Greenlandic | Ethnologue

A language of Greenland

ISO 639: kal
Alternate Names: Greenlandic Inuktitut, Grønlandsk
Autonym: Kalaallisut
Population: 50,000 in Greenland (2007 I. Larsen). 3,000 East Greenlandic, 44,000 West Greenlandic, 800 North Greenlandic. Total users in all countries: 57,000.
Location:: Widespread.
Language Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1978, Home Rule Act No. 577 of 29 November, Article 9.1).
Classification: Eskimo-Aleut, Eskimo, Inuit-Inupiaq
Dialects: West Greenlandic (Kalaallisut), East Greenlandic (Tunumiit oraasiat), Thule Inuit (Avanersuarmiutut, North Greenlandic, “Polar Eskimo” (pej.), Polar Inuit). Dialects border on being different languages (1995 M. Krauss).
Typology: SOV; postpositions; noun head initial; case-marking (8 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; ergativity; passives; 14 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes; non-tonal.
Language Use: Vigorous. Also use Danish [dan].
Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1900.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Greenlandic
Writing: Latin script [Latn].