Of their Language.

THOUGH the Greenland language has not affinity with other European tongues, yet it seems to have borrowed some words from the Norwegians, who formerly inhabited part of the land; for such words agree both in name and signification; as, for example, Kona, a Woman; Nerriok, to eat, from the Norway word Noerrie. The herb Angelica, which they in Norway call Quaun, the Greenlanders call Qvaunnek. A Porpoise, in Norway called Nise, they call Nise. Ashes, in Norway, Aske, in Greenland, Arkset. A Lamp, in the Norwegian, Kolle, in the Greenlandian, Kollek. Some of their words resemble Latin words of{166} the same signification; as, Gutta, a drop; in the Greenland tongue, Gutte, or Kutte. Ignis, Fire, they call Ingnek. And some they have got from Hebrew roots, as, Appa, a word the children use to name their father, and some others.

The accent and pronunciation of it is hard and difficult, because they speak very thick, and in the throat. The same language is spoke throughout the whole country, though the accent and pronunciation differs here and there as different dialects; chiefly towards the Southern parts, where they have received and adopted many foreign words, not used in the Northern parts. But the angekuts, or divines, make use of a particular speech, whenever they conjure; for then they use metaphorical locutions and words in a contrary sense. The women-kind also have a particular pronunciation peculiar to themselves, and different from that of the men, making use of the softest letters at the end of words, instead of hard ones; for example, Am for Ap, that{167} is, Yes. Saving, for Savik, a Knife. Their language, in common, wants the letters, c, d, f, q, x. They have besides many double and unknown consonants, which is the cause, that many of their words cannot be spelt according to their manner of pronouncing them. For the rest, their expressions are very natural and easy, and their constructions so neat and regular, that one would hardly expect so much from a nation so unpolite and illiterate. The language is very rich of words and sense, and of such energy, that one is often at a loss and puzzled to render it in Danish; but then again it wants words to express such things as are foreign, and not in use among them. They have monosyllables and polysyllables, but most of the last. Their words, as well nouns as verbs, are inflected at the end, by varying the terminations, without the help of the articles or particles, like the Greek and Latin. The adjectives always follow their substantives; but the possessive pronouns are joined to the{168} nouns, as the Hebrew suffixa[35]: nor have the nouns alone their suffixa, but the verbs also. To satisfy the reader’s curiosity, I have hereto joined a list of some of the words and a sketch, showing the construction and inflections of this language.
VOCABULARY

OF THE

LANGUAGE OF GREENLAND.
    Singular.    Dual.    Plural.
Innuk, Mankind,    Innuk,    Innuit.
Angut, a Man,    Angutik,    Angutit.
Arnak, a Woman,    Arnek,    Arnet.
Niakok, the Head,    Niakuk,    Niakut.
Irse, an Eye,    Irsik,    Irsit.
Kingak, the Nose,    Kingek,    Kinget.
Kinak, the Face,    Kinek,    Kinet.
Kannek, Mouth,    Kannek,    Kangit.
{169}Okak, Tongue,    Okek,    Oket.
Kiut, a Tooth,    Kiutik,    Kiutit.
Kartlo, a Lip,    Kartluk,    Kartluit.
Suit, an Ear,    Siutik,    Siutit.
Nyak, Head of Hair,    Nytkiek,    Nytkiet.
S?kik, the Breast,    S?kkirsek,    S?kkirset.
Iviange, Bubby,    Iviangik,    Iviangit.
Tue, Shoulder,    Tubik,    Tubit.
Tellek, Arm,    Tellik,    Tellit.
Ikusik, Elbow,    Ikivtik,    Ikivtit.
Arkseit, Hand (that is the Fingers), is plural only.
Tikek, Finger,    Tikik,    Tirkerit.
Kukik, Nail,    Kukik,    Kuket.
Nak, Belly,    Nersek,    Nerset.
Innelo, Bowel,    Inneluk,    Inneluit.
Okpet, the Thigh,    Okpetik,    Okpetit.
Sibbiak, the Hip,    Sibbirsek,    Sibbirset.
Serkok, Knee,    Serkuk,    Serkuit.
Kannak, Shank,    Kannek,    Kannerset.
Isiket, Foot, is only of the plural number.
Kimik, Heel,    Kimik,    Kimikt.

The construction with Possessive Pronouns is thus.
Iglo, a House,    Igluk,    Iglut.
My House,    Igluga,    Igluka,    Igluka.
{170}Thy House,    Iglut,    Iglukit,    Iglutit.
His House,    Igloa,    Igluk,    Iglo?i.
His own House,    Iglune,    Iglugne,    Iglune.
Our House,    Iglout,    Iglogat,    Iglovut.
Your House,    Iglurse,    Iglursik,    Igluse.
Their House,    Iglo?t,    Iglo?k,    Igl?eit.
Their own House,        Iglurtik,    Iglutik,    Iglutik.

This same Noun’s construction with the suffixas at Prepositions, mik and nik, mit and nit, which signifies from; mut and nut, to; me and ne, on or upon, is thus performed.
    Singular.    Dual.    Plural.
To the House,    Iglomut,    Iglugnut,    Iglunut.
To my House,    Iglumnut,    idem,    idem.
To thy House,    Iglungnut,    idem,    idem.
To his House,    Igloanut,    Igloennut,    Iglocinut.
To his own House,    Iglominut,    Iglungminut,    Iglominut.
To our House,    Iglotivnut,    Iglutivnut,    idem.
To your House,    Iglusivnut,    idem,    idem.
To their House,    Iglo?nut,    idem,    Igl?einut.
To their own House    ,    Iglomingnut,    idem,    idem.

As to the verbs, they are either simple or compounded: there are five conjugations, to which may be added a sixth of negative verbs. There are three tenses in all, the present,{171} preterit, and future; and six moods, viz. indicative, interrogative, imperative, permissive, conjunctive, and infinitive.

The examples of the simple verbs are these. The first conjugation ends in kpok, as Ermikpok, he washes himself: Aglekpok, he writes.

The second ends in rpok, as Mattarpok, he undresses himself: Aularpok, he sets out on a journey: Ajokarsorpok, he teaches.

The third conjugation ends in pokpurum; that is, in pok preceded by a vowel, as Egipok, he throws away; Inginok, he sits down; Akpapok, he runs.

The fourth ends in ok or vok, as Pyok, he receives: Aglyok, he grows: Assavok, ............