INUKTITUT, GREENLANDIC: a language of Greenland

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: ESG

ISO 639-1: kl

ISO 639-2: kal

Population 40,000 in Greenland (1990 L.D. Kaplan), including 3,000 East Greenlandic, 44,000 West Greenlandic, 800 North Greenlandic. Population total both countries 47,000.
Region Greenland. About 80 communities of populations over 10. Also spoken in Denmark.
Alternate names   GREENLANDIC ESKIMO, GREENLANDIC, KALAALLISUT
Dialects WEST GREENLANDIC, EAST GREENLANDIC, POLAR ESKIMO (NORTH GREENLANDIC, THULE ESKIMO).
Classification Eskimo-Aleut, Eskimo, Inuit.
Comments Dialects border on being different languages (M. Krauss 1995). Bilingualism in Danish. Vigorous in Greenland. National language. West Greenlandic and Danish used in schools. Fishermen, fur export. Bible 1900.

Also spoken in:

Denmark   
Language name   INUKTITUT, GREENLANDIC
Population 7,000 on Denmark mainland (1990 L. D. Kaplan).
Alternate names   GREENLANDIC ESKIMO, GREENLANDIC, KALAALLISUT
Comments Radio programs. Bible 1900. See main entry under Greenland.
 
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