| VOWELS | |||
|
Micmac Letter |
English Example |
Micmac Example |
English Translation |
| a | father | ta'pu | two |
| e | bed | epit | sitting |
| i | machine | jinm | man |
| o | toe | moqwa | no |
| u | dune | Listugujg | at Restigouche |
| BLENDS | |||
|
Micmac Letter |
English Example |
Micmac Example |
English Translation |
| aw | how | awti | road |
| ew | * | newt | one |
| iw | few | mu maja'siw | I don't leave |
| ow** | know | negmow | they |
| ai | pie | atlai | shirt |
| ei | grey | welei | I'm fine |
| (* The sound of ew is lick the sound of e (bed) plus the sound of u (dune) said together in sequence. **The sound of ow is made by rounding the lips after saying the o.) | |||
|
CONSONANTS The letters l, m, n and w have the same sounds as in English. The letter q has a guttural sound, similar to the sound of ch in the Scottish word Loch. The other consonants are pronounced as follows: | ||
|
Micmac Letter |
When next to vowels* has soft sound, like English letter.... | When next to another consonant,* has hard sound like English letter.... |
| g | g | k |
| j | j | ch |
| p | b | p |
| s | z | s |
| t | d | t |
| (*In some words the Micmac consonant will have the "other" sound even when these conditions apply. Space does not allow a discussion of the rules here.) | ||
|
APOSTROPHE
1) Apostrophe (') indicates a vowel sound like that of the o in apron. It is written only when it is needed in order to show the correct pronunciation; for example, in ms't ('m-S'D; "all") the apostrophe shows it is not pronounced (m'st). |
