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From: lilandbr@scn.org (Leland Bryant Ross)
Subject: Chinook Jargon pronunciation?
Message-ID: <E5B64v.BqM@scn.org>
Sender: news@scn.org
Reply-To: lilandbr@scn.org (Leland Bryant Ross)
Organization: Seattle Community Network
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 23:48:30 GMT
Lines: 25


I'm writing a concise introductory essay on the Chinook Jargon in an IAL 
which I leave nameless so as not to offend anyone.  I'd like to be able 
to give at least a rough indication of the pronunciation of words and 
phrases I quote in the essay, but unfortunately all the materials I've 
been able to locate are *very* deficient as regards CJ pronunciation and 
phonology, and of course the Jargon's usual orthography--chaotic in the 
extreme and obviously seriously infected with English influences--is 
usually as much a hindrance as a help with regard to any given vocabulary 
item or utterance.  Vowels are particularly hard to pin down.  For 
example, what's the pronunciation of "nesika" (we/us/our)?  I know it's 
stressed on the first syllable, but should it be

nEsIk@   or   nesika   or   nEsaIka   or what?  

I'm equally unsure of most other words, especially those with I's and E's 
and U's and A's in 'em (the O's seem mostly self-explanatory...)

Thanks to whoever can help!
--
Liland Brajant ROS'           Aspergas mi per spermo de l' espero
P O Box 30091                    virginon de l' argxenta astro
Seattle, WA 98103 Usono       en la arom' de sxia sino cxasta
Tel. (206) 633-2434  	         dum farniento de l' vespero.   --Mihhalski
			
