01a 2

ii

tj

Set 6

Set 6

Reading Comprehension

Inuktitut is the language of 100,000 inuit Indians living in Canada, Alaska and Greenland. However, English is spreading so rapidly that, although a majority of older Inuits stifl speak Inuktitut at home, the young generation uses primarily English.

Thus, there is a danger that Inuktitut may soon disappear. However, it is a really fascinating language. For examp!e it has morę than 50 words for "snów". Each word stands for a different kind of snów - wet, powdery, icy, etc. There are aiso many words meaning "to go hunting" -each word depends on the kind of hunting - seal hunting, bear hunting, etc. Moreover, Inuktitut is very flexible. You can create new words by adding together different ideas. For instance, the Inuktitut word for "satellite" translates as "it has been madę to fly". Although recently English has been strongly influencing Inuktitut, Inuktitut also influences English. Such words as "igloo" and "kayak" come from Inuktitut and have become a part of basie English vocabulary.

Answer the Questions:

1.    What is Inuktitut?

2,    Why is it a fascinating language?

3,    How can you create new words in Inuktitut?

4,    Which Inuktitut words have become a part of basie English vocabulary?

5.    What may soon happen to Inuktitut? Why? How can it be prevented?

6.    Do you know any other languages or cultures which have already disappeared or may soon disappear in the same way?