • A term is translated as one unit: a term, phrase, sentence, or paragraph.
  • References to interface elements mean the translatable texts of those elements.
  • Example translations illustrate the point only. Check the terminology database for approved translations.
  • Normative sources must be followed. Deviation fails a string in most cases.
  • Where a normative source allows more than one solution, take the recommended one from this guide.
  • Orthography: Uqausilirijit Titrausiliriningit/Language Commission Writing System Proposal, 1976, Inuit Cultural Institute.
  • Informative: Ootoova, E. (2000), Inuktitut Dictionary, Tunnuniq Dialect.
  • Informative: Schneider, L (1985), Ulirnaisigutiit. An Inuktitut-English Dictionary of Northern Quebec, Labrador and Eastern Arctic Dialects.
  • Informative: Asuilaak Living Dictionary.

Characters

  • Country/region: Canada
  • Lower-case characters: a; g; h; i; j; k; l; ł; m; n; ŋ; p; q; r; s; t; u; v; x
  • Upper-case characters: A; G; H; I; J; K; L; Ł; M; N; Ŋ; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; X
  • Characters in caseless scripts: n/a
  • Extended Latin characters: ł, Ł, ŋ, Ŋ
  • Alphabetical order is not necessarily the sorting order.
  • Total number of characters: 19
  • Unicode codes: A 0041, a 0061, G 0047, g 0067, h 0068, H 0048, I 0049, i 0069, j 006A, J 004A, K 004B, k 006B, l 006C, L 004C, ł 0142, Ł 0141, M 004D, n 006E, N 004E, ŋ 014B, Ŋ 014A, P 0050, p 0070, q 0071, Q 0051, r 0072, R 0052, s 0073, S 0053, T 0054, t 0074, U 0055, u 0075, v 0076, V 0056, x 0078, X 0058
  • X is virtually never used.

Date

  • Calendar/Era: Gregorian (AD)
  • First Day of the Week: Sunday
  • First Week of the Year: week that contains January 1
  • Separator: , or /
  • Default Short Date Format: d/M/yyyy, example 17/3/2011
  • Default Long Date Format: MMMM dd, yyyy, example Maatsi 17, 2011
  • Additional Short Date Format 1: d/M/yy, example 17/3/11
  • Additional Short Date Format 2: dd/MM/yy, example 17/03/11
  • Additional Long Date Format 1: dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy, example Naattiinguja, Maatsi 17, 2011
  • Additional Long Date Format 2: MMM dd, yyyy, example Mas 17, 2011
  • Leading zero in day field for short date format: no
  • Leading zero in month field for short date format: no
  • Digits for year in short date format: 4
  • Leading zero in day field for long date format: yes
  • Leading zero in month field for long date format: n/a
  • Digits for year in long date format: 4
  • Date format for correspondence: MMMM dd,yyyy, example Maatsi 17, 2011
  • Format codes: d is day, the number of d sets the format (d = digits without leading zero, dd = digits with leading zero, ddd = abbreviated day name, dddd = full day name). M is month (M = digits without leading zero, MM = digits with leading zero, MMM = abbreviated name, MMMM = full name). y is year (yy = two digits, yyyy = four digits).

Time

  • 24 hour format: yes
  • Standard time format: HH:mm:ss, example 12:34:56
  • Time separator: colon :, example 03:24:12
  • Hours leading zero: yes, example 03:24:12
  • AM designator: AM; PM designator: PM
  • Inuktitut speakers use AM/PM in most situations. The 24 hour format is for official purposes only.

Days

  • Monday: Naggajjau, Nag
  • Tuesday: Aippiq, Aip
  • Wednesday: Pingatsiq, Pin
  • Thursday: Sitammiq, Sit
  • Friday: Tallirmiq, Tal
  • Saturday: Sivataarvik, Siv
  • Sunday: Naattiinguja, Naat
  • First day of week: Naattiinguja (Sunday).
  • Capitalize the first letter.

Months

  • January: Jaannuari, Jan
  • February: Viivvuari, Viv
  • March: Maatsi, Mas
  • April: Iipuri, Ipu
  • May: Mai, Mai
  • June: Juuni, Jun
  • July: Julai, Jul
  • August: Aaggiisi, Agi
  • September: Sitipiri, Sii
  • October: Utupiri, Uut
  • November: Nuvipiri, Nuv
  • December: Tisipiri, Tii
  • Long date form: n/a for every month.
  • Capitalize the first letter.
  • Avoid short forms and abbreviations. They don't work well for Inuktitut.

Numbers

  • Inuktitut uses the same numerals as English.
  • Spelled-out numbers use traditional Inuit numbers, especially 1 to 10, or numbers borrowed from English.
  • 1: traditional atausiq, borrowed uan
  • 2: traditional marruuk, borrowed tuu
  • 3: traditional pingasut, borrowed talii
  • 4: traditional sitamat, borrowed pua
  • 5: traditional tallimat, borrowed pai
  • 6: traditional pingasuujuqtut, borrowed sassi
  • 7: traditional sitamaujunngigaqtut, borrowed saipan
  • 8: traditional sitamaujuqtut, borrowed iit
  • 9: traditional quliunngigaqtut, borrowed nain
  • 10: traditional qulit, borrowed tajan

Phone Numbers

  • International dialing code: 1. Area codes used: yes, 3 digits.
  • Separator: -, ., space
  • Domestic: 10 digits, groupings (###) ###-####, ###.###.####, ###-###-####
  • Local: 7 digits, groupings ###-####, ### ####, ###.####
  • Mobile: 10 digits, groupings (###) ###-####, ###.###.####, ###-###-####
  • International: 11 digits, groupings +1 ###.###.####, +1 ###-###-####, +1 (###) ###-####

Addresses

  • Never use this information as fictitious information.
  • Format: [Title/Honorific] FirstName LastName, [CompanyName], Address1, [Address2], [CountryCode-] PostalCode City, [Country]
  • Example: Joe Inuk, Government of Nunavut, Box 1200 Station 32, Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0, Canada
  • Local postal code format: X1X 1X1. Canadian postal codes follow XYX YXY, where X is a letter and Y a number.

Currency

  • Currency name: dollar. Symbol: $, before the amount.
  • Positive currency format: $330.58
  • Negative sign symbol: -. Negative currency format: -$398.35
  • Decimal symbol: period ., two digits after the decimal.
  • Digit grouping symbol: comma ,, three digits in a group.
  • Positive example: $784,864,562.90. Negative example: -$530,893,902.76
  • ISO currency code: CAD
  • Currency subunit name: cent. Subunit symbol: $0.##; ¢ was used previously. Subunit example: $0.35

Digit Groups

  • Decimal separator: period ., examples 2.345, $4,500.23
  • Thousand separator: comma ,, examples 1,526, $1,526.75

Measurement Units

  • Metric system commonly used: yes. Temperature: Celsius.
  • Linear: Kilometre -> kilamiita, km
  • Metre -> miita, m
  • Decimetre -> tisimiita, dm
  • Centimeter -> siantimiita, cm
  • Millimeter -> milimiita, mm
  • Capacity: hectolitre -> hiktaliita, hL
  • litre -> liita, L
  • decilitre -> tisiliita, dL
  • centilitre -> siantiliita, cL
  • millilitre -> mililiita, mL
  • Mass: tonne -> tun, t
  • kilogram -> kiluguraam, kg
  • pound -> pau, lb
  • gram -> guraam, g
  • decigram -> tisiguraam, dg
  • centigram -> siantiguraam, cg
  • milligram -> miliguraam, mg
  • English units: inch -> insi, in.
  • feet -> isigat, ft.
  • mile -> maili, mi.
  • gallon -> gaala, gal.

Percentages

  • The symbol % or the word percent follows the number: 350%; 89 percent

Sorting

  • Capital and lowercase letters are equal. No distinction between them.
  • Sort the extended characters ł and ŋ after l and n.
  • Accented characters are equal to non-accented ones, so é and e are equal.
  • Non-alphabetical characters such as @ ! # sort before the letters.
  • Digits sort after non-alphabetical characters and before the letters.
  • Character sorting order: A 65, a 97, G 71, g 103, h 104, H 72, I 73, i 105, j 106, J 74, K 75, k 107, l 108, L 76, ł 322, Ł 321, M 77, n 110, N 78, ŋ 331, Ŋ 330, P 80, p 112, q 113, Q 81, r 114, R 82, s 115, S 83, T 84, t 116, U 85, u 117, v 118, V 86, x 120, X 88
  • Sorted words: 1, @, Aaron, andere, ändere, chaque, chemin, cote, coté, côte, côté, čučēt, Czech, hińa, irdisch, lävi, lie, lire, llama, lõug, Löwen, lòza, Lübeck, luč, luck, lye, Männer, màńta, mîr, möchten, myndig, piña, pint, pylon, sämtlich, ńàran, savoir, Ńerbūra, Sietla, ślub, subtle, symbol, väga, verkehrt, vox, waffle, wood, yen, yuan, yucca, ņal, ņena, Ņenēva, zoo, Zürich, Zviedrija, zysk, zzlj, zzlz, zznj, zznz

Geopolitical Concerns

  • The localized product must fit the situation in the target country or region.
  • Check for sensitive or potentially offensive content in maps, flags, country/region, city and language names, art and graphics, and cultural content such as encyclopedia content and text with historical or political references.
  • Check maps and other graphic representations of countries or regions for accuracy and existing political restrictions.
  • Country/region, city, and language names change regularly. Check them even when previously approved.
  • Check cultural content, clip art, religious symbols, and body and hand gestures against the culture of the target market.
  • Use the most up-to-date Inuktitut list of country/region and city names for every release.

Adjectives

  • Adjectives do not exist in Inuktitut. Describe nouns in one of two ways.
    1. Add special suffixes to the end of the noun: qarasaujaq – computer; qarasaujaralaaq – a small computer, a laptop
    1. Use descriptive words in the sentence: qarasaujaq – computer; qarasaujaq akitujuq – the expensive computer, the computer is expensive
  • Descriptive words must agree in number and function with the nouns they describe.
  • qarasaujaq aupaqtuq – the red computer
  • qarasaujait aupaqtuit – the red computers
  • qarasaujaannut aupaqtuunnut – to the two red computers
  • Possessives are marked by affixes attached to the noun: atiq – name; atiit – your name
  • Mark both the possessor and the possessed object: atuqtuq – user; atiq – name; atuqtuup atinga – user name
  • Use possessive forms where English builds compound words: qarasaujaq – computer; saqqijaarutinga – monitor; qarasaujaup saqqijaarutingata atuqtauninga – (computer) monitor usage

Articles

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Capitalization

  • Capitalize at sentence start and, where appropriate, for stand-alone words. No formal standard exists, so Canadian English usage often applies.
  • Unnirarasuktunik tunngasuktittinngillutit. Nukappiap qinganga uunarmat aniiqatigivaglugu aniirumaliqtarmata, qingaijarumalijattut. Parnaktumik ujjirusuktuq, ilaujumaninga malikługu ilautiqattarlugu. Qaujimatillugu nunamik, pijariungittuugaluaq iqqaijunnarniqsauniaqtuq, sapirijaqajjaanngittuq. Angutit niglinaqtumik naijumalijattut iglumiinginnariaqanngittut.

Compounds

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Gender

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Genitive

  • Genitive suffixes mark the possessor of a noun. Mark the possessed object too.
  • ikiaqqitittivik – server; pijjusiq – property; ikiaqqitittiviup pijjusingit – server properties

Modifiers

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Nouns

  • Inuktitut has far more noun inflection than English. Follow Inuktitut grammar. Avoid literal translations.
  • Inuktitut distinguishes singular, dual, plural; English only singular and plural.
  • Noun function markers each have a singular, dual, and plural form.
  • Terminalis function: the end of a goal or destination, the instrument of an action, the goal of an action, the reason something happens. turaarutikkuvik – address book; turaarutikkuvimmut – to the address book
  • Ablative function: the point an action begins from, the agent who performs an action (passive voice). saumik – left; saumimmit – from the left
  • Vialis function: the means of an action, movement through space or time, the place one travels through, the part affected or damaged. irngiinaaqtaut – email; irngiinaaqtautikkut – by email, via email
  • Localis function: a point within space or time. igalaujaq – screen; naqittaut – keyboard; igalaujarmi naqittaut – on-screen keyboard
  • Similaris function: likeness or similarity. inuk – person, an Inuk; Inuktitut – like an Inuk
  • Relative function: the possessor of an object or a relationship, the third person subject of some transitive verbs. ajjiinnguakkuvik – album; ajjinnguakkuviup taiguusinga – album title
  • Modalis function: functions with no easy English match. Marks a direct object that is often unspecific, the equivalent of the English indefinite article. Marks the object or motive of something said or thought. qarasaujaq – computer; qarasaujamik – a computer; qarasaujamik uqarvigijanga – he spoke to him about the computer
  • Plural formation: distinct singular, dual, and plural forms. qarasaujaq – computer; qarasaujaak – two computers; qarasaujait – (3+) computers

Prepositions

  • Prepositions do not exist in Inuktitut. Express their meaning through noun inflection.
  • en About -> Mitsaanut. A less literal translation than mitsaanut may fit better.

Pronouns

  • Verbs generally mark the subject. Use pronouns only for emphasis.
  • takujanga – She saw him.
  • Uvangali, takulaunngittara. – (As for me), I did not see him.

Punctuation

  • Comma: separate three or more elements of similar grammatical function with commas. One space after a comma, as in English.
  • Ilijariiruviuk Uqausirmut Saqqijaarut, titiqqat ikajuqti'naani, uqaujjivini, sujjutini, Ikajuqtauvimmi pijjutiliit saqqijaarniaqtut Uqausirmut Saqqijaarutiup uqausingagut.
  • Colon: introduces lists and explanations. A colon may end an introductory phrase that is not a complete sentence.
  • QAUJIKKAIJJUT: BitLocker suqquinarunniiqtittijjutimik pijunnaqsitittisimaguvit, nuqqaqtikainnarlugu.
  • Hyphen: joins numbers, acronyms, or borrowed words and names to the affixes a grammatical sentence needs. Occasionally joins two Inuktitut words to shorten the translation.
  • Taiguusiliat Microsoft Windows XP-mut amma Office 2003-mut turaangajut
  • Maanna uqausiq turaangajuq Unicode-ngunngittunut pilirijjutinut.
  • taliqpiagut-naqilli
  • The hyphen also divides syllables, links compound parts, and connects inverted or imperative verb forms.
  • En dash: minus sign. - $1,000.00
  • En dash also in number ranges such as page numbers, with no spaces around it: mappigait 10-20
  • Em dash: not applicable to Inuktitut.
  • Ellipses: show that a window will open when a command is selected from a menu; mark an abbreviation where a word does not fit in a window.
  • Period: one space after a period. Avoid periods in menus.
  • Quotation marks: same as English. No space between the quotation marks and the text inside.
  • Nalunaikkut "Uqalimaaqsimajut"
  • Parentheses: no space between the parentheses and the text inside. (matuirli)

Singular and Plural

  • Distinct forms for singular, dual, and plural: qarasaujaq – computer; qarasaujaak – two computers; qarasaujait – computers (3+)

Split Infinitive

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Subjunctive

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Symbols and Non-Breaking Spaces

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Syntax

  • Inuktitut creates words and meaning in a fundamentally different way than English. Never translate word by word.
  • en Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, read our online privacy statement -> Microsoft-kut pimmariutippait qaujimajaujariaqanngigutitit. Tukisikkannirumaguviuk tamanna, uqalimaarunnaqtatit ikiaqqivikkut kikkutuinnanuunnginnirmut titiraqsimajut

Verbs

  • Use the appropriate dual or plural verb form for English plural verbs.
  • Keep verb forms consistent throughout a text.
  • en Click the Windows Messenger icon in the status area of the taskbar. Point to Send an Instant Message, and then click the name of the person who you want to contact. Type your message, and then click Send or press ENTER. Your message is then displayed to your contact -> Naqilli Windows Messenger-mut kisunnguaq qanuilinganirmuungaviani piliriatsaliurut. Tikkuarlugu Nassiujjili Irngiinnaq Titiqqausiamik, naqiguk atinga turaarvigijumajavit. Naqittaruk titiqqaliat, naqilli Nassiutili uvvalu naqillu Ilili. Titiqqausialiat saqqijaalirniaqtuq ivvit turaarvigijanganut. The incorrect version omits the final period after turaarvigijanganut.

Word Order

  • Word order is more flexible than English. The initial English pattern can often be followed: en page layout -> Mappigaup ilinganinga

Audience

  • The audience ranges from people working in the Inuit language to home users, bilingual or unilingual.
  • Write from an Inuktitut First Language perspective. Avoid overly technical language and literal translations.
  • Don't assume the audience is comfortable with computers and software.

Style

  • Don't be too local. Dialects differ in vocabulary. Avoid conflicting terms; find terms all dialects understand.
  • Be precise and clear.
  • Avoid literal translations.
  • Reword every sentence that is not clear enough.
  • Rework every sentence that sounds like a translation.

Tone

  • Balance precision against being too technical.

Voice

  • Generally follow the English use of you. Another form is sometimes better.
  • en What do you want to do? -> Sujumavit?
  • en View files you created -> Takulit iniit sanasimajatit
  • en You need to confirm this operation. -> Taanna aulattijjut nalunairiaqaqtat.

Abbreviations

  • Inuktitut does not use abbreviations, except with units of measurement.
  • Abbreviate in the UI, mainly button or option names, only for lack of space.
  • Borrow button abbreviations CTRL, ALT, FN directly from English.

Accessibility

  • Not applicable to Inuktitut.

Acronyms

  • Acronyms: WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), RAM (Random Access Memory).
  • Inuktitut does not create acronyms out of its own words.
  • Acronyms borrowed from English may be used where appropriate.
  • en 3‐D Column -> 3‐D Ammukutaak
  • en HTML document -> HTML titiqqat
  • en Digital ID -> Tijjitakkut ID
  • Spell out acronyms that are not in common usage, or develop an Inuktitut equivalent.

Applications, Products, and Features

  • Verify a product, application, or feature name is translatable and unprotected before translating it. Most are trademarked.
  • Use English names for all products throughout the Inuktitut text.

Frequent Errors

  • Inconsistent terminology: en download: wrong ilili -> right minarili
  • en Absolute URL: wrong Asiqqunniqanngittuq URL -> right Asiqqusuittuq URL
  • Inconsistent use of verbs: see Verbs.
  • Literal translations: en Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, read our online privacy statement.: wrong Microsoft ippigusuppuq kanngunaqtut ivvit mitsaanut. Iligumaguvit, uqalimaarlugu uvagut ikiaqqivinga kanngunaqtunut. -> right Microsoft-kut pimmariutippait qaujimajaujariaqanngigutitit. Tukisikkannirumaguviuk tamanna, uqalimaarunnaqtatit ikiaqqivikkut kikkutuinnanuunnginnirmut titiraqsimajut.

Fictitious Information

  • Fictitious content is legally sensitive. Never create your own fictitious names. Use the source names or the approved list.
  • Ask the product team about fictitious companies, names, addresses, and phone numbers, and whether localized fictitious content is required.

Recurring Patterns

  • Verbal commands and imperatives use the affix –li. Use –lugu when a direct object is referred to.
  • en Edit -> Aaqqigiarli
  • en Look up -> Takugiarli
  • en Delete -> Piirli
  • en Print -> Paippaamuurlugu
  • en Open -> Matuirli
  • en Return -> Utiqtillugu

Standardized Translations

  • Standardized translations are in Country/Region Standards, Prepositions, Abbreviations, and Messages.

Unlocalized Items

  • Don't localize trademarked names.
  • Keep most scientific, mathematical, and geographic names unlocalized. A few common country names relative to Canada are exceptions. Add an affix where the grammatical context requires it.

Software Considerations

  • Translate all menus, commands, buttons, and check boxes consistently.

User Interface

  • Verbal commands and imperatives use the affix –li. Use –lugu when a direct object is referred to.
  • en Edit -> Aaqqigiarli
  • en Look up -> Takugiarli
  • en Delete -> Piirli
  • en Print -> Paippaamuurlugu
  • en Open -> Matuirli
  • en Return -> Utiqtillugu
  • Keep the ellipses after command names in menus, which show that a dialog window will open.

Status Messages

  • Menu and command status bar messages follow this format.
  • Edit -> Aaqqigiarli, menu; en Contains editing commands -> Ilulilik aaqqigiarinirmut piqujijjutinik
  • Copy to Folder... -> Ijjuarli uvunga Puurvimmut..., menu; en Copies the selected items to a new location -> Ijjuaqtangit niruluksimajut kisut uvunga
  • New -> Nutaaq, command; en Creates a new document -> Asanajuq nutaamik titiqqamik
  • en Make object visible? -> Sunamianik saqqijaaliqtittilii?
  • en Word is converting the document. Press Esc to stop. -> Word asijjiliqtanga titiqqaq. Naqilli Esc nuqqaquguviuk.
  • en Datasheet View -> Titiraqsimauqtunut Takussauvik
  • en Done -> Pijariiqtuq
  • Standardize. The US product varies its wording for the same meaning. Use one standard translation.
  • en Press F1 to get Help, If you want Help press F1, To get Help press F1 -> Ikajuqtaujumaguvit naqillugu F1
  • en Not enough memory, Insufficient memory, There is not enough memory -> Puigujjaikkutiqanngiluaqtuq
  • en Save changes to %1?, Do you want to save changes to %1? -> Jaggaijjairijumavigit asijjiqtut %1-mut?

Error Messages

  • Keep terminology and language style consistent. Don't copy the US wording.
  • Standardize standard phrases. The US source uses different forms for the same thing.
  • en Cannot …, Could not … -> Ajuqtuq ...: Ajuqtuq asijjiiniq. Understandable as an option to the term used without cannot.
  • en Failed to …, Failure of … -> Itigaqtuq ...: Itigaqtuq kajusininga.
  • en Cannot find …, Could not find …, Unable to find …, Unable to locate … -> Naninngitanga ...: Naninngitanga ini.
  • en Not enough memory, Insufficient memory, There is not enough memory, There is not enough memory available -> Puigujjaikkutiqanngiluaqtuq: Puigujjaikkutiqanngiluaqtuq maanna.
  • en ... is not available, ... is unavailable -> ... atuinnaungittuq: Ikiaqqivik maanna atuinnaungittuq.
  • With placeholders, find out what replaces the placeholder, to keep the sentence grammatical. Placeholder letters carry meaning: %d, %ld, %u, %lu mean <number>; %c means <letter>; %s means <string>.
  • "Checking Web %1!d! of %2!d!" means "Checking Web <number> of <number>".
  • "INI file "%1!-.200s!" section" means "INI file "<string>" section".

Keys

  • Key names appear in normal text, not small caps.

Access Keys/Hot keys

  • Underlined or highlighted letters in menus, commands, or dialog boxes are access keys, also called hot keys.
  • Slim characters such as I, l, t, r, f as hot keys: yes.
  • Characters with downstrokes such as g, j, y, p, q as hot keys: no.
  • Extended characters as hot keys: yes.
  • An extra letter in brackets after the item name: yes.
  • A number in brackets after the item name: yes.
  • A punctuation sign in brackets after the item name: yes.
  • Duplicate hot keys when no other character is available: yes.
  • No hot key assigned when no characters are left (minor options only): yes.

Titles

  • English chapter titles begin with How to …, Working with …, or Using …. These formats can be followed, but the title must be grammatically complete, which may require assuming what follows.
  • en Working with Outlook 2010 -> Outlook 2010-mik aturniq
  • en Using Email -> Irngiinaaqtaummik aturniq
  • en How to install new software -> ilisiniq nutaamik qarasaujalirijjutimik
  • Titles often use the affix -niq with the main action of the heading, to create a general concept.
  • en Copyright -> Copyright
  • en © -> ©