Arabic to Latin-script Inuktitut: keep the dual without copying the ending
Two is a grammatical distinction in both languages
Standard Arabic can mark exactly two through dual morphology, and Inuktitut also distinguishes dual from plural. This resemblance is useful when translating a source inventory or a message about two travellers. It does not mean that the two languages build their dual forms through corresponding sounds or letters.
The Tusaalanga course contrasts matuuk, two doors, with matuit, three or more doors. In the target, the stem and ending follow Inuktitut sound and grammatical patterns. An Arabic dual noun should retain its quantity without carrying over an Arabic-looking suffix. Also distinguish two possessed objects from two owners: a source phrase about two people’s house does not mean that there are two houses. The target possessive construction can reflect both the owner group and the number of possessions, so the complete Arabic phrase matters more than one visible dual ending.
A target verb can encode both people without marking their sex
Arabic verbs and attached pronouns provide information about participants, including gender in several forms. Inuktitut transitive endings can also identify an actor and a recipient or object, but their categories do not reproduce Arabic masculine and feminine reference. A compact target verb may contain both roles while leaving the person’s sex unspecified.
Tusaalanga’s takujara means I see him, her, or it in the appropriate context. The target ending identifies the relationship between the speaker and what is seen; it does not select one Arabic gendered object form. For an Arabic account involving two named people, follow who performs each action and who receives it. If the source uses gender to distinguish them, retaining a name at a change of actor may clarify the target. Adding a separate gendered label to every clause is not required merely because Arabic agreement displayed that information.
Location and travel direction can be part of a single written word
Arabic normally places a preposition before the location expression. Inuktitut can mark the corresponding relation with an ending on that expression. Kanatami means in Canada, while Kanatamut means to Canada. These are different relationships, not alternative spellings of one destination name.
When translating an Arabic arrival update, preserve whether the person is already at the destination, travelling towards it, or coming from it. The target place name may change at its boundary with the ending; removing that material to restore an isolated map label can remove the direction. This target specifically uses Latin-script Inuktitut. Its ordinary long vowels and consonant sequences should remain intact rather than be respelled as Arabic pronunciation hints. If the Arabic source gives a recognisable place name, preserve its identity while allowing the target’s grammatical form to show the journey’s actual direction.
Language references