Learning a new language is hard. Learning Iñupiaq is harder. Learning Iñupiaq with an East Coast / New York accent is comical. So we decided to play off that.
I wanted to learn more about the Iñupiaq culture and language through writing PSAs and spots for the radio, which is my job here at KNOM. I had heard spots teaching Iñupiaq words that were aired in the past that were loosely based on the same formula. Pick a word. Define it. Spell it. Say it slowly. Say it again. While informative, there wasn’t much personality. I wanted to make the learning process a bit more accessible, less intimidating. Learning a language can be such a vulnerable and frustrating experience. I wanted to tone it down a notch.
So I reached out to Marjorie Tahbone, friend and fellow DJ, as well as the unofficial cultural ambassador to us KNOM volunteers. For those who don’t know, she also taught Iñupiaq language at the high school, as well as at the UAF Northwest campus in Nome. My plan was to turn on the microphone and record whatever happened.
As I was editing these lessons afterwards, I left in all the times I laughed at myself. I left in all the times Marjorie laughed at me. I left in all the questions and noises and mistakes. In the end, I hope someone learned something. Or at least got a good laugh at my attempts. I’m still trying.
There 4 spots are the first of a series that continues to air on KNOM, and we will be posting more as they are produced.
