Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 05/01) - Translation of Inuktitut took a quantum leap forward this week.

The government of Nunavut used a week-long Inuktitut terminology and language conference to roll out a new typeface, or font, designed to simplify translation. "It has major benefits," said Gavin Nesbitt, systems co-ordinator for the legislative assembly.

Between seminars on matters as diverse as standardizing medical terminology and community names, delegates also got their first glimpse at Pigiarniq, a font that uses Unicode technology.

Fonts are sets of printing styles in one size. Unicode is a computer standard designed by an international consortium. It is a universal system designed to ensure accurate communication between computers, regardless of operating platforms.

About 50 Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun translators attended the conference, which was sponsored by the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.

Language commissioner Eva Aariak said the most important outcome from the conference is more agreed-upon Inuktitut equivalents for foreign words.

"There's a recognition of a need to come to some common terms for specific words," said Aariak.

Rita Pigalak, an Innuinaqtun language specialist from Qurluqtuq, agreed. "It's difficult to find Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun words for some of these terms," she said.