HomeQajaq Audio Glossary

Audio Glossary

Qajaq USA is pleased to bring you the following collection of audio files (.WAV) of West Greenland kayak and kayak-related terms. Click on a Greenlandic word in the left-hand column and hear it spoken by Maligiaq Padilla, the current Greenland National Kayaking Champion. This audio glossary was a collaborative effort between Maligiaq Padilla, Vernon Doucette and Greg Stamer. The audio was recorded in Sisimiut, Greenland in July 2002. We have additional audio of the names of all of the championship Greenlandic rolling maneuvers on the competition rolling list.

Qajaq USA hopes that you will find this to be a very useful resource.

West Greenland Kayak Related Terms

Ajaaq	Cross Beam (deck beam).
Ajaaq Seeqqortarfik	Cross Beam (deck beam). Knee Support
(Ajaaq) Tukerumiaq	Cross Beam (deck beam). Foot Support
(Ajaaq) Isserfik	Cross Beam (deck beam)."Back" Support (deck beam immediately behind cockpit coaming).
Akuilisaq	Short spray skirt. Also called tuiitsoq in some districts. It is often left open at the top, and held up by suspenders. Intended for calm conditions during the warmer months.
Apummaq	Gunwale; one of two longitudinal frame members and the primary structural component of a Greenland skin-on-frame kayak. The plural form (gunwales) is apummat.
Aquut	Steering fin, or skeg. These are often lashed into place.
Asagiikkut	Harpoon support.
Asaloq	Line Rack.
Avataq	Hunting Float attached to the end of the harpoon line. Provides drag to harpooned animals and may prevent them from sinking (if the are dead).
Kujaaq	Keelson.
Masik	Masik. A curved deck beam, often in the range of six to seven cm wide, that supports the front of the cockpit coaming.
Mulik	Paddle blade.
Niutaaq	Stem and stern profile.
Norsaq	Throwing board for launching harpoons and darts. It is shaped to enable it to be useful for rolling.
Paaq	Cockpit coaming.
Paatit	Paddle.
Pukkoq	Mortice.
Qajaq	Kayak. Only a Greenlandic kayak is given this designation. Other kayaks (e.g., fiberglass sport kayaks) are often called qajariaq, meaning "like a qajaq." The plural form (kayaks) is qaannat.
Qoorutit	Lashings.
Siaaneq	Side stringer.
Taalutaq	Shooting Screen. A white screen deployed from the front of the kayak, used after the introduction of firearms, to hide the body of the kayaker and make the kayak appear as a block of ice to a seal.
Taqqap_Qoorutaa	Tightener (slider) for deck lines.Taqqat is the term for deck lines (plural).
Taqqap_Taqqaasaq	Foreward (foredeck) deck line.
(Taqqaq) Qasungasoq	Aft deck line.
Taqqat	Deck lines or cross straps.
Tasiaq	Midpiece (loom) of paddle.
Tippik	Rib (kayak).
Tuilik	Full kayak jacket.
Tunersuk	Deck stringer.
Tuunnaa	Join as in joinery. (e.g., tunnaq is the "join" at the stem and stern)
Tuunnap Kikiai	Trunnel (wooden peg) used to hold the gunwales together fore and aft.
Usuusappuua	Bone knob at extreme end(s) of kayak.
Usuusaq	End piece (stem or stern).