Iñupiaq Braille facts for kids

Iñupiaq Braille is a special way of writing for people who speak the Inupiat language. It uses raised dots that people can feel with their fingertips. This system helps blind and visually impaired people read and write in their own language. The Alaskan Department of Education helps keep this important writing system available for everyone.

Understanding Iñupiaq Braille

Braille is a system where letters are represented by patterns of raised dots. People read braille by touching these dots. Each pattern of dots is called a "cell." The Iñupiaq language has its own unique braille alphabet. This alphabet is based on the regular Iñupiaq alphabet used in print.

How the Iñupiaq Braille Alphabet Works

Just like in regular writing, Iñupiaq Braille has letters for sounds. Some sounds in Iñupiaq are made with two letters together, like "ch" or "sr." These are called digraphs. In Iñupiaq Braille, these digraphs also have their own special braille patterns.

Here is a chart showing the Iñupiaq Braille alphabet:

a

ch

g

ġ

h

i

k

ḳ

l

ḷ

ł

ł̣

m

n

ñ

ŋ

p

q

r

s

sr

t

ṭ

u

v

y

Special Letters in Iñupiaq Braille

Some letters in Iñupiaq Braille have interesting connections to other braille systems. For example, the braille cell for ñ (⠻) is borrowed from Spanish Braille.

The letters ŋ and ṭ are special. Their braille patterns are like mirror images of the patterns for n and t. This can help make them easier to remember.

The letter Ł uses the same braille pattern as the "th" sound in English Braille. This is because the English "th" sound is similar to the Ł sound in Iñupiaq.

You might find the letters Ḳ and ṭ in older Iñupiaq writings. The way punctuation works in Iñupiaq Braille is the same as in English Braille. This makes it easier for people who know English Braille to learn Iñupiaq Braille.

See also

• Inuktitut Braille