Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics for Kalaallisut (ᑲᓛᐧᓕᓱᑦ)
This script is an adaptation of Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics for the Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) language devised by Tristan an Arzhig. Most Inuit languages and dialects in Canada use a version of the CAS writing systems, and since Kalaallisut is phonologically and morphologically consistent with them, it makes sense to propose a way to use the syllabics for it.
Notable features
Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics for Kalaallisut
Download an alphabet chart (Excel)
Notes
- Double vowels are indicated by a superscript dot diacritic as in Inuktitut
- The diphthong "ai" is indicated by a superscript circle diacritic over the "a" form of the syllable, rather than over the "i" form as in some dialects of Cree
- Before uvulars, /i/ is pronounced [e~ɛ] and /u/ is pronounced [o~ɔ]. (These are spelled as "e" and "o" in the Latin alphabet.)
- Geminate consonants are indicated by a preceding middle dot, rather than a superscript, which makes for a less busy system and easier reading, given the sheer number of geminates in Kalaallisut
- Syllable-final consonants are indicated by a superscript "a"-form
- [ɬː] is not treated as a separate phoneme/consonant, as it is simply the allophonic realisation of a geminate /l/ phoneme
- Similarly, the pairs [ɣ]/[ç:], [ʁ]/[χː] and [v]/[fː] are treated as simple/geminate pairs, even though [fː] is spelled "ff" or "f" in the Latin alphabet
- The phonemic nature of [ɴ] being discuted, it is considered as a succession of /ʁ/ and /ŋ/ and thus spelled "ᕐᖋ" rather than having a separate syllabic symbol
- I made it a point to write /ŋ/ and /q/ as regular syllables rather than using superscript modifiers on /g/ and /k/ as is the case in most scripts. These phonemes are distinct consonants in their own rights.
- The period is indicated with "᙮", as is the comma.
Sample text in Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics for Kalaallisut
ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐧᖌᕐᐳᑦ ᓇᐧᒥᓃᕐᓯᐧᓈᐧᓱᓯᕹᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐧᓯᒌᐧᒥᐧᓗ ᐊᑕᐧᕵᓇᐧᓱᓯᕹᕐᓗᑎᐧᓗ ᐱᓯᐧᓈᑎᑖᐧᕕᕹᕐᓗᑎᒃ᙮ ᓯᓚᕹᐧᓱᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᕐᓂᐧᓗ ᓇᓗᐧᖋᐧᓱᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕐᓱᒑᐧᐳᑦ᙮ ᐃᐧᒥᐧᓄᐧᓗ ᐃᓕᐅᕐᐧᕕᒋᕹᑎᒌᐧᑕᕆᐊᕹᕋᓗᐊᕐᐳᑦ ᕹᑕᐧᖌᑎᒌᐧᑐᑦ ᐱᕹᑎᒌᐧᓂᕈᑉ ᐊᓂᕐᓵᕙᓂ᙮
Transliteration
Inuit tamarmik inunngorput nammineersinnaassuseqarlutik assigiimmillu ataqqinassuseqarlutillu pisinnaatitaaffeqarlutik. Silaqassusermik tarnillu nalunngissusianik pilersugaapput, imminnullu iliorfigeqatigiittariaqaraluarput qatanngutigiittut peqatigiinnerup anersaavani.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Also by Tristan an Arzhig: Sa̱tthā'a̱ksɔ́ɔ́n Thaj (Latin alphabet for the Thai)
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