Inuit Sign Language

Inuit Sign Language is one of the <a href="/facts/Inuit_languages/7LbmcFK5">Inuit languages</a> and the indigenous <a href="/facts/Sign_language/Wjfl9Db6">sign language</a> of the <a href="/facts/Inuit/wJaIGexN">Inuit</a> people. It is a <a href="/facts/Language_isolate/229etAHg">language isolate</a> native to <a href="/facts/Inuit/wJaIGexN">Inuit</a> communities in the <a href="/facts/Northern_Canada/hQcSoWkW">Canadian Arctic</a>. It is currently only attested within certain communities in <a href="/facts/Nunavut/aFaAad0W">Nunavut</a>, particularly <a href="/facts/Baker_Lake%2c_Nunavut/faKuk6b3">Baker Lake</a> and <a href="/facts/Rankin_Inlet/6K2LQ87J">Rankin Inlet</a>.[which?] Although there is a possibility that it may be used in other places where Inuit live in the <a href="/facts/Arctic/bxbuUz7Q">Arctic</a>, this has not been confirmed.
Of the estimated 155 deaf residents of Nunavut in 2000, around 47 were thought to use IUR, while the rest use <a href="/facts/American_Sign_Language/MGTCXaGb">American Sign Language</a> (ASL) due to schooling. It is unknown how many hearing people use the language nor how many people are monolingual. As it is a highly endangered and relatively hidden language, it has no protection under the federal or territorial governments of Canada. However, IUR exists alongside ASL interpretation within the <a href="/facts/Legislative_Assembly_of_Nunavut/d2aYrorh">Legislative Assembly of Nunavut</a> as of 2008. Recently, there has been increased interest in the documentation of the language which would be done through the Nunavut Council for People with Disabilities and the <a href="/facts/Inuit_Broadcasting_Corporation/LTkqaBae">Inuit Broadcasting Corporation</a> (IBC). As well, there is a push to expand the interpretation/translation programme through <a href="/facts/Arctic_College/h68nlayk">Arctic College</a> to include IUR.

Inuit Sign Language open-in-new

Inuit Sign Language