Sightseeing

1. Arsarnerit takorusuppakka.

   Ar-sar-ne-rit ta-ko-ru-sup-pak-ka.

   I want to see the Northern Lights.

   Usage

   Expressing the desire to see the Northern Lights, a top reason to visit Greenland

   Grammar Note

   The northern lights are arsarnerit (always plural); "there are northern lights" is arsarneqarpoq. takorusuppaa is "longs to see it".

2. Iserneq qanoq akeqarpa?

   I-ser-neq qa-noq a-ke-qar-pa?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Asking for the entry fee at a museum or tourist site

   Grammar Note

   iserpoq (enters) + -neq gives iserneq "entry". The standard way to ask a price is qanoq akeqarpa? (aki = price).

3. Assiliisinnaavunga?

   As-si-lii-sin-naa-vu-nga?

   May I take a photograph?

   Usage

   Requesting permission to take a photo at a tourist site

   Grammar Note

   assiliivoq is "takes a photograph" (root assi "picture"); adding ability -sinnaa- and 1sg -vunga gives "may I take one?". A camera is assiliissut.

4. Ilulissat Kangerlua takorusuppara.

   I-lu-lis-sat Kan-ger-lu-a ta-ko-ru-sup-pa-ra.

   I want to visit the Ilulissat Icefjord.

   Usage

   Expressing desire to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Ilulissat Icefjord

   Grammar Note

   Ilulissat Kangerlua is the official Kalaallisut name of the World Heritage icefjord: ilulissat "icebergs" + kangerluk "fjord".

5. Bilitsi ataaseq piumavara.

   Bi-lit-si a-taa-seq pi-u-ma-va-ra.

   I would like one ticket.

   Usage

   Purchasing one ticket at a tourist site or event

   Grammar Note

   ataaseq is "one" in the absolutive, and bilitsi ataaseq ("one ticket") is the object. piumavara is the 1sg→3sg form of piumavaa "wants it", i.e. "I want it".

6. Takornarianik nassuiaassisumik ujaasivunga.

   Ta-kor-na-ri-a-nik nas-su-i-aas-si-su-mik u-jaa-si-vun-ga.

   I am looking for a tourist guide.

   Usage

   Asking for a tourist guide

   Grammar Note

   A tourist guide (the person) is takornarianik nassuiaassisoq "one who explains to tourists"; a guidebook is takornarianut najoqqutassiaq.

7. Qallunaatut oqalussinnaavit?

   Qal-lu-naa-tut o-qa-lus-sin-naa-vit?

   Can you speak Danish?

   Usage

   Asking whether Danish is spoken; Danish is also an official language in Greenland

   Grammar Note

   qallunaatut oqaluttarpoq means "speaks Danish"; "in (language)" takes -tut, as in Tuluttut "in English". Kalaallisut and Danish are both official languages in Greenland.

8. Nunap assinganik pisiniarpunga.

   Nu-nap as-sin-ga-nik pi-si-ni-ar-pun-ga.

   I would like to buy a map of this area.

   Usage

   Requesting to buy a local map for sightseeing

   Grammar Note

   A map is nunap assinga ("the land’s picture"). pisiniarpoq "wants to buy" takes the instrumental -mik, as in bilitsinik pisiniarpoq "buys tickets".

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