not contain letters for some of the sounds you will hear, but it will give you enough to get by on, both listening and speaking.
Here are a few simple rules to help you:
1. Accents. You know what the accented syllable of a word is, of course. It is the syllable which is spoken louder than the other syllables in the same word. We will show accented (loud) syllables in capital letters and unaccented syllables in small letters.
2. Vowels. These are the kind of sounds we represent in English by a, e, i, o, u, ah, ay, ei, oi, etc. Just follow the key below and you will have no trouble.
| a or A | equals | the a in pat usually, but if the man you are talking to doesn't seem to get you at first, try sounding it like the o in pot; sometimes it is pronounced that way. There is no fixed rule. You'll just have to listen and learn. (Example: tif-HAM-ni meaning "do you understand me.") |
| AA | equals | the a in demand—but stretch (lengthen) it. (Example: WAA-hid meaning "one.") |
| AH | equals | the a in father—but stretch it. (Example: NAH-'am meaning "yes.") |
| AI | equals | the ai in aisle—but stretch it. (Example: AI-wa meaning "yes." |
| AY | equals | the ay in day—but stretch it. (Example: WAYN meaning "where.") |
| AU | equals | the ow in now. (Example: AU-wal meaning "first.") |
| e or E | equals | the e in pet. (Example: WE-led meaning "boy.") |
| EE | equals | the ee in feet—but stretch it. (Example: ya-SEE-di meaning "sir.") |
| i or I | equals | the i in pit. (Example: ya-SIT meaning "madam.") |
| O | equals | the o in go—but stretch it. (Example: fa-SOL-ya meaning "beans.") |
| OO | equals | the oo in boot—but stretch it. (Example: SHOO IS-mak meaning "what is your name.") |
| u or U | equals | the u in put. (Example: u'-ZUR-ni meaning "excuse me.") |
| uh or UH | equals | the u in but. (Example: min-FUHD-lak meaning "please.") |
3. Consonants. The consonants are all the sounds that are not vowels. Pronounce them just as you know them in English. All consonants should be pronounced. Never "slight" them. Here are some special consonant sounds to learn:
| h | small h is always pronounced with the h sound except after small u. Listen carefully to the h sound on the records. |
| kh | is pronounced as when clearing your throat when you have to spit. Listen carefully for it on the records. |
| gh | is pronounced like kh except you put "voice" into it. It is like the sound you make when you gargle. Listen carefully to this sound on the records. |
