Naskapi Style & Spelling Guidelines

Traditional and Standard Spelling

Let’s all try to use standard or traditional spelling whenever possible. Send any more suggestions to us at the NDC language department. We constantly review these suggestions with the elders and others.

Words having to do with prayer, worship, church or priest should use the traditional spelling, as follows:

We do this to distinguish these words from other words that have to do with speaking or talking:

There are some words that begin with ᒋ in the traditional spellings, but people often tend to leave off this letter. Here are some common guidelines to follow:

The words having to do with know, teach, poor, and mercy words keep the first ᒋ

There are many words that many writers have been used to spelling with ᐃ in the middle, but we have decided to spell these with ᔨ which better reflects the real sound and traditional spelling of the word.