Tunumiisut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Greenlandic |
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| Tunumiisut | |
| Native to | East Greenland |
| Ethnicity | Tunumiit |
| Native speakers | (3,000–3,500 cited 1995) |
| Language family |
Eskimo–Aleut
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| Early forms: |
Proto-Eskimo–Aleut
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Map of the Inuit languages; Tunumiisut is grey.
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Tunumiisut is also known as East Greenlandic. It is the language spoken by the Tunumiit people. These people live in East Greenland. Tunumiisut means "language of the Tunumiit".
This language is often seen as a dialect of Greenlandic. However, some people think it is almost its own separate language. The biggest town where East Greenlandic is the main language is Tasiilaq. This town is on Ammassalik Island. The island's name comes from the West Greenlandic name for the town.
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About East Greenlandic
East Greenlandic is a unique language. It has its own special sounds and words. It helps the Tunumiit people share their culture.
Who Speaks East Greenlandic?
Around 3,000 to 3,500 people speak East Greenlandic. Most of these speakers are the Tunumiit people. They live in the eastern part of Greenland.
Where is East Greenland?
East Greenland is a very cold and remote area. It is on the eastern coast of the large island of Greenland. The towns there are small and spread out.
Language Family Tree
East Greenlandic belongs to a big language family. This family is called Eskimo-Aleut. It is part of the Inuit branch. This means it is related to other Inuit languages. These languages are spoken across the Arctic.
Related Languages
East Greenlandic is closely related to Greenlandic. It also shares roots with other Eskimo languages. These include languages spoken in Canada and Alaska.
Is East Greenlandic in Danger?
Yes, East Greenlandic is considered an endangered language. UNESCO says it is "Definitely Endangered." This means fewer people are learning it. It is important to help keep this language alive.
