Speak Greenlandic: Courses in language, culture, and Inuit religion.
Professional translation and interpreting services.
Speak Greenlandic offers courses in Greenlandic as a second and foreign language, both online 👩‍💻🧑‍💻 and with in-person attendance in Denmark 👩‍🏫
Speak Greenlandic also offers courses in Greenlandic culture, Inuit religion, language and identity, including Inuit body language, drum dancing, mask dancing and Greenlandic art. The courses explore why mountain wanderers are found only in Greenland, the meaning of Greenland’s national anthem and flag, why the “board” (where hunters and fishers sell organic meat and fish) is so important to Greenlanders, and how the Greenlandic national costume has become globalised.
Speak Greenlandic additionally provides interpreting and translation services.
For more information, see the sections below ⬇️
Language courses
Greenlandic for Beginners
Grammar Course 1
The course is divided into three modules of 2 hours each.
A total of 6 hours.
Phonetics. There are 16 letters in the Greenlandic language, 3 of which are vowels. Participants learn how to pronounce the difficult sounds: double vowels, double consonants, and single consonants.
Are there any similarities in the pronunciation of individual consonants compared to the English language?
Participants learn to pronounce the most basic Greenlandic words, such as being able to say: hello, no, yes, maybe, no thank you, how are you, I am fine, etc. Greenlanders are pleased when a foreigner can say a few words in Greenlandic.
Polite phrases, greetings, and body language. Inuit sometimes use body language without saying anything.
The Greenlandic language is polysynthetic/compound words. The words are long. For example: Illoqarpunga – I have a house. One word in Greenlandic and four words in English. Root: Illu (house), suffix -qar (have/has) and pronoun ending -punga. Greenlandic words are divided into root, suffix, and ending. Some words end with a suffix.
Participants learn the difference between nouns, verbs and adverbs, root, suffix and endings. Adverbs do not have endings; “post-suffixes” are used at the end.
Verb root endings, mood markers and verb endings. Verb endings in singular and plural.
Noun stems t, k, q stems and noun endings.
The difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, action words (verbs). Intransitive verbs can stand alone, transitive verbs must have a subject.
Noun endings, different pronouns etc.
Presentation with PowerPoints, Word, small exercises, short videos and short texts.
Online: A Zoom link is sent out
Instructor: Kristine Fleischer Petersen
The first lesson is free. Price per hour 250 DKK.
5 hours: 1250 DKK.
Grammar Course 2
The course is divided into two modules of 2 hours each.
A total of 4 hours.
The course goes deeper into the study of complex Greenlandic words. It takes sweat and tears for those who really want to learn Greenlandic.
In the Greenlandic language there are main and subordinate verbs. There are more than 500 verbs. A chart of verbs with and without a subject is provided. Several suffixes change the meanings of the words.
Main and subordinate verbs can stand alone without a subject and object.
Place phrases: how place phrases end is covered. Noun endings are also included.
In Greenlandic, nouns can become verbs, with examples of this.
Different pronouns that refer to people, objects, or situations without using a name or description.
Numerals, quantity numbers, and quantifiers.
Simple exercises are given from time to time.
At the end, a short text is provided to translate from English into Greenlandic, using the words that have been learned.
Price per hour: 250 DKK.
4 hours: 1000 DKK.
Culture courses
Greenlandic culture
What is Greenlandic culture?
The course is divided into two modules of 2 hours each.
A total of 4 hours.
Culture is a very broad concept. In Greenland, culture includes, among other things, language, identity, storytelling/oral tradition, Inuit religion, ghost stories and tales of wanderers in the mountains, national costumes, drum dancing, mask dancing, dog sledding, kaffemik, the hunting board, the Greenlandic flag and the two national anthems. In addition, there are handicrafts in bone and soapstone, paintings and more, as well as music, food culture and Greenlandic literature.
Online: A Zoom link will be sent
Instructor: Kristine Fleischer Petersen
Price per hour 250 DKK. 4 hours in total 1000 DKK.
Course on the Greenlandic National Costume in the Light of Globalization
The course consists of one module of 2 hours.
Review of the history of the Greenlandic national costume and its development up to the present day, with particular focus on how Greenlandic women have formed the national costume for women.
There is also a focus on why criticism and debate arise when someone makes "changes" to the national costume, or when designers draw inspiration from it.
The presentation is supported by PowerPoint, articles, and subsequent discussion among the participants.
Online: A Zoom link will be sent
Instructor: Kristine Fleischer Petersen
Price per hour DKK 250. 2 hours in total 500 DKK.
Greenland's Political History and Church History
The course is divided into one module of 2 hours.
What was the relationship between the Inuit and the Vikings in earlier times?
The period before Hans Egede came to Greenland. The period with the whalers and Hans Egede – what was the difference between the two?
What was Greenland's status before the country became part of Denmark? Greenland's political history is viewed from the perspective of the Greenlanders themselves. How were the Greenlanders treated during the colonial period and afterwards?
Concluding discussion about Greenland's future based on current news.
Online: A Zoom link will be sent
Instructor: Kristine Fleischer Petersen
Price per hour 250 DKK. 2 hours in total 500 DKK.
Interpretations/translations
Translations
Written translations of articlers, text, letter, website, proofreading and similar tasks.
From Danish to Greenlandic and from English to Greenlandic.
Translator: Kristine Fleischer Petersen
Translation per word price 0,50 DKK