October 3, 2002
Page 9
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES LANGUAGE LESSON
Learner's Corner
The "Learner's Corner" is a new segment for us. This will be an on-going section that will cover, little by little, the gramma details of our three languages. (Grammar, put
simply, is the set of rules that determine how words are put together and then ordered.) As the weeks go by, reading the usual lessons on the previous page should be
come easier and easier. It has been some time since we have covered the written alphabet and their sounds, so this week we wil start from the very beginning Please
practice pronouncing the words on the previous page and listen to the KWSO language broadcasts for examples from the language p-ogram staff. (Hopefully this and
coming issues will be helpful to you in learning languages. Since this is meant foryou, your feedback would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to leave comments for Tim
Spilyay Tymoo, Wqrm Springs, Oregon
Character
a
aa
a'
a
c
c'
ch
ch'
h
i
ii
k
k'
kw
kw'
m
n
P
p'
qw
qw
s
sh
t
t'
tt
tt'
u
uu
w
X
xw
The Ichishkiin Alphabet
a I a laala' I c c' lchbh'1 h 1 )M
q'qvqwjs sh t t' tt ttj u u
w x xyyx
ii J ii Jl K i. L hl sl jp. p!
q q sh t t' tjfu wx x
im '
The Numu Alphabet
; alaal b d,dydz e eel g I h i i
JL 1 SI !2
ooooo3oaooecw p s t tstzu
uuwy I z
, ' Sound
Like the a in "father".
An elongated (held longer) a sound.
The apostrophe indicates the sound before it
is shortened by a sudden stop of breath and
voice. The closest equivalent exists in this
(poor) English example: "a owl".
Like the a in "can".
This sounds like a slightly sharper English s.
An English example is the ts sound in "cats".
The apostrophe after the c indicates a"glot
tal stop". Temporarily close your air:way to
build up a burst of air, and then say the c.
Like the ch in "chip"..
The apostrophe following the ch indicates a
"glottal stop". Position your tongue to say
the ch sound, then put extra pressure on
your tongue and say the ch sound.
Identical to the English h, as in "hill".
Pronounced like the ee sound in "seem".
An elongated i sound.,.
This is said like the English c in "cake". ,
The apostrophe indicates a glottal stop" '
after the k. Position your tongue for th')f)
I I. I 4.U -...4. w-n S
normal k buunu diiu uien (jul cauci picopuip j
against your tongue as you say k sound.
Pronounced like the qu in "quit .
This is the kw sound said with a "glottal
stop". Similar to k this sound requires extra
pressure behind the tongue as you say the
normal kw sound.
This is the same as the English I, as in "lay".
The "barred-L" has no English match. It is
said similarly to the th sound in "think".
First, position your tongue for the "th" sound
and then slide the front tip of your tongue
back so that it is touching the front of the
roof of your mouth. Keep your tongue there
and push air out, as you would with th. .
Identical to the English m, as in "mother".
Identical to the English n, as in "need".
Identical to the English p, as in "proud".
This is the p sound said with a "glottal stop".
It is made by tightening the throat and
adding extra pressure just before making the
normal p sound. - -
This is said much like the c in "cool , only
with the tongue even further back. The q
sound forces the tongue to block air flow all ,
the way at the very back of the mouth.
The glottal q is pronounced by momentarily M
holding the normal q sound to build up ,,-v ....
pressure behind the tongue." Then, In a burst,"
release the pressure without exhaling and say
the normal q. This result is sudden, louder, ; ;
and sounds as if there is a catch in your 1" '
throat. TZl
Pronounced by combining the Ichishkiin q and
the English w sound (as in "will"). The result j;
sounds much like kw only with a deeper catch"
in the throat.
This is said by combining the q' sound and
the English w sound (as in "wish"). The
result sounds like kw' only with a deeper
catch in the throat.
Identical to the English s, as in "silly".
Identical to the English sh, as in "shout".
Identical to the English t, as in "tall".
The glottal t (hard t) is said by momentarily
holding the normal t sound to build up pres
sure behind the tongue. Then, in a burst,
release the pressure without exhaling and say
the normal t.
The "t-barred-l" sound is one for which,
again, English has no equivalent. To pro
nounce this sound, position your tongue for
the t sound, but say the (barred-L) sound.
Say the the normal t-barred-l, but with more
pressure behind the tongue. The result is a
sharper, more sudden, and slightly louder tt
sound.
Said like the English oo sound in "boot".
An elongated u sound.
Identical to the English w, as in "wash".
The x sounds similar to a clearing of the
throat. As the middle of the tongue touches
the top of the roof of the mouth, breathe out
with a friction sound.
This sound is a combonation of the x and the
w sound, with no pause or space between
them. To put it another way, it xw sounds
much like the normal x said with a rounded
open mouth.
Identical to the English y, as in "yellow".
a'
a
b
c
c'
Character Sound
Like the a in "father or the u in "up",
The apostrophe indicaiej4he sound before it
is shortened by a sudden stop of breath and
voice.,, The cjosest equivalent exists in this
(poorf English example: "a owl".
Like the a in "can". .
Like the. b in "boy"
Thjs sounds like j6 slightly sharper English s.
An English example is thes sound in "cats".
, The apostrophe after the c indicates a "glot-
ital stop". Tempprarilyxlose your airway to
$ buiy up a burst of airand thersay the c.
4.ike the ch in "chip".
cfrTht , aposlrpphfflfoirowtjjg Jhth indicates a
'' 'jglottaKstop'yf psitionjyouripngue to say
B-"' ithrch sobndtheh piit extraa presure
- against your tbngjue and say XhS&h sbund4
Mf fdenticaf to tfVEnglisii d, s id "dog". v
pk'e.teuinfup'! 1 ,
identical to tfrejfigM g, asfytfoWe".
ffeg (deep gourtfLis similaNSthe gar
gling sound. Jh: deep g is a g sound made in
the throat instead of the mouth. ""
Character
a
aa
b
$6und.
v
d
dy
dz
e
ee
9
h
i
k
kw
m
mm
"great"
"mother".
e
9
9
A :U-A : I 4. U in "hill" .
WW : -IlltfllLILrll LU LI IB Ll It-JIOI I II. 111 I IIIL. w T
ifvnl -s-M i'ia a it-irtml-n ; v -XV' 'i . . l
((
k
k'
V 4
m
n
P
P'
This is said like the English-Inn "kite
The apostrophe indicates a "glottal stop"
after the k. Position your tongue for the
normal k sound and then put extra pressure
against your tongue as you say k sound.
This is the same as the English I, as in "lay".
The "barred-L" has no English match. It is
said similarly to the th sound in "think".
First, position your tongue for the "th" sound
and then slide the front tip of your tongue
back so that it is touching the front of the
roof of your mouth. Keep your tongue there
and push air out, as you would with th.
Identical to the English m, as in "mother".
Identical to the English n, as in "need".
Identical to the English p, as in "proud".
This is the p sound said with a "glottal stop".
It is made by tightening the throat and
adding extra pressure just before making the
normal D sound. ' ' , . v'
This Is said much like the c in "cool", only? X
with the tongue even further back. The q Kv .'V
sound forces the tongue to block air now all V
the way at the very back of the mouth. v
The glottal q is pronounced by momentarily
holding the normal q sound to build up - 1
pressure behind the tongue, uhen, in a burst, y
f A
Like the a in "father". v l
An elongated (he(d longer) a sound.
This is a cross between th4 English "b" and
"v" sounds. It is closest td the
pronounciation of the "b" ound except that
the lips do; hot quite meet in the Numu b.
Identical to the English d, as in "dog".
Like the English j in "Judge".
This sounds like the'ds in "adds".
Like the ee in "seem".
y' 'An plinnnatprl P -----7
" Identical to the English g," as in
Identical to the English h, as in
Like the i in cite"'.
Like the English k, as in "kid".
Like the English qu sound, as in
Identical to the English m, as in
An elongated m. This sound usually receives
the emphasis in a word (like the double-m in
the English word f commemorate",
Identical to the English n, as in "need",
An "elongated r? This sound usually receives
the emphasis in a word. ' "
Like the English ng, as in "sing".
Like the English 0, as in "rope".
Like the English oa, as in "koala".
Like the English vowel sound in "coin".
This sounds like English vowels in "coin".
Identical to the English 00, as in "boot".
An elongated 00, like the English expression
for what a cow says: Mooo!
This sounds like how English would pronounce
"oo-wa", but without a break after 00 and
with a softened w sound.
This sounds like the vowels in the English
word "gooey".
Like the English ow, as in "cow".
Identical to the English p, as in "proud".
Either like the English s (as in "silly) or like
the English sh (as in "shop"), which of the
two depends on what sounds are next to it.
If the s is next to an e or an i, it sounds like
the sh. (For example, the word "pesa"
sounds like "p-ee-sh-a".) If there is no e or I
next to the s, it is simply an English s. (For
example, the word "soba" sounds like "s-O-b-a",
with a long 0 like in rope.)
Irlentiral tn the Enalish t. as in "tall".
' o - -
tsl Like the English ts, as in "bits .
tz Like the English ds, as in "loads", or like the
"ts" in "cats".
nn
oa
oe
oi
00
000
00a
ooe
ow
P
s
u i f ' This vowel doesn't have an exact match in
release the pressure without exhaling and say
sh
t ,
t'-
tt
u
w
X
y
z
the normal q. This result is sudden, louder,
and sounds as if there is a catch in your
' .throat. .:
Identical to the English, s, as in "silly".v- ,
Identical to the English sh, as in "shout".,
' Irlpntiral tn the Fnnlkh't.'ac in "tall".' . '
- The glottal t (hard t) is said by momentarily
holding the normal t sound to build up pres-
sure behind the tongue. Then, in a burst,
release the pressure without exhaling and say
the normal t. '
The "t-barred-l" sound is one for which,
again, English has no equivalent. To pro- .
nounce this sound, position your tongue for ;
the t sound, but say the (barred-L) sound.
Say the the normal t-barred-l, but with more
pressure behind the tongue. The result is a V
sharper, more sudden, and slightly louder tt ..
sound. A
Like the u in "pull". ?',
Identical to the English w, as in "wash". . ,
The x sounds similar to a clearing of the j
throat. As the middle of the tongue touches ,
the top of the roof of the mouth, breathe out
with a friction sound.
The "deep x" is same friction sound as x .
except that the tongue makes contact with ,
the roof of the mouth as far back as possible.
Identical to the English y, as in "yellow".
Identical to the English z, as in "zoo".
w
y
z
I- l:U U..4. . U II.. M a, in ,N
cngiibn, uui 11 is uuac iu we u ao in pui ,
but the lips aren't rounded. Instead they are
flat almost smiling which makes it sound a
little different. ,
An elongated u. Like mm and nn, this long
sound receives emphasis over other short
sounds in a word. -. j
This sound is a cross between an English w
and an English m. It sounds like the w in
"will", but softer.
Identical to the English y, as in; "yellow".
Identical to the English z, as in "zoo".
' ! Numu also has several glottal stop characters
(ones marked with an apostrophe immediately follow
ing them). However, unlike Kiksht and Ichishkiin, all of
the Numu stops take place after vowels (such as a, 00,
and u, for example). These vowels are pronounced like
their un-stopped counter-parts except with a sudden
v. end. . A common example is the a vowel in the Numu
word wuda'a. While English works to avoid these
sounds, you can see examples in some (bad) English
sentences, such as "a afternoon". The sound of the
j two neighboring a vowels is exactly the sound you hear
j in the Numu a'a combination. Another example can
bee seen on the previous page: pu'a. The U'a sound
can be seen, approximately, in the English example "do
a".! The momentary catch in breath you would make
after "do" is he same catch in breatri that fits between
the Numu u and a. So instead of simply sliding be
tween vowel sounds, as happens In the Numu 00a, the
glottal stop (apostrophe) marks a split-second inter-
' ruption of breath and sound. ) . I
::;.v ,- wyw.
"Xccfi mtdtttf fuxqe over tttctc ttoUt$ evecfo 04 m continue U teavtmtie of
mxcU dad umhcU fou icxtft &cic(