Inuktitut needs legal protection

For many years I have wanted to write this letter. I feel this is the perfect time to bring this up, with the recent talk about the Inuktitut protection bill.

For a very long time I have seen our language put up in signs, published in papers, books, posters and displays, with many spelling and final mistakes. And for a long time it has been brushed off with the excuse that our written language has been in existence for a very short time and has gone through some changes.

It is even safe to say that each generation has different ways to write. Many people will admit that they do not know how to write using medials and finals. Even people with very strong oral skills may not have written skills at the same level.

Some also use dialect differences as an excuse for spelling mistakes. Using the Inuit Cultural Institute standard, there is a correct way to write, no matter what dialect you are writing in. I believe very strongly that all dialects must be respected and should be published in their correct way.

The ICI standard allows us to be able to write in all dialects in a phonologically correct way. Though we may not come to an agreement on which dialect to standardize any time soon, we can start by using the ICI standard in our writing.

I would like to thank all entrepreneurs who name their businesses in Inuktitut. It is very important for our unilingual elders and our chidren to see our language in use.

I would also like to urge all those who have their signs in Inuktitut to be sure that they have written them correctly and if there are mistakes, to correct them. And to those who publish Inuktitut writen material, please give Inuktitut the same attention as you would English or French.

I have always wondered, if it were an English spelling mistake, how fast and at what cost would it be fixed. Cost has also been used as an excuse for not correcting mistakes. Replacing signs, letterheads and the legal coverage can get expensive. I believe it, and my thought is, you should pay for the consequences of not having done it right the first time.

We must stand up for our language and for our children, and say stop publishing mistakes in Inuktitut.

Jeela Palluq

Ottawa