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INTRODUCTION.
Sounds of the Letters.
a as in palm, | e.g. pá, full. |
e as„ in„ met, | e.g.„ mé, quick. |
i as„ in„ machine, | e.g.„ sîn, god. |
o not final or followed by h as in no, | e.g.„ mông, touch. |
o final or followed by h as in born, | e.g.„ bó, mother. |
u like oo in boon, | e.g.„ bûn, literary. |
ṳ nearly as in turn, or more exactly as eu in French heure, | e.g.„ tṳ, pig. |
ai as in aisle, | e.g.„ lâi, come. |
au like ou in house, | e.g.„ lãu, old. |
oa as in boa, | e.g.„ tōa, large. |
oi, as„ in„ going, | e.g.„ õi, able. |
ou like o in no, | e.g.„ lōu, road. |
ua as in dual, but with second part more distinct, | e.g.„ múa, full. |
uai like ui in quire, with„ second„ part„ more„ | e.g.„ kùai, strange. |
ue as in fluent, with„ second„ part„ more„ | e.g.„ būe, not yet. |
ui as„ in„ fluid, with„ second„ part„ more„ | e.g.„ múi, handsome. |
ch nearly as in chin, but with less aspiration, | e.g.„ chin, truth. |
chh with strong aspiration, | e.g.„ chhin, relatives. |
g as in go, | e.g.„ gōu, hinder. |
h initial as in hand, | e.g.„ hãn, limit. |
h final marks an explosive sound in certain words all of which are in the ji̍p tones, | e.g.„ po̍h, thin. |
j nearly as in June, | e.g.„ jūn, tough. |
k nearly„ as„ in„ keep, but without aspiration | e.g.„ ki̍p, concerning. |
kh with strong aspiration, | e.g.„ khéng, willing. |
l as in lamb, | e.g.„ lâm, south. |
m as„ in„ man, | e.g.„ mān, slow. |
n as„ in„ no, | e.g.„ nôu, child. |
p nearly as in pang, but without aspiration, | e.g.„ pâng, room. |
ph with strong aspiration, | e.g.„ phâng, sail, |
s as in sun, | e.g.„ sũn, obey. |
t nearly as in tan, but without aspiration, | e.g.„ tán, wait. |
th with strong aspiration, | e.g.„ thàn, earn. |
ⁿ represents a strongly marked nasal, | e.g.„ kiáⁿ, child. |