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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 9, 1996)
SpilyayTymoo 6 May 9, 1996 Language Program offers detailed Wasco alphabet lessons Warm Springs, Oregon t WASCO ALPHABET SOUND CHART Introduction This sound chart is being introduced to be used as a reference by people just beginning to learn the Wasco language. Learning to read and write the alphabet is just the beginning of actually speaking the lan guage. Learning to speak the language will take time and dedication to become comfort able with knowing and understanding the language. In-depth language material will be available in class for those who want to con tinue the language learning process. Much of the Wasco alphabet sounds the same as English. The following letters represent those similar sounds: a, 9, b, ch, d, g, h, I, j, k, I, m, n, p, s, sh, t, u, w, y, and z That's more than half of the Wasco alphabet, so you're about halfway there even before you start! Nasal Cavity V ( I SoflgalateX Hard pajatceluihi Lips lXT sTonguc lf Epigltlis Vtocal chorA I i Air from the lungs'" Windpipe In the following, we will go through every letter of the alphabet and describe how to make the sound it represents. This side view will help you to identify the various parts of the sound tract that the sounds develop from. The " ' " sound Is known as the "glottal stop" and is used to modify sounds. It is made when the throat is made tense and the vocal chords are closed, by closing and opening the lid to the esophagus. Examples: wi'ish ikna'an bluejay magpie The " ' " symbol is known as the "accent mark." Wasco words are normally stressed on the next-to-last syllable. When the stress is on a differ ent syllable, the accent mark " " is used. It indicates where a person will need to put more stress into the sound. a The "a" is made by the tongue being slightly arched between the middle and lowest part of the mouth. (It sounds like the sound "a" as in the English word "papa"). Examples: k daba aduiha ikawa here cow . badger a The "8 with two dots" is made by the tongue being slightly arched between the middle and lowest part of the mouth . It is always stressed. (It sounds like the sound "a" in the English word "can"). . Examples: dagash very yellow b The "b" sound is made by pressing the lips together and stopping the outgoing breath, then releasing it, with the vocal chords vibrating (It sounds like the "b" in the English word "boy"). Examples: kwaba ibiaxj there bitterroot The "c" sound is made by placing the tip of the tongue against the back of the front teeth then releasing the air softly. (It sounds like the "ts" in the English word "cats"). Examples: wacuiha Wacaqws AcSlucalu silverside salmon Lone Pine snail The "hard c' " sound is made by placing the tip of the tongue against the back of the front teeth, then releasing the air, with the throat being tense and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like "c" with a catch in the throat). Examples: c'unus ic'inun ac'iudixax. few bird ant ch The "ch" sound is made by placing the tongue against the gum ridge and the roof of the mouth, then releasing the air softly. (It sounds like "ch" as in the English word "church"). Examples:,, , ichagjqnan ichalaklf wachpish : female teacher her key blueback salmon ch' The "hard ch" sound is made like "ch", but with the throat made tense and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like the "ch" with a catch in the throat). Examples: ich'inun eagle ich'Snk deer ich'Si rattlesnake d The "d" sound is made with the tongue touching the back of the teeth, stopping the air briefly then releasing it, with the vocal chords vibrat ing. (It sounds like the "d" in the English word "dog"). Examples: dan daminwa iduiha what, thing always buffalo The "front g" sound is made towards the back of the mouth, by stopping the breath and then releasing it, with the vocal chords vibrating . (It sounds like the "g" in the English word "give"). Examples: gigwal igunat ishgiluksh down, below salmon wolf The "deep a" sound is made when the back of the tongue touches the the back part of the roof of the mouth, with the vocal chords vi brating It is further back than the " front g" sound. (There is no sound like this in English.) Examples: gwnma agagilak igugu five woman chub, pike h The "h" sound is made by the friction of air passing through the vocal chords. (It sounds like the the "h" in the English word "house"). Examples: ha'Si aduiha iduiha must cow buffalo, steer The "i" sound is made toward the front of the mouth with the tongue raised toward the roof of the mouth . ( It sounds like the "i" in the English word "machine", but shorter). Examples: ' ikala ixt kinwa .IT man one in vain J The "j" sound is made by placing the tongue against the gum ridge and the roof of the mouth, then releasing the air, with the vocal chords vibrating. (It sounds like "j" as in the English word "judge"). Example: Ijabniz Japanese k The "soft k" sound is made towards the back of the mouth, by stopping the breath and ther releasing it. (It sounds like the "k" in the En glish word "key"). Examples: ikiutan imulak ikna'an horse, stallion elk magpie k' The "hard k' " sound is made toward back of mouth, by stopping the breath and releasing it, with the throat tense and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like the "k" with a catch in the throat). Examples: k'aya ak'ashkash isk'ulya no, not girl coyote 1 The "I" sound is made when the tongue touches the back of the teeth and forms a groove, allow ing air out both sides of the tongue, with the vocal chords vibrating. (It sounds like the "I" in the English word "like"). Examples: ikala lakt imulak man four elk The "barred I" It made when the tongue form groove, allowing lir out of both sides of tongue, with a hushing sound. (It sounds somewhat similar to "I" In English word dash" In rapid speech). Examples: watala tun alagagwll lake three spider m The "m" sound Is made by pressing the Hps together and having air come out through the nose. (It sounds like the "m" In the English word "mouth"). Examples: imulak makwsht maika elk two you n The V sound Is produced when the tongue touches the back of teeth and the sound comes out through the nose. (It sounds like the "n" In the English word "nice"). Examples: naika winpu inagun I flea sturgeon P The "soft p" sound Is made by pressing the lips together and stopping the outgoing breath, ther releasing It (It sounds like the "p" in the English word "spoon"). Examples: kwapt wachpish apfps then blueback salmon woodpecker P The "hard p' " sound is made by pressing the lips together, stopping the outgoing breath and then releasing it, with the throat made tense and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like the "p" sound with a catch in the throat). Examples: ip'ush cat ip'ishx.ash skunk ap'unachikchik mosquito q The "q" sound Is made as far back in the throat as the tongue can go, by stopping the air then releasing it. (There is no English sounds similar to this. The closest to it would be the "c" sound in "cold.") Examples: aqSbudit door itchqwa' water ichagjqnan female teacher The "hard q' " sound is made as far back in the throat as the tongue can go, by stopping the air and then releasing it , with the throat tensed and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like the "q" sound made with a catch in the throat.) Examples: Gatasq'u wacq'un aq'asnan Wasco people cup lizard s The "s" sound is made with the tongue touch ing the back of the teeth, allowing the air to pass through a narrow passage. (It sounds like the V in the English word "sing"). Examples: iskintwa isk'ulya ik'Slalas black bear coyote raccoon sh The "sh" sound is made around the gum ridge and roof of the mouth with a hushing sound, (ft sounds like the "sh" in the English word "show"). Examples: Kiksht ishtamx ishgiluksh Wasco language chief wolf The "t" sound Is made with the tongue touch ing the back of the teeth, stopping the air briefly then releasing It (It sounds Ike the V in the English word "top"). Examples: txm lyatuk ixt six his neck one t' The "hard t' " sound is made with the tongue touching the back of the teeth, stopping the air briefly then releasing It, with the throat tensed and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like the "t" made with a catch in the throat). Examples: it'ukdi wit'ax. tt'lsqauqau good again black fox tt The "tT sound is made with the tongue touch ing the back of the teeth and forming a groove, allowing the air to flow out the sides of the tongue with a hissing sound. (It sounds Mce combination of the "f and T sounds). Examples: pati datJa" yutfanan full warm he's jumping around t The "hard tf " sound is made with the tongue touching the back of teeth and forming a groove, allowing air out the sides of the tongue with a hushing sound, with the throat made tense and the vocal chords closed and then popping open. (It sounds like the "tT sound with a catch in the throat). Examples: itf'alk blacktail deer ntfala ' I'm foolish atfixtin slug u The "u" sound is made with dps rounded with the tongue high and in the back of the mouth. (It sounds like "u" in the English word "pul"). Examples: igunat j.-salmon V inanuksh otter . ichuxix my younger brother w The "w" sound is made with the lips rounded and vocal chords vibrating. (It sounds like the "w" as in the English word "wool"). ' . ' examples; wimat . ikawa awawat nveri badger language X if i J, .,. ,.t " nunrl So maHa whan the middle of the Thfl tongue touches the roof of the mouth, mak inq a friction noise. (Triere is rto soorm i this in English. The closest would be the "ch in the name, "Bach"). Examples: yatilxam kadux ixt ten morning one X The "deep x" sound Is made when the back of the tongue touches the the back part of the roof of the mouth, making a friction noise. It h further back than the "x" sound. (There is no sound like this in English.) Examples: igwaxchul ip'ishxash tx.m squirrel skunk six V The "y" sound is made (placing the mouth in the same position as for the vowel "I", then moving to the position needed for the com plete sound of V- (It ound Y h the English word "yesterday"). Examples: yatilxam isk'ulya yuit ten coyote he's going The "2" sound is made with the tongue touch ing the back of the teeth, allowing the air to pass through a narrow passage, with the vocal chords vibrating. (It sounds Ike the V In ths English word "zoo"). Examples: jjabniz Japanese