SpilyayTymoo
6 May 9, 1996
Language Program offers detailed Wasco alphabet lessons
Warm Springs, Oregon
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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