TALIRJU(U)K, two arms
Geolocation
Citation
Céline Petit, “TALIRJU(U)K, two arms,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/324.
- Overall presentation
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Name : TALIRJU(U)K, two arms
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Creator : Céline Petit
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Contributor(s) : Herve PANIAQ, Iglulik, Nunavut, Canada (video 1)
Elisapi NUTARAKITTUQ, Iglulik (video 2)
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Date : 2005-2021
- Information on the string figure
This figure represents two arms (taliik) with two shoulder blades (kiasiik).
It was recorded with a similar meaning (arms or flippers) in many Inuit and Yupiit groups, in Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
A variation of that figure known in the Iglulik area (as well as in South Baffin at least) consists in the representation of one arm on one side and a brown bear on the other ("talirjuk amma ak&arjuk", the arm and the brown bear).
It was recorded with a similar meaning (arms or flippers) in many Inuit and Yupiit groups, in Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
A variation of that figure known in the Iglulik area (as well as in South Baffin at least) consists in the representation of one arm on one side and a brown bear on the other ("talirjuk amma ak&arjuk", the arm and the brown bear).
1. Opening A.
2. 1 passes over 2 loop, picks up 5n and returns.
3. 3 passes over 2 loop, picks up lower 1f and returns.
4. Release 1 loops. Proximally (= from below) transfer 2 loop to 1, then 3 loop to 1. Maintain loop order.
5. Distally (=from above) transfer 5 loop to 2. 5 hooks down 2n through both 1 loops, closing to the palm.
6. Proximally insert 3 into 2 loop. 3 passes under upper 1n and removes it from 1 while 2 presses that string against 3 and hooks it up through 2 loop, rotating away from the body and up = Index Twist with upper 1n.
7. R Katilluik (1 loops).
8. Adjust the figure so that the two arms get apart. The two arms are represented by the double string running on each side (of the center) between the two transverse strings, while the approximate triangles close to 1 loop on each side of the upper part of the figure depict the shoulder blades.
2. 1 passes over 2 loop, picks up 5n and returns.
3. 3 passes over 2 loop, picks up lower 1f and returns.
4. Release 1 loops. Proximally (= from below) transfer 2 loop to 1, then 3 loop to 1. Maintain loop order.
5. Distally (=from above) transfer 5 loop to 2. 5 hooks down 2n through both 1 loops, closing to the palm.
6. Proximally insert 3 into 2 loop. 3 passes under upper 1n and removes it from 1 while 2 presses that string against 3 and hooks it up through 2 loop, rotating away from the body and up = Index Twist with upper 1n.
7. R Katilluik (1 loops).
8. Adjust the figure so that the two arms get apart. The two arms are represented by the double string running on each side (of the center) between the two transverse strings, while the approximate triangles close to 1 loop on each side of the upper part of the figure depict the shoulder blades.
"Moguk - the arms" (Nunivak, Alaska), a figure then transformed into "eruk - the legs", Gordon 1906: 89-90.
"Täliγγoq - he holds his arms up" (Barrow and Inland/Nunamiut, Inupiat), "täliγyoq" (Mackenzie delta and Coronation gulf), Jenness 1924: 41-42, XXXI, fig. 40. See Wirt & al. 2009: 289-290 for an illustration of this method.
"The arms" (Qairnirmiut/Caribou), Birket-Smith 1929, I, fig. 106e.
"Talerjo.k - the arms" (Inuinnait/Copper, Coronation gulf), Rasmussen 1932: 274, fig. 10.
"Talerssuit - two big arms" (Ubekendt), "puise taliya.q - the flippers of the ring seal" (Upernavik), "tälers.uk - like arms" (Cape York, Greenland), "telur(d).(sh)kuk - like the flippers of walrus" (Craig Harbour, Tununirmiut), Paterson 1949: 13-14, fig. 1.
"Talerjûk - les deux bras" (Arviligjuarmiut), Mary-Rousselière 1969: 63-64, fig. 57.
"Täliγγoq - he holds his arms up" (Barrow and Inland/Nunamiut, Inupiat), "täliγyoq" (Mackenzie delta and Coronation gulf), Jenness 1924: 41-42, XXXI, fig. 40. See Wirt & al. 2009: 289-290 for an illustration of this method.
"The arms" (Qairnirmiut/Caribou), Birket-Smith 1929, I, fig. 106e.
"Talerjo.k - the arms" (Inuinnait/Copper, Coronation gulf), Rasmussen 1932: 274, fig. 10.
"Talerssuit - two big arms" (Ubekendt), "puise taliya.q - the flippers of the ring seal" (Upernavik), "tälers.uk - like arms" (Cape York, Greenland), "telur(d).(sh)kuk - like the flippers of walrus" (Craig Harbour, Tununirmiut), Paterson 1949: 13-14, fig. 1.
"Talerjûk - les deux bras" (Arviligjuarmiut), Mary-Rousselière 1969: 63-64, fig. 57.
Mirror symmetry
- Item references
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Key words : String figure; String game; Inuit; Iglulik; Eastern Canada; Arctic
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Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)
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Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA
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Language : Inuktitut ; English
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Location : Iglulik (Igloolik), Nunavut, Canada
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Description : Iglulingmiut (Amitturmiut) Inuit string figure (Nunavut, Canada): symbolism, method of construction, references to the same figure as documented among different Inuit groups (Alaska, Canada, Greenland)