Mi'gmaq Wiki - User contributions [en-ca]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:26:03Z

Erin: /* Phonetic Lengthening */

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | n
| rowspan="2" align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | l
| rowspan="2" align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:25:23Z

Erin: /* Geminates */

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:25:01Z

Erin: /* Geminates */

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:24:03Z

Erin: /* Vowels */

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:23:41Z

Erin: /* Vowels */

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:22:04Z

Erin: /* Vowels */

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2",align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Sound Length

2012-12-03T22:21:27Z

Erin: Created page with "Unlike English or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'bo..."

Unlike [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] or French, Mi'gmaq regularly allows a difference in '''length''' of a sound to be meaningful. For example, the word ''wigatign'', 'book', means something different than ''wigatignn'', 'books', where the only difference is in the length of the ''n''. Similarly, lengthened vowels can also lead to a difference in meaning: the sentence ''epit e'pit'', 'the woman is sitting', is a good example.

The treatment of such long sounds within the '''phonology''', or sound system, of Mi'gmaq is discussed below. A basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be helpful when reading these pages, although the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used where possible.

=Vowels=

''Main page: [[Vowels]]''

Of the six short vowels in Mi'gmaq, five of these (''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'') have a lengthened counterpart (written with an apostrophe after the vowel). The only vowel that is ''not'' able to be lengthened is [[schwa]] ([ə]).

These long vowels are considered to be separate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme phonemes] of Mi'gmaq because use of one (say, ''e''') in place of another (''e'') can lead to a difference in meaning. For example, ''epit'', 'he or she is sitting', means something different from ''e'pit'', 'woman'. Furthermore, they occupy the same position within a [[Syllables|syllable]] as their short counterparts.

A table demonstrating the length differences is given below (all words taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Vowel || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | a
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apaqt/recording1.mp3 '''''a'''paqt'']
| ['''ɑ'''bɑqtʰ]
| 'sea'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27pi/recording1.mp3 '''''a''''pi'']
| ['''ɑː'''bi]
| 'net'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | e
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''pit'']
| ['''ɛ'''bitʰ]
| 'he or she is sitting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''''e''''pit'']
| ['''ɛː'''bitʰ]
| 'woman'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | i
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/iga%27t/recording1.mp3 '''''i'''ga't'']
| ['''i'''gɑːt]
| 'he or she arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ewi%27gat/recording1.mp3 ''ew'''i''''gat'']
| [ɛw'''iː'''gɑtʰ]
| 'he or she builds a house'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | o
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/o/oqwa%27q/recording1.mp3 '''''o'''qwa'q'']
| ['''o'''χwɑːχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) arrives'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/so%27qwa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''s'''o''''qwa'toq'']
| [s'''oː'''χwɑːdɔq͡χ]
| 'he or she takes it (inanimate) to higher ground/level'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | u
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sune%27wit/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u'''ne'wit'']
| [s'''uː'''neːwitʰ]
| 'he or she is fasting'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/su%27n/recording1.mp3 ''s'''u''''n'']
| [s'''uː'''n]
| 'cranberry'
|}

=Consonants=

Unlike vowels, [[consonants]] are not always phonemically long or short (that is, ''n'' and ''nː'' are not ''always'' different phonemes of the language) - even though a difference in meaning may sometimes be indicated by lengthening a consonant. When a consonant of Mi'gmaq is lengthened ''and'' leads to a difference in meaning, it is called a '''geminate'''. Mi'gmaq also has a subset of consonants that may become lengthened but fail to bring about a difference in meaning. This is known as '''phonetic lengthening'''. Both of these processes are described in more detail below.

==Geminates==

When lengthening a consonant leads to a ''difference in meaning'', this consonant is known as a '''geminate'''. Usually, when this happens, it will be accompanied by a difference in spelling - thus ''wigatig'''n''''', 'book', is different from ''wigatig'''nn''''', 'books', where a geminate is indicated by doubling the consonant itself.

Most geminates occur within a word (although they can occasionally appear at the ends of words as well). They are always split up into '''two syllables''' when within a word - so the long ''t'' in ''etteg'', 'it (inanimate) is ripe', is split up in this way: ''e'''t.t'''eg''. This means that a geminate will ''always'' appear between two '''vowels''' if it is not at the end of a word - if it does not, it is not a true geminate and is instead an example of [[Sound_Length#Phonetic_Lengthening|phonetic lengthening]].

All of the consonants of Mi'gmaq are able to be geminates, as shown in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Length || Example || Transcription || Translation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | p
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epa%27sit/recording1.mp3 ''e'''p'''a'sit'']
| [ɛ'''p'''ɑːzitʰ]
| 'he or she sits down'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eppa%27q/recording1.mp3 ''e'''pp'''a'q'']
| [ɛ'''pp'''ɑːχ]
| 'the liquid is warm'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | t
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''t'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is (there)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg'']
| [ɛ'''tt'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is ripe'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | g
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 ''e'''g'''umig'']
| [ɛ'''g'''umikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is anchored'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/geggung/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''gg'''ung'']
| [kɛ'''kk'''uŋkʰ]
| 'he or she has it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | q
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gaqamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''q'''amit'']
| [kɑ'''χ'''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tetpaqqamit/recording1.mp3 ''tetpa'''qq'''amit'']
| [tɛtpa''χχ''ɑmitʰ]
| 'he or she is standing straight'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | gw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elugwatg/recording1.mp3 ''elu'''gw'''atg'']
| [ɛlu'''gw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she repairs it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aluggwatg/recording1.mp3 ''alu'''ggw'''atg'']
| [alu'''kkw'''ɑtkʰ]
| 'he or she follows it (inanimate) around'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | qw
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/emtoqwatg/recording1.mp3 ''emto'''qw'''atg'']
| [ɛmto'''qw'''atkʰ]
| 'he or she worships it (inanimate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/soqqwat/recording1.mp3 ''so'''qqw'''at'']
| [so'''qqw'''atʰ]
| 'eclipse'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | s
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mesa%27latl/recording1.mp3 ''me'''s'''a'latl'']
| [mɛ'''z'''aːladl̩]
| 'he or she swallows it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/messa%27toq/recording1.mp3 ''me'''ss'''a'toq'']
| [mɛ'''ss'''ɑːdɔqʷʰ]
| 'he or she misses making a connection with it (inanimate)'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | j
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijipjewei/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''j'''ipjewei'']
| [mi'''d͡ʒ'''ipd͡ʒɛwej]
| 'food'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it'']
| [mi'''tt͡ʃ'''itʰ]
| 'he or she eats'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | m
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 ''t'''m''' 'tqe'gnn'']
| [d'''m̩'''ətqɛːgn̩n]
| 'scissors'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/esg%27tmm%27gewei/recording1.mp3 ''esg't'''mm''' 'gewei'']
| [ɛsgəd'''m̩m'''əgewej]
| 'cucumber'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgenatl/recording1.mp3 ''epge'''n'''atl'']
| [ɛpkɛ'''n'''ɑtl̩]
| 'he or she fertilizes it (animate)'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gennatl/recording1.mp3 ''ge'''nn'''atl'']
| [kɛ'''nn'''atl̩]
| 'he or she holds him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/miluisit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''l'''uisit'']
| [mi'''l'''uwizitʰ]
| 'he or she has different names''
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/millugwet/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''ll'''ugwet'']
| [mi'''ll'''ugwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she does different kinds of work'
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | w
| align="center" | short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawewo%27gwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''w'''ewo'gwet'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''w'''ɛwoːgwɛtʰ]
| 'he or she speaks loudly and quickly'
|-
| align="center" | long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gesigawwet/recording1.mp3 ''gesiga'''ww'''et'']
| [kɛzigɑ'''ww'''ɛtʰ]
| 'he or she talks loud'
|}

'''Note''': the [[W and I|glide]] [j] (written ''i'') does not appear in this table since it is never written as ''ii'', but could possibly be written as an ''i'' after a long vowel. It is unclear in these situations, however, whether it is the vowel that is lengthened or the glide.

==Phonetic Lengthening==

There are some sounds in Mi'gmaq that are lengthened but do ''not'' lead to a difference in meaning between words. This is often termed '''phonetic lengthening''' and is not often reflected by a difference in spelling (although some researchers, like Fidelholz, have transcribed it with an apostrophe ('), much like vowel lengthening. This apostrophe may occasionally show up in the Listuguj spelling system, as in ''alman'tiew'', 'someone from overseas, pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman%27tiew/recording1.mp3 [alma'''nː'''tiɛw]]).

Phonetic lengthening only appears to occur with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] consonants ''m'', ''n'', and ''l'', and is optional - it does not have to appear on any word. Some examples are given below (note that ''m'' does not appear in this table, as there no audio for lengthened forms has yet been found):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Consonant || Example || Translation || Length || Pronunciation
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | n
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''aqantie'umg''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'Sunday'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording2.mp3 [aha'''n'''tiɛːwmkʰ]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aqantie%27umg/recording1.mp3 [aha'''nː'''tiɛːwumkʰ]]
|-
| rowspan="2", align="center" | l
| rowspan="2", align="center" | ''alman''
| rowspan="2", align="center" | 'German'
| short
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording2.mp3 [ɑ'''l'''mɑn]]
|-
| long
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alman/recording3.mp3 [ɑ'''lː'''mɑn]]
|}

Phonetic lengthening, unlike [[Sound_Length#Geminates|gemination]], occurs next to other '''consonants''', and never occurs between vowels. It is as of yet unclear what triggers this lengthening.

=References=
* Fidelholz, James Lawrence (1963). ''Micmac Morphophonemics''. PhD. Dissertation, Massechusetts Institute of Technology
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:45:17Z

Erin: /* Word-Medial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ʕ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

Note, however, that the consonants ''l'', ''m'', and ''n'' count as the '''same''' sonority in this case - there is no schwa inserted between the ''m'' and the ''l'' in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gamlamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''ml'''amit''], 'he or she breathes', because they count as the same.

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:41:24Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ʕ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:40:29Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:40:13Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > l > n > m > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:37:48Z

Erin: /* Word-Medial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l, n, m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Within this hierarchy, there is evidence (shown below) that there is a mini-hierarchy within the ''l, n, m'' group, such that:

l > n > m

This only comes in to play word-initally, however. If any pair of these occurs within a word (like in the word [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gamlamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''ml'''amit''], 'he or she breathes', they act as a single group with respect to sonority (that is, no schwa needs to be put between them).

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:36:32Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l, n, m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Within this hierarchy, there is evidence (shown below) that there is a mini-hierarchy within the ''l, n, m'' group, such that:

l > n > m

This only comes in to play word-initally, however. If any pair of these occurs within a word (like in the word [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gamlamit/recording1.mp3 ''ga'''ml'''amit''], 'he or she breathes', they act as a single group with respect to sonority (that is, no schwa needs to be put between them).

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:24:04Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l, n, m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Within this hierarchy, there is evidence (shown below) that there is a mini-hierarchy within the ''l, n, m'' group, such that:

l > n > m

This only comes in to play word-initally, however. In all other locations, these consonants act as a group.

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| '''gs'''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:23:15Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l, n, m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Within this hierarchy, there is evidence (shown below) that there is a mini-hierarchy within the ''l, n, m'' group, such that:

l > n > m

This only comes in to play word-initally, however. In all other locations, these consonants act as a group.

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:22:34Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l, n, m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Within this hierarchy, there is evidence (shown below) that there is a mini-hierarchy within the ''l, n, m'' group, such that:

l > n > m

This only comes in to play word-initally, however. In all other locations, they act as a group.

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-11-27T22:15:53Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l, n, m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Pronunciation Differences

2012-11-27T21:48:51Z

Erin: /* Q */

This page aims to give information about the differences in pronunciation between Mi'gmaq and English to help language learners learn to pronounce the language better. It is also meant to be a useful resource for language teachers so that they can help their own students with pronunciation if it becomes an issue.

This page is roughly divided into two sections - one dealing with the pronunciation of new kinds of sounds that are not present in English, and one dealing with the smaller differences between the languages that are nonetheless important for speaking and understanding Mi'gmaq.

=Sounds in Mi'gmaq that aren't in English=

Mi'gmaq has three sounds that are unfamiliar to speakers of English. These are written in the Listuguj [[Spelling|spelling system]] as ''q'', ''gw'', and ''qw''. In addition to these sounds, Mi'gmaq also makes a distinction between '''long''' and '''short''' sounds. These are all discussed below.

==Q==

''Main page: [[Pronunciation of Q]]''

The most obviously different sound (for English speakers) is the sound which is written with the letter ''q''. This sound has a whole range of pronunciations in Mi'gmaq, from the easy-to-pronounce [h]† to the more difficult [q], [χ], [ħ] and [ʕ]. Every possible pronunciation is described in more detail with an audio example on the main page for ''q'', but the most common seems to be [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-41b.AIFF [χ]] (pronunciation taken from the online supplement to Ladefoged's ''A Course in Phonetics'').

[χ] is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_uvular_fricative voiceless uvular fricative], and sounds much like the ''r'' in French ''mettre'', 'to put' (but not like the ''r''s in French ''dernier'', 'last'). It sounds a lot like [h], but is a lot more forceful. See if you can hear it in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqope%27j/recording1.mp3 ''t'''q'''ope'j''], 'twin'.

† [Square brackets] indicate a pronunciation of a certain letter. Pronunciations are given in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet].

==GW and QW==

''Main page: [[Relating G and Q with GW and QW]]''

Two other obviously different sounds are those which are written as ''gw'' and ''qw''. Most often, ''gw'' sounds just like it's spelled - as a ''g'' or a ''k'' followed by a ''w'', like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gi%27gwesu/recording1.mp3 ''go' '''gw'''esu''], 'muskrat' (similar to English ''Gwen'') or in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejgwit/recording1.mp3 ''ej'''gw'''it''], 'he or she hiccups' (similar to English ''quiet''). However, when it is at the end of a word, it sounds a bit different, like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gisigui%27sgw/recording1.mp3 ''gisigui's'''kw'''], 'old woman'. To make this sound, it's easiest to imagine trying to blow out a candle while making a ''kw'' sound.

The sound ''qw'' behaves very similarly - just imagine adding a ''w'' to the end of ''q'' in rather than ''g'' or ''k''. The usual case is exemplified by [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elenqwe%27set/recording1.mp3 ''elen'''qw'''e'set''], 'he or she scoots towards' - like a more forceful pronunciation of ''hwhat'' in English. It is rare to have ''qw'' at the ends of words, so no example of the pronunciation is currently available.

==Length==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

The last of the obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English lie within the length difference between sounds. English has no meaningful difference in length between sounds - a longer ''m'' does not make the word ''camel'', for example, mean something different (there is no word ''cammel'' that does not just sound like a mispronunciation of ''camel''). In Mi'gmaq, however, changing the length of the sound ''can'' make a difference, like in ''[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''e'''pit] [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''e''''pit]'', 'the woman is sitting'.

Although there is no real length distinction between sounds in English, English speakers can still ''recognize'' a length distinction - in fact, there appears to be one in the word ''meanness'', where the [n] is pronounced long. The reason this does not count as a true length distinction is that it only happens when prefixes or suffixes are added to already existing words (that is, it is separable into ''mean'' and ''-ness'') - there are no prefix- or suffix-less words that have this distinction.

Of course, this can occur in Mi'gmaq as well - to form the plural of the word ''wigatign'', book, the ''n'' is lengthened to form ''wigatignn'', 'books'. The difference is that ''all'' sounds are regularly lengthened in other places within words - like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg''], 'it (inanimate) is ripe', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it''], 'he or she eats', and [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gu%27gu%27gwes/recording1.mp3 ''g'''u''''g'''u''''gwes''], 'owl'. A full list of the length differences can be found on the main page.

When pronouncing these sounds, the learner needs to try to pronounce them with about the same length as the two ''n''s in ''meanness'' - this is the length that will feel most natural, and it will make the length distinction stand out.

=The Small Differences=

In addition to the very obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English listed above, there are a few that are not so obvious, but are still crucial to learning to speak Mi'gmaq. These involve the correct pronunciations of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent obstruent] consonants and of ''e'', ''o'', ''a'', and [[schwa]], which are discussed in more detail below.

==Obstruent Consonants==

''Main page: [[Obstruents]]''

At first, it may sound like Mi'gmaq has many of the same sounds as Enlgish - there is a ''p'' and a ''b'', a ''t'' and a ''d'', a ''k'' and a ''g'', an ''s'' and a ''z'', a ''ch'' and a ''j''. However, when Mi'gmaq is written, only half of these (''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'' and ''j'', to be exact) are ever used! This is because, in Mi'gmaq, ''b'', ''d'', ''k'', ''z'', and ''ch'' are alternate pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of ''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'', and ''j''.

All of these sounds can be separated into two main groups: '''voiced''' sounds, like ''b'', ''d'', ''g'', ''z'', and ''j'', and '''voiceless''' sounds, like ''p'', ''t'', ''k'', ''s'', and ''ch''. The voiced sounds are produced with vocal chord vibrations; the voiceless ones without these vibrations - you can feel this if you put your hand on your throat and say ''ssssss'' and ''zzzzz''. This is summed up in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Voiceless || Voiced
|-
| p, t, k, s, ch
| b, d, g, z, j
|}

In Mi'gmaq, the ''voiceless'' sounds are the defaults, while the ''voiced'' sounds usually only show up between vowels (like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/glitaw/recording1.mp3 ''gli'''t'''aw''], 'strawberry' - see ''[[Spelling]]'' and the main page for more examples) - this means that ''g'' and ''j'' are actually pronounced more like ''k'' and ''ch'' most of the time.

Where this gets a bit tricky is when these sounds appear at the beginning of a word. The letter ''s'' is almost always pronounced like ''s'' in English. Likewise, the letter ''j'' is almost always pronounced like ''j'' in English. ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' ''sound'' like English ''b'', ''d'', and ''g'' here, but they are not quite the same! In English, these sounds are ''partially voiced'' word-initially, while they are ''entirely voiceless'' in Mi'gmaq. The reason you don't hear it as a voiceless ''p'', ''t'', or ''k'' is because ''p'', ''t'', and ''k'' are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspiration_%28phonetics%29 aspirated] (pronounced with a small puff of air) when word-initial in English. They are ''not'' pronounced with this puff of air word-initially in Mi'gmaq. To see the difference, try saying ''pair'', ''tail'', and ''care'' while holding a hand in front of your mouth - you'll feel the puff of air. Now try saying ''spare'', ''stale'', and ''scare'' - the puff will be gone. These last three sounds are the word-initial pronunciations of ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' in Mi'gmaq. This is summarized in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Letter || Sounds Like… || Kind of Sound || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | voiceless
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sapan/recording1.mp3 '''''s'''apan'']
| 'paste'
|-
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | voiced
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/j/jagej/recording1.mp3 '''''j'''agej'']
| 'lobster'
|-
| align="center" | p
| align="center" | b
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/p/paqtesm/recording1.mp3 '''''p'''aqtesm'']
| 'wolf'
|-
| align="center" | t
| align="center" | d
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tia%27m/recording1.mp3 '''''t'''ia'm'']
| 'moose'
|-
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gajuewj/recording1.mp3 '''''g'''ajuewj'']
| 'cat'
|}

==E and O==

Another main difference between English and Mi'gmaq pronunciation lies with the vowels ''e'' and ''o''. In English these two sounds are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong '''diphthongs'''] - they move from one vowel sound to another. So ''e'' is pronounced like the ''ay'' in ''say'' and ''o'' is pronounced like ''ow'' in ''low''. In Mi'gmaq, these sounds are '''monophthongs''' - they start at the same place as the English sounds, but never move into another vowel sound like ''y'' or ''w''. To say them, say ''say'' and ''low'' slowly - you will probably feel your jaw move up slightly (if not, look in a mirror and watch your jaw). Then, try to say them without moving your jaw - you will make a sound much closer to the Mi'gmaq monophthong.

Mi'gmaq also has diphthong-like sounds that are similar to English ''e'' and ''o'' - these are spelled as ''ei'' and ''ow'' in Mi'gmaq, and are considered to be different sounds from the ''e'' and the ''o''. A comparison between them is made in the table below: see if you can hear the differences!

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Sounds Like… || Spelling || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center", rowspan="2" | English ''e''
| align="center" | e
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egel/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''g'''e'''l'']
| 'occasionally'
|-
| align="center" | ei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''ig'']
| 'he or she is present'
|-
| align="center", rowspan="2" | English ''o''
| align="center" | o
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tuop%27ti/recording1.mp3 ''tu'''o'''p'ti'']
| 'window'
|-
| align="center" | ow
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/guow/recording1.mp3 ''gu'''ow''''']
| 'pine'
|}

==A and Schwa==

''Main pages: [[Laxed Vowels]] and [[Schwa]]''

Finally, there is one last thing to be careful of in Mi'gmaq pronunciation - the difference between [[schwa]] and the vowel ''a''.

In English, there are roughly two ''a'' sounds: the ''a'' in ''cat'' and the ''a'' in ''father''. There are also two pronunciations of schwa (one which sounds like a short ''u''): a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_%28linguistics%29 stressed] one, like in ''cut'', and an unstressed one, like the first vowels in ''about'' or ''police''.

Mi'gmaq only has one ''a'', but this ''a'' can be pronounced like either of the Engish ''a''s (although the ''father'' pronunciation is favoured), or like the short ''u'' in ''cut''. Schwa has its own set of separate pronunciations - it will ''never'' be pronounced like the ''u'' in ''cut''. This poses a small problem for learners, since they will often mistake some ''a''s with schwas when listening to others speak.

=References=
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Pronunciation Differences

2012-11-27T21:44:35Z

Erin: /* Obstruent Consonants */

This page aims to give information about the differences in pronunciation between Mi'gmaq and English to help language learners learn to pronounce the language better. It is also meant to be a useful resource for language teachers so that they can help their own students with pronunciation if it becomes an issue.

This page is roughly divided into two sections - one dealing with the pronunciation of new kinds of sounds that are not present in English, and one dealing with the smaller differences between the languages that are nonetheless important for speaking and understanding Mi'gmaq.

=Sounds in Mi'gmaq that aren't in English=

Mi'gmaq has three sounds that are unfamiliar to speakers of English. These are written in the Listuguj [[Spelling|spelling system]] as ''q'', ''gw'', and ''qw''. In addition to these sounds, Mi'gmaq also makes a distinction between '''long''' and '''short''' sounds. These are all discussed below.

==Q==

''Main page: [[Pronunciation of Q]]''

The most obviously different sound (for English speakers) is the sound which is written with the letter ''q''. This sound has a whole range of pronunciations in Mi'gmaq, from the easy-to-pronounce [h]† to the more difficult [q], [χ], [ħ] and [ʕ]. Every possible pronunciation is described in more detail with an audio example on the main page for ''q'', but the most common seems to be [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-41b.AIFF [χ]] (pronunciation taken from the online supplement to Ladefoged's ''A Course in Phonetics'').

[χ] is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_uvular_fricative voiceless uvular fricative], and sounds much like the ''r'' in French ''mettre'', 'to put' (but not like the ''r''s in French ''dernier'', 'last'). It sounds a lot like [h], but is a lot more forceful.

† [Square brackets] indicate a pronunciation of a certain letter. Pronunciations are given in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet].

==GW and QW==

''Main page: [[Relating G and Q with GW and QW]]''

Two other obviously different sounds are those which are written as ''gw'' and ''qw''. Most often, ''gw'' sounds just like it's spelled - as a ''g'' or a ''k'' followed by a ''w'', like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gi%27gwesu/recording1.mp3 ''go' '''gw'''esu''], 'muskrat' (similar to English ''Gwen'') or in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejgwit/recording1.mp3 ''ej'''gw'''it''], 'he or she hiccups' (similar to English ''quiet''). However, when it is at the end of a word, it sounds a bit different, like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gisigui%27sgw/recording1.mp3 ''gisigui's'''kw'''], 'old woman'. To make this sound, it's easiest to imagine trying to blow out a candle while making a ''kw'' sound.

The sound ''qw'' behaves very similarly - just imagine adding a ''w'' to the end of ''q'' in rather than ''g'' or ''k''. The usual case is exemplified by [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elenqwe%27set/recording1.mp3 ''elen'''qw'''e'set''], 'he or she scoots towards' - like a more forceful pronunciation of ''hwhat'' in English. It is rare to have ''qw'' at the ends of words, so no example of the pronunciation is currently available.

==Length==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

The last of the obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English lie within the length difference between sounds. English has no meaningful difference in length between sounds - a longer ''m'' does not make the word ''camel'', for example, mean something different (there is no word ''cammel'' that does not just sound like a mispronunciation of ''camel''). In Mi'gmaq, however, changing the length of the sound ''can'' make a difference, like in ''[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''e'''pit] [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''e''''pit]'', 'the woman is sitting'.

Although there is no real length distinction between sounds in English, English speakers can still ''recognize'' a length distinction - in fact, there appears to be one in the word ''meanness'', where the [n] is pronounced long. The reason this does not count as a true length distinction is that it only happens when prefixes or suffixes are added to already existing words (that is, it is separable into ''mean'' and ''-ness'') - there are no prefix- or suffix-less words that have this distinction.

Of course, this can occur in Mi'gmaq as well - to form the plural of the word ''wigatign'', book, the ''n'' is lengthened to form ''wigatignn'', 'books'. The difference is that ''all'' sounds are regularly lengthened in other places within words - like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg''], 'it (inanimate) is ripe', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it''], 'he or she eats', and [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gu%27gu%27gwes/recording1.mp3 ''g'''u''''g'''u''''gwes''], 'owl'. A full list of the length differences can be found on the main page.

When pronouncing these sounds, the learner needs to try to pronounce them with about the same length as the two ''n''s in ''meanness'' - this is the length that will feel most natural, and it will make the length distinction stand out.

=The Small Differences=

In addition to the very obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English listed above, there are a few that are not so obvious, but are still crucial to learning to speak Mi'gmaq. These involve the correct pronunciations of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent obstruent] consonants and of ''e'', ''o'', ''a'', and [[schwa]], which are discussed in more detail below.

==Obstruent Consonants==

''Main page: [[Obstruents]]''

At first, it may sound like Mi'gmaq has many of the same sounds as Enlgish - there is a ''p'' and a ''b'', a ''t'' and a ''d'', a ''k'' and a ''g'', an ''s'' and a ''z'', a ''ch'' and a ''j''. However, when Mi'gmaq is written, only half of these (''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'' and ''j'', to be exact) are ever used! This is because, in Mi'gmaq, ''b'', ''d'', ''k'', ''z'', and ''ch'' are alternate pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of ''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'', and ''j''.

All of these sounds can be separated into two main groups: '''voiced''' sounds, like ''b'', ''d'', ''g'', ''z'', and ''j'', and '''voiceless''' sounds, like ''p'', ''t'', ''k'', ''s'', and ''ch''. The voiced sounds are produced with vocal chord vibrations; the voiceless ones without these vibrations - you can feel this if you put your hand on your throat and say ''ssssss'' and ''zzzzz''. This is summed up in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Voiceless || Voiced
|-
| p, t, k, s, ch
| b, d, g, z, j
|}

In Mi'gmaq, the ''voiceless'' sounds are the defaults, while the ''voiced'' sounds usually only show up between vowels (like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/glitaw/recording1.mp3 ''gli'''t'''aw''], 'strawberry' - see ''[[Spelling]]'' and the main page for more examples) - this means that ''g'' and ''j'' are actually pronounced more like ''k'' and ''ch'' most of the time.

Where this gets a bit tricky is when these sounds appear at the beginning of a word. The letter ''s'' is almost always pronounced like ''s'' in English. Likewise, the letter ''j'' is almost always pronounced like ''j'' in English. ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' ''sound'' like English ''b'', ''d'', and ''g'' here, but they are not quite the same! In English, these sounds are ''partially voiced'' word-initially, while they are ''entirely voiceless'' in Mi'gmaq. The reason you don't hear it as a voiceless ''p'', ''t'', or ''k'' is because ''p'', ''t'', and ''k'' are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspiration_%28phonetics%29 aspirated] (pronounced with a small puff of air) when word-initial in English. They are ''not'' pronounced with this puff of air word-initially in Mi'gmaq. To see the difference, try saying ''pair'', ''tail'', and ''care'' while holding a hand in front of your mouth - you'll feel the puff of air. Now try saying ''spare'', ''stale'', and ''scare'' - the puff will be gone. These last three sounds are the word-initial pronunciations of ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' in Mi'gmaq. This is summarized in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Letter || Sounds Like… || Kind of Sound || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | voiceless
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sapan/recording1.mp3 '''''s'''apan'']
| 'paste'
|-
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | voiced
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/j/jagej/recording1.mp3 '''''j'''agej'']
| 'lobster'
|-
| align="center" | p
| align="center" | b
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/p/paqtesm/recording1.mp3 '''''p'''aqtesm'']
| 'wolf'
|-
| align="center" | t
| align="center" | d
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tia%27m/recording1.mp3 '''''t'''ia'm'']
| 'moose'
|-
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gajuewj/recording1.mp3 '''''g'''ajuewj'']
| 'cat'
|}

==E and O==

Another main difference between English and Mi'gmaq pronunciation lies with the vowels ''e'' and ''o''. In English these two sounds are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong '''diphthongs'''] - they move from one vowel sound to another. So ''e'' is pronounced like the ''ay'' in ''say'' and ''o'' is pronounced like ''ow'' in ''low''. In Mi'gmaq, these sounds are '''monophthongs''' - they start at the same place as the English sounds, but never move into another vowel sound like ''y'' or ''w''. To say them, say ''say'' and ''low'' slowly - you will probably feel your jaw move up slightly (if not, look in a mirror and watch your jaw). Then, try to say them without moving your jaw - you will make a sound much closer to the Mi'gmaq monophthong.

Mi'gmaq also has diphthong-like sounds that are similar to English ''e'' and ''o'' - these are spelled as ''ei'' and ''ow'' in Mi'gmaq, and are considered to be different sounds from the ''e'' and the ''o''. A comparison between them is made in the table below: see if you can hear the differences!

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Sounds Like… || Spelling || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center", rowspan="2" | English ''e''
| align="center" | e
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egel/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''g'''e'''l'']
| 'occasionally'
|-
| align="center" | ei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''ig'']
| 'he or she is present'
|-
| align="center", rowspan="2" | English ''o''
| align="center" | o
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tuop%27ti/recording1.mp3 ''tu'''o'''p'ti'']
| 'window'
|-
| align="center" | ow
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/guow/recording1.mp3 ''gu'''ow''''']
| 'pine'
|}

==A and Schwa==

''Main pages: [[Laxed Vowels]] and [[Schwa]]''

Finally, there is one last thing to be careful of in Mi'gmaq pronunciation - the difference between [[schwa]] and the vowel ''a''.

In English, there are roughly two ''a'' sounds: the ''a'' in ''cat'' and the ''a'' in ''father''. There are also two pronunciations of schwa (one which sounds like a short ''u''): a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_%28linguistics%29 stressed] one, like in ''cut'', and an unstressed one, like the first vowels in ''about'' or ''police''.

Mi'gmaq only has one ''a'', but this ''a'' can be pronounced like either of the Engish ''a''s (although the ''father'' pronunciation is favoured), or like the short ''u'' in ''cut''. Schwa has its own set of separate pronunciations - it will ''never'' be pronounced like the ''u'' in ''cut''. This poses a small problem for learners, since they will often mistake some ''a''s with schwas when listening to others speak.

=References=
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Pronunciation Differences

2012-11-27T21:43:47Z

Erin: /* E and O */

This page aims to give information about the differences in pronunciation between Mi'gmaq and English to help language learners learn to pronounce the language better. It is also meant to be a useful resource for language teachers so that they can help their own students with pronunciation if it becomes an issue.

This page is roughly divided into two sections - one dealing with the pronunciation of new kinds of sounds that are not present in English, and one dealing with the smaller differences between the languages that are nonetheless important for speaking and understanding Mi'gmaq.

=Sounds in Mi'gmaq that aren't in English=

Mi'gmaq has three sounds that are unfamiliar to speakers of English. These are written in the Listuguj [[Spelling|spelling system]] as ''q'', ''gw'', and ''qw''. In addition to these sounds, Mi'gmaq also makes a distinction between '''long''' and '''short''' sounds. These are all discussed below.

==Q==

''Main page: [[Pronunciation of Q]]''

The most obviously different sound (for English speakers) is the sound which is written with the letter ''q''. This sound has a whole range of pronunciations in Mi'gmaq, from the easy-to-pronounce [h]† to the more difficult [q], [χ], [ħ] and [ʕ]. Every possible pronunciation is described in more detail with an audio example on the main page for ''q'', but the most common seems to be [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-41b.AIFF [χ]] (pronunciation taken from the online supplement to Ladefoged's ''A Course in Phonetics'').

[χ] is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_uvular_fricative voiceless uvular fricative], and sounds much like the ''r'' in French ''mettre'', 'to put' (but not like the ''r''s in French ''dernier'', 'last'). It sounds a lot like [h], but is a lot more forceful.

† [Square brackets] indicate a pronunciation of a certain letter. Pronunciations are given in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet].

==GW and QW==

''Main page: [[Relating G and Q with GW and QW]]''

Two other obviously different sounds are those which are written as ''gw'' and ''qw''. Most often, ''gw'' sounds just like it's spelled - as a ''g'' or a ''k'' followed by a ''w'', like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gi%27gwesu/recording1.mp3 ''go' '''gw'''esu''], 'muskrat' (similar to English ''Gwen'') or in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejgwit/recording1.mp3 ''ej'''gw'''it''], 'he or she hiccups' (similar to English ''quiet''). However, when it is at the end of a word, it sounds a bit different, like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gisigui%27sgw/recording1.mp3 ''gisigui's'''kw'''], 'old woman'. To make this sound, it's easiest to imagine trying to blow out a candle while making a ''kw'' sound.

The sound ''qw'' behaves very similarly - just imagine adding a ''w'' to the end of ''q'' in rather than ''g'' or ''k''. The usual case is exemplified by [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elenqwe%27set/recording1.mp3 ''elen'''qw'''e'set''], 'he or she scoots towards' - like a more forceful pronunciation of ''hwhat'' in English. It is rare to have ''qw'' at the ends of words, so no example of the pronunciation is currently available.

==Length==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

The last of the obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English lie within the length difference between sounds. English has no meaningful difference in length between sounds - a longer ''m'' does not make the word ''camel'', for example, mean something different (there is no word ''cammel'' that does not just sound like a mispronunciation of ''camel''). In Mi'gmaq, however, changing the length of the sound ''can'' make a difference, like in ''[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''e'''pit] [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''e''''pit]'', 'the woman is sitting'.

Although there is no real length distinction between sounds in English, English speakers can still ''recognize'' a length distinction - in fact, there appears to be one in the word ''meanness'', where the [n] is pronounced long. The reason this does not count as a true length distinction is that it only happens when prefixes or suffixes are added to already existing words (that is, it is separable into ''mean'' and ''-ness'') - there are no prefix- or suffix-less words that have this distinction.

Of course, this can occur in Mi'gmaq as well - to form the plural of the word ''wigatign'', book, the ''n'' is lengthened to form ''wigatignn'', 'books'. The difference is that ''all'' sounds are regularly lengthened in other places within words - like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg''], 'it (inanimate) is ripe', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it''], 'he or she eats', and [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gu%27gu%27gwes/recording1.mp3 ''g'''u''''g'''u''''gwes''], 'owl'. A full list of the length differences can be found on the main page.

When pronouncing these sounds, the learner needs to try to pronounce them with about the same length as the two ''n''s in ''meanness'' - this is the length that will feel most natural, and it will make the length distinction stand out.

=The Small Differences=

In addition to the very obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English listed above, there are a few that are not so obvious, but are still crucial to learning to speak Mi'gmaq. These involve the correct pronunciations of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent obstruent] consonants and of ''e'', ''o'', ''a'', and [[schwa]], which are discussed in more detail below.

==Obstruent Consonants==

''Main page: [[Obstruents]]''

At first, it may sound like Mi'gmaq has many of the same sounds as Enlgish - there is a ''p'' and a ''b'', a ''t'' and a ''d'', a ''k'' and a ''g'', an ''s'' and a ''z'', a ''ch'' and a ''j''. However, when Mi'gmaq is written, only half of these (''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'' and ''j'', to be exact) are ever used! This is because, in Mi'gmaq, ''b'', ''d'', ''k'', ''z'', and ''ch'' are alternate pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of ''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'', and ''j''.

All of these sounds can be separated into two main groups: '''voiced''' sounds, like ''b'', ''d'', ''g'', ''z'', and ''j'', and '''voiceless''' sounds, like ''p'', ''t'', ''k'', ''s'', and ''ch''. The voiced sounds are produced with vocal chord vibrations; the voiceless ones without these vibrations - you can feel this if you put your hand on your throat and say ''ssssss'' and ''zzzzz''. This is summed up in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Voiceless || Voiced
|-
| p, t, k, s, ch
| b, d, g, z, j
|}

In Mi'gmaq, the ''voiceless'' sounds are the defaults, while the ''voiced'' sounds usually only show up between vowels (like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/glitaw/recording1.mp3 ''gli'''t'''aw''], 'strawberry' - see ''[[Spelling]]'' and the main page for more examples) - this means that ''g'' and ''j'' are actually pronounced more like ''k'' and ''ch'' most of the time.

Where this gets a bit tricky is when these sounds appear at the beginning of a word. The letter ''s'' is almost always pronounced like ''s'' in English. Likewise, the letter ''j'' is almost always pronounced like ''j'' in English. ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' ''sound'' like English ''b'', ''d'', and ''g'' here, but they are not quite the same! In English, these sounds are ''partially voiced'' word-initially, while they are ''entirely voiceless'' in Mi'gmaq. The reason you don't hear it as a voiceless ''p'', ''t'', or ''k'' is because ''p'', ''t'', and ''k'' are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspiration_%28phonetics%29 aspirated] (pronounced with a small puff of air) when word-initial in English. They are ''not'' pronounced with this puff of air word-initially in Mi'gmaq. To see the difference, try saying ''pair'', ''tail'', and ''care'' while holding a hand in front of your mouth - you'll feel the puff of air. Now try saying ''spare'', ''stale'', and ''scare'' - the puff will be gone. These last three sounds are the word-initial pronunciations of ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' in Mi'gmaq. This is summarized in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Letter || Sounds Like… || Kind of Sound || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | voiceless
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sapan/recording1.mp3 ''sapan'']
| 'paste'
|-
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | voiced
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/j/jagej/recording1.mp3 ''jagej'']
| 'lobster'
|-
| align="center" | p
| align="center" | b
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/p/paqtesm/recording1.mp3 ''paqtesm'']
| 'wolf'
|-
| align="center" | t
| align="center" | d
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tia%27m/recording1.mp3 ''tia'm'']
| 'moose'
|-
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gajuewj/recording1.mp3 ''gajuewj'']
| 'cat'
|}

==E and O==

Another main difference between English and Mi'gmaq pronunciation lies with the vowels ''e'' and ''o''. In English these two sounds are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong '''diphthongs'''] - they move from one vowel sound to another. So ''e'' is pronounced like the ''ay'' in ''say'' and ''o'' is pronounced like ''ow'' in ''low''. In Mi'gmaq, these sounds are '''monophthongs''' - they start at the same place as the English sounds, but never move into another vowel sound like ''y'' or ''w''. To say them, say ''say'' and ''low'' slowly - you will probably feel your jaw move up slightly (if not, look in a mirror and watch your jaw). Then, try to say them without moving your jaw - you will make a sound much closer to the Mi'gmaq monophthong.

Mi'gmaq also has diphthong-like sounds that are similar to English ''e'' and ''o'' - these are spelled as ''ei'' and ''ow'' in Mi'gmaq, and are considered to be different sounds from the ''e'' and the ''o''. A comparison between them is made in the table below: see if you can hear the differences!

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Sounds Like… || Spelling || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center", rowspan="2" | English ''e''
| align="center" | e
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egel/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''g'''e'''l'']
| 'occasionally'
|-
| align="center" | ei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''ig'']
| 'he or she is present'
|-
| align="center", rowspan="2" | English ''o''
| align="center" | o
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tuop%27ti/recording1.mp3 ''tu'''o'''p'ti'']
| 'window'
|-
| align="center" | ow
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/guow/recording1.mp3 ''gu'''ow''''']
| 'pine'
|}

==A and Schwa==

''Main pages: [[Laxed Vowels]] and [[Schwa]]''

Finally, there is one last thing to be careful of in Mi'gmaq pronunciation - the difference between [[schwa]] and the vowel ''a''.

In English, there are roughly two ''a'' sounds: the ''a'' in ''cat'' and the ''a'' in ''father''. There are also two pronunciations of schwa (one which sounds like a short ''u''): a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_%28linguistics%29 stressed] one, like in ''cut'', and an unstressed one, like the first vowels in ''about'' or ''police''.

Mi'gmaq only has one ''a'', but this ''a'' can be pronounced like either of the Engish ''a''s (although the ''father'' pronunciation is favoured), or like the short ''u'' in ''cut''. Schwa has its own set of separate pronunciations - it will ''never'' be pronounced like the ''u'' in ''cut''. This poses a small problem for learners, since they will often mistake some ''a''s with schwas when listening to others speak.

=References=
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Pronunciation Differences

2012-11-27T21:42:52Z

Erin: Created page with "This page aims to give information about the differences in pronunciation between Mi'gmaq and English to help language learners learn to pronounce the language better. It is also..."

This page aims to give information about the differences in pronunciation between Mi'gmaq and English to help language learners learn to pronounce the language better. It is also meant to be a useful resource for language teachers so that they can help their own students with pronunciation if it becomes an issue.

This page is roughly divided into two sections - one dealing with the pronunciation of new kinds of sounds that are not present in English, and one dealing with the smaller differences between the languages that are nonetheless important for speaking and understanding Mi'gmaq.

=Sounds in Mi'gmaq that aren't in English=

Mi'gmaq has three sounds that are unfamiliar to speakers of English. These are written in the Listuguj [[Spelling|spelling system]] as ''q'', ''gw'', and ''qw''. In addition to these sounds, Mi'gmaq also makes a distinction between '''long''' and '''short''' sounds. These are all discussed below.

==Q==

''Main page: [[Pronunciation of Q]]''

The most obviously different sound (for English speakers) is the sound which is written with the letter ''q''. This sound has a whole range of pronunciations in Mi'gmaq, from the easy-to-pronounce [h]† to the more difficult [q], [χ], [ħ] and [ʕ]. Every possible pronunciation is described in more detail with an audio example on the main page for ''q'', but the most common seems to be [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-41b.AIFF [χ]] (pronunciation taken from the online supplement to Ladefoged's ''A Course in Phonetics'').

[χ] is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_uvular_fricative voiceless uvular fricative], and sounds much like the ''r'' in French ''mettre'', 'to put' (but not like the ''r''s in French ''dernier'', 'last'). It sounds a lot like [h], but is a lot more forceful.

† [Square brackets] indicate a pronunciation of a certain letter. Pronunciations are given in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet].

==GW and QW==

''Main page: [[Relating G and Q with GW and QW]]''

Two other obviously different sounds are those which are written as ''gw'' and ''qw''. Most often, ''gw'' sounds just like it's spelled - as a ''g'' or a ''k'' followed by a ''w'', like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gi%27gwesu/recording1.mp3 ''go' '''gw'''esu''], 'muskrat' (similar to English ''Gwen'') or in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejgwit/recording1.mp3 ''ej'''gw'''it''], 'he or she hiccups' (similar to English ''quiet''). However, when it is at the end of a word, it sounds a bit different, like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gisigui%27sgw/recording1.mp3 ''gisigui's'''kw'''], 'old woman'. To make this sound, it's easiest to imagine trying to blow out a candle while making a ''kw'' sound.

The sound ''qw'' behaves very similarly - just imagine adding a ''w'' to the end of ''q'' in rather than ''g'' or ''k''. The usual case is exemplified by [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elenqwe%27set/recording1.mp3 ''elen'''qw'''e'set''], 'he or she scoots towards' - like a more forceful pronunciation of ''hwhat'' in English. It is rare to have ''qw'' at the ends of words, so no example of the pronunciation is currently available.

==Length==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

The last of the obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English lie within the length difference between sounds. English has no meaningful difference in length between sounds - a longer ''m'' does not make the word ''camel'', for example, mean something different (there is no word ''cammel'' that does not just sound like a mispronunciation of ''camel''). In Mi'gmaq, however, changing the length of the sound ''can'' make a difference, like in ''[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epit/recording1.mp3 '''e'''pit] [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27pit/recording1.mp3 '''e''''pit]'', 'the woman is sitting'.

Although there is no real length distinction between sounds in English, English speakers can still ''recognize'' a length distinction - in fact, there appears to be one in the word ''meanness'', where the [n] is pronounced long. The reason this does not count as a true length distinction is that it only happens when prefixes or suffixes are added to already existing words (that is, it is separable into ''mean'' and ''-ness'') - there are no prefix- or suffix-less words that have this distinction.

Of course, this can occur in Mi'gmaq as well - to form the plural of the word ''wigatign'', book, the ''n'' is lengthened to form ''wigatignn'', 'books'. The difference is that ''all'' sounds are regularly lengthened in other places within words - like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/etteg/recording1.mp3 ''e'''tt'''eg''], 'it (inanimate) is ripe', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mijjit/recording1.mp3 ''mi'''jj'''it''], 'he or she eats', and [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gu%27gu%27gwes/recording1.mp3 ''g'''u''''g'''u''''gwes''], 'owl'. A full list of the length differences can be found on the main page.

When pronouncing these sounds, the learner needs to try to pronounce them with about the same length as the two ''n''s in ''meanness'' - this is the length that will feel most natural, and it will make the length distinction stand out.

=The Small Differences=

In addition to the very obvious differences between Mi'gmaq and English listed above, there are a few that are not so obvious, but are still crucial to learning to speak Mi'gmaq. These involve the correct pronunciations of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent obstruent] consonants and of ''e'', ''o'', ''a'', and [[schwa]], which are discussed in more detail below.

==Obstruent Consonants==

''Main page: [[Obstruents]]''

At first, it may sound like Mi'gmaq has many of the same sounds as Enlgish - there is a ''p'' and a ''b'', a ''t'' and a ''d'', a ''k'' and a ''g'', an ''s'' and a ''z'', a ''ch'' and a ''j''. However, when Mi'gmaq is written, only half of these (''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'' and ''j'', to be exact) are ever used! This is because, in Mi'gmaq, ''b'', ''d'', ''k'', ''z'', and ''ch'' are alternate pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of ''p'', ''t'', ''g'', ''s'', and ''j''.

All of these sounds can be separated into two main groups: '''voiced''' sounds, like ''b'', ''d'', ''g'', ''z'', and ''j'', and '''voiceless''' sounds, like ''p'', ''t'', ''k'', ''s'', and ''ch''. The voiced sounds are produced with vocal chord vibrations; the voiceless ones without these vibrations - you can feel this if you put your hand on your throat and say ''ssssss'' and ''zzzzz''. This is summed up in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Voiceless || Voiced
|-
| p, t, k, s, ch
| b, d, g, z, j
|}

In Mi'gmaq, the ''voiceless'' sounds are the defaults, while the ''voiced'' sounds usually only show up between vowels (like in [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/glitaw/recording1.mp3 ''gli'''t'''aw''], 'strawberry' - see ''[[Spelling]]'' and the main page for more examples) - this means that ''g'' and ''j'' are actually pronounced more like ''k'' and ''ch'' most of the time.

Where this gets a bit tricky is when these sounds appear at the beginning of a word. The letter ''s'' is almost always pronounced like ''s'' in English. Likewise, the letter ''j'' is almost always pronounced like ''j'' in English. ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' ''sound'' like English ''b'', ''d'', and ''g'' here, but they are not quite the same! In English, these sounds are ''partially voiced'' word-initially, while they are ''entirely voiceless'' in Mi'gmaq. The reason you don't hear it as a voiceless ''p'', ''t'', or ''k'' is because ''p'', ''t'', and ''k'' are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspiration_%28phonetics%29 aspirated] (pronounced with a small puff of air) when word-initial in English. They are ''not'' pronounced with this puff of air word-initially in Mi'gmaq. To see the difference, try saying ''pair'', ''tail'', and ''care'' while holding a hand in front of your mouth - you'll feel the puff of air. Now try saying ''spare'', ''stale'', and ''scare'' - the puff will be gone. These last three sounds are the word-initial pronunciations of ''p'', ''t'', and ''g'' in Mi'gmaq. This is summarized in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Letter || Sounds Like… || Kind of Sound || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | voiceless
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sapan/recording1.mp3 ''sapan'']
| 'paste'
|-
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | voiced
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/j/jagej/recording1.mp3 ''jagej'']
| 'lobster'
|-
| align="center" | p
| align="center" | b
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/p/paqtesm/recording1.mp3 ''paqtesm'']
| 'wolf'
|-
| align="center" | t
| align="center" | d
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tia%27m/recording1.mp3 ''tia'm'']
| 'moose'
|-
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | voiceless but unaspirated
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gajuewj/recording1.mp3 ''gajuewj'']
| 'cat'
|}

==E and O==

Another main difference between English and Mi'gmaq pronunciation lies with the vowels ''e'' and ''o''. In English these two sounds are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong '''diphthongs'''] - they move from one vowel sound to another. So ''e'' is pronounced like the ''ay'' in ''say'' and ''o'' is pronounced like ''ow'' in ''low''. In Mi'gmaq, these sounds are '''monophthongs''' - they start at the same place as the English sounds, but never move into another vowel sound like ''y'' or ''w''. To say them, say ''say'' and ''low'' slowly - you will probably feel your jaw move up slightly (if not, look in a mirror and watch your jaw). Then, try to say them without moving your jaw - you will make a sound much closer to the Mi'gmaq monophthong.

Mi'gmaq also has diphthong-like sounds that are similar to English ''e'' and ''o'' - these are spelled as ''ei'' and ''ow'' in Mi'gmaq, and are considered to be different sounds from the ''e'' and the ''o''. A comparison between them is made in the table below: see if you can hear the differences!

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Sounds Like… || Spelling || Example || Translation
|-
| align="center", colspan="2" | English ''e''
| align="center" | e
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egel/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''g'''e'''l'']
| 'occasionally'
|-
| align="center" | ei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 '''''e'''ig'']
| 'he or she is present'
|-
| align="center", colspan="2" | English ''o''
| align="center" | o
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tuop%27ti/recording1.mp3 ''tu'''o'''p'ti'']
| 'window'
|-
| align="center" | ow
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/guow/recording1.mp3 ''gu'''ow''''']
| 'pine'
|}

==A and Schwa==

''Main pages: [[Laxed Vowels]] and [[Schwa]]''

Finally, there is one last thing to be careful of in Mi'gmaq pronunciation - the difference between [[schwa]] and the vowel ''a''.

In English, there are roughly two ''a'' sounds: the ''a'' in ''cat'' and the ''a'' in ''father''. There are also two pronunciations of schwa (one which sounds like a short ''u''): a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_%28linguistics%29 stressed] one, like in ''cut'', and an unstressed one, like the first vowels in ''about'' or ''police''.

Mi'gmaq only has one ''a'', but this ''a'' can be pronounced like either of the Engish ''a''s (although the ''father'' pronunciation is favoured), or like the short ''u'' in ''cut''. Schwa has its own set of separate pronunciations - it will ''never'' be pronounced like the ''u'' in ''cut''. This poses a small problem for learners, since they will often mistake some ''a''s with schwas when listening to others speak.

=References=
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Obstruents

2012-11-26T23:46:25Z

Erin: /* General Pronunciation */

The term '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent obstruent]''' refers to the class of sounds that ''obstructs'' airflow. Across the world's languages, it is most common for obstruents to be pronounced ''without'' vocal cord vibrations (English and French are not typical in this respect, since most voiceless obstruents in these languages also have a voiced counterpart). This is in contrast to the group of '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorants]''', which are pronounced with ''continuous'' airflow and vocal cord vibrations (although, as we'll see below, this isn't always the case).

In the Mi'gmaq of Listuguj, the obstruents are usually '''[[Obstruents#General Pronunciation|voiceless]]''', or pronounced without vocal cord vibrations, as is usual across languages. However, they may become '''[[Obstruents#Voiced|voiced]]''' (pronounced with vibration of the vocal cords) in certain circumstances. Some of them are also '''[[Obstruents#Aspirated|aspirated]]''', or pronounced with a strong puff of air, at the ends of words. Lastly, they can cause '''[[Obstruents#Devoicing|devoicing]]''' in neighbouring sonorants. All of these processes will be discussed further below.

It may be helpful for language learners and teachers to have a basic understanding of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPA International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, before reading this article. Many of the basic letters of the IPA can be found by reviewing the [[Spelling|spelling]] of Mi'gmaq. More complex differences will be introduced with audio examples taken from Peter Ladefoged's "A Course in Phonetics" textbook and the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary] (where possible) below.

As a final note, please keep in mind that these pronunciations reflect the speech of the Listuguj area. Other Mi'gmaq communities may not pronounce everything quite the same way. Known differences are mentioned at the end of each section.

=General Pronunciation=

The table below contains the general pronunciations of the obstruents of Mi'gmaq. In general, they may be described as "voiceless unaspirated" obstruents - they are not pronounced with vocal cord vibrations nor with any large puff of air. They are pronounced this way in the following environments:

* Word-initially ([[Pronunciation Differences|unlike in English]]).
* Next to other obstruents
* Next to [[Obstruents#Devoicing|voiceless sonorants]]

''Note: /q/ and /qʷ/ are not included in this table, since they each have a great variety of pronunciations. They are all described on their own [[Pronunciation of Q|page]].''

{| class="wikitable"
|+ General Pronunciations of Obstruents
! Phoneme||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | p
| align="center" | p
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-00b.aiff [apa]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aptegwat/recording1.mp3 e'''p'''tegwat]
| [ɛ'''p'''tegwatʰ]
| 'he or she has a freckled face'
|-
! align="center" | t
| align="center" | t
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-02b.aiff [ata]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gta%27n/recording1.mp3 g'''t'''a'n]
| [ək'''t'''aːn]
| 'ocean'
|-
! align="center" | k
| align="center" | k
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-08b.aiff [aka]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/epgeng/recording1.mp3 ep'''g'''eng]
| [ɛp'''k'''ɛnkʰ]
| 'he or she fertilizes it'
|-
! align="center" | kʷ
| align="center" | kw
| align="center" | [akwa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/t%27pgwan/recording1.mp3 t'p'''gw'''an]
| [təp'''kw'''an]
| 'gravel or soil'
|-
! align="center" | s
| align="center" | s
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-31b.AIFF [asa]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apattesg/recording1.mp3 apatte'''s'''g]
| [abattɛ'''s'''kʰ]
| 'it springs back'
|-
! align="center" | t͡ʃ
| align="center" | t͡ʃ
| align="center" | [at͡ʃa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apje%27jg/recording1.mp3 apje''''j'''g]
| [apd͡ʒɛː'''t͡ʃ'''kʰ]
| 'it is small'
|}

=Voiced=

When an obstruent is located between two vowels, it becomes '''voiced''', or pronounced with vocal cord vibrations. The voiced '''allophones''' (or pronunciations) of Mi'gmaq obstruents are described in the table below. Again, [[Pronunciation of Q|/q/ and /qʷ/]] are not shown, since they do not always have a voiced pronunciation.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Voiced Allophones of Obstruents
! Phoneme||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | p
| align="center" | b
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-01b.aiff [aba]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sipu/recording1.mp3 si'''p'''u]
| [sibu]
| 'river'
|-
! align="center" | t
| align="center" | d
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-03b.aiff [ada]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gatu/recording1.mp3 ga'''t'''u]
| [ka'''d'''u]
| 'but'
|-
! align="center" | k
| align="center" | g
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-09b.aiff [aga]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egiljet/recording1.mp3 e'''g'''iljet]
| [e'''g'''iɬt͡ʃɛtʰ]
| 'he or she reads'
|-
! align="center" | kʷ
| align="center" | gw
| align="center" | [agwa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/altugwa%27t/recording1.mp3 altu'''gw'''a't]
| [aldu'''gw'''aːtʰ]
| 'he or she makes the sound of footsteps'
|-
! rowspan="2" align="center" | s
| align="center" | z
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-32b.AIFF [aza]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alasenmat/recording1.mp3 ala'''s'''enmat]
| [ala'''z'''ɛnːmatʰ]
| 'he or she goes about with a light'
|-
| align="center" | s̥
| align="center" | [as̬a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elgusuet/recording1.mp3 elgu'''s'''uet]
| [ɛlːgu'''s̬'''uɛtʰ]
| 'he or she climbs (to a location)'
|-
! align="center" | t͡ʃ
| align="center" | d͡ʒ
| align="center" | [ad͡ʒa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/engejit/recording1.mp3 enge'''j'''it]
| [ɛn̥ke'''d͡ʒ'''itʰ]
| 'caterpillar'
|}

Two things must be said about the table above. Firstly, a voiced /s/ is rarely pronounced as [z], and is usually only partially voiced. This is written as '''[s̬]''' in this wiki. Secondly, /t͡ʃ/ may be voiced ''word-initially'' or ''syllable-initially''. It is the ''only'' obstruent that may do so.

It will also be noticed that, occasionally, when an obstruent is next to a sonorant, the obstruent becomes voiced ''instead'' of causing [[Obstruents#Devoicing|devoicing]] on that sonorant. Bragg (1976) has claimed that this happens if the sonorant is ''phonetically long'', although he does not give any reason why some sonorants are phonetically long and others are not. This, however, does not seem to be the case in the Listuguj dialect: phonetically long sonorants may still undergo devoicing, as in the word ''alasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow', which is pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alasumteget/recording1.mp3 [àlazù'''m̥'''ːtegɛ́tʰ]].

=Aspirated=

When the '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plosive plosives]''' /p/, /t/, /k/, and /kʷ/ (again, excluding [[Pronunciation of Q|/q/ and /qʷ/]], which have their own analogous process) are located at the ''end of a word'', they become '''aspirated''', or pronounced with an additional puff of air (this also happens to plosives at the beginnings of words in [[Pronunciation Differences|English]]). The aspirated allophones are described in the table below.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Aspirated Allophones of Plosives
! Phoneme||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | p
| align="center" | pʰ
| align="center" | [apʰa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/app/recording1.mp3 ap'''p''']
| [ap'''pʰ''']
| 'again'
|-
! align="center" | t
| align="center" | tʰ
| align="center" | [atʰa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alapit/recording1.mp3 alabi'''t''']
| [alabi'''tʰ''']
| 'he or she looks around'
|-
! align="center" | k
| align="center" | kʰ
| align="center" | [akʰa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egumig/recording1.mp3 egumi'''g''']
| [ɛgumi'''kʰ''']
| 'it is anchored'
|-
! align="center" | kʷ
| align="center" | kʷʰ
| align="center" | [akʷʰa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gisigui%27sgw/recording1.mp3 gisigui's'''kw''']
| [kɪziguiːs'''kʷʰ''']
| 'old woman'
|}

Not all Mi'gmaq communities aspirate plosives at the ends of words. For example, in the Wagmatcook and Eskasoni communities, word-final plosives are pronounced as they would be in most other positions - that is, they are voiceless and unaspirated, as in ''a'piet'', 'he or she fishes with a net', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27piet/recording5.mp3 [aːbiɛ'''t''']] by this speaker from Eskasoni.

=Devoicing=

Most often, when an obstruent and a [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|non-syllabic]] sonorant are adjacent, the obstruent will cause '''devoicing''' of the sonorant. This means that the sonorant is not pronounced with vocal cord vibrations. The devoiced allophones of Mi'gmaq sonorants are shown in the table below.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Allophones of Sonorants
! Phoneme||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | m
| align="center" | m̥
| align="center" | [am̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amgwes/recording1.mp3 a'''m'''gwes]
| [a'''m̥'''kwɛs]
| 'first'
|-
! align="center" | n
| align="center" | n̥
| align="center" | [an̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/ajiwinjit/recording1.mp3 ajiwi'''n'''jit]
| [ad͡ʒiwi'''n̥'''t͡ʃitʰ]
| 'he or she is worse than (someone else)'
|-
! rowspan="2" align="center" | l
| align="center" | l̥
| align="center" | [al̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/algopit/recording1.mp3 a'''l'''gobit]
| [a'''l̥'''ːkobitʰ]
| 'he or she sits about'
|-
| align="center" | ɬ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-47b.AIFF [aɬa]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amaltaqa%27taqan/recording1.mp3 ama'''l'''taqa'taqan]
| [ama'''ɬ'''taʕaːdaħan]
| 'decoration; design'
|-
! align="center" | i
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | u
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

This devoicing can only happen in one direction - that is, a sonorant that is to the ''left'' of an obstruent will be devoiced, but any sonorant to the ''right'' of an obstruent will not undergo this devoicing. This is because Mi'gmaq [[Syllables#Within-Syllable Restrictions|syllable restrictions]] only allow non-syllabic sonorants to be to the left of obstruents; all sonorants to the right of obstruents will be syllabic.

=References=
* Bragg, Russel A. (1976). ''Some Aspects of the Phonology of Newfoundland Micmac''. Masters' Thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Schwa

2012-11-26T21:33:53Z

Erin: /* Deletion */

Mi'gmaq has five main [[vowels]] which can be either [[Sound Length|long]] or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short.

Schwa is also present in English - it's the same sound at the beginning of ''about'' (pronounced ['''ə'''baʊt]) and in the first and last syllables of ''banana'' (pronounced [b'''ə'''næn'''ə''']). Schwa in Mi'gmaq is pronounced about the same - like in ''apt'tesg'', 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) is stuck', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]] (recording from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]).

This page gives a general outline of how schwa behaves in Mi'gmaq - from pronunciation to behaviour within the words of the language. A knowledge of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be beneficial for reading this page, although it is not necessary, as audio samples will be provided along with IPA transcriptions where possible. For a general overview of the IPA as it relates to Mi'gmaq, please see the [[Spelling]] page.

=Pronunciation of Schwa=

The pronunciation of schwa in ''apt'tesg'', above, is the most common pronunciation in Mi'gmaq. However, there are two other pronunciations that are less common but still attested. These are listed in order of frequency, below (for the rest of this page, lone pronunciations are from Ladefoged''s "A Course in Phonetics" online material, Mi'gmaq words are from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
| align="center" | ə
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-15a.AIFF [ə]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 ''apt'tesg'']
| [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is stuck'
|-
| align="center" | ɨ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-02a.AIFF [ɨ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording2.mp3 ''als'g'']
| [als'''ɨ'''kʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is gliding about'
|-
| align="center" | ʉ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-03a.AIFF [ʉ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apu%27s%27g/recording2.mp3 ''apu's'g'']
| [abuːs'''ʉ'''kʰ]
| 'he or she warms it (inanimate) up'
|}

At least two of these pronunciations are present in English - for example, in the phrase ''Rose's roses'', the first schwa (in ''Rose's'') is pronounced as [ə] and the second schwa (in ''roses'') is most often pronounced as [ɨ]: [ɹoʊz'''ə'''z ɹoʊz'''ɨ'''z]. The third pronunciation in the table above is not attested in English, and is very rare in Mi'gmaq.

Unlike in English, however, schwas in Mi'gmaq may bear [[stress]]. (In English, the stressed counterpart of schwa is the vowel [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-20a.AIFF [ʌ]]† - in Mi'gmaq no vowel quality difference is usually present). So it is equally likely to have words like ''agnutg'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [àg'''ə'''nútkʰ]], 'he or she tells about it (inanimate)', and words like ''als'g'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording1.mp3 [àls'''ə́'''kʰ]], 'it (inanimate) glides about'.

† A note on [ʌ] - in Mi'gmaq, this sound is considered to be another pronunciation of the vowel /a/. See ''[[Laxed Vowels]]'' for more information.

=Behaviour of Schwa=

Schwa is a special vowel with respect to the sound system of Mi'gmaq. It is often used as a default vowel that is inserted to fix bad [[Syllables|consonant sequences]] within words. It is often skipped over during assignment of [[stress]] (or accent), as if it is invisible to the system. Finally, it is one of the most common vowels to be deleted from words in pronunciation, since it has such a neutral status. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below.

==Epenthesis==

''For more information and examples, please see [[Writing Schwa]] and [[Syllables]]''

As stated above, schwa is often the default vowel in Mi'gmaq - it is the vowel that gets inserted or '''epenthesized''' ''into'' words when there would otherwise be a bad sequence of consonants (please note that Mi'gmaq has a separate default vowel, ''i'', that is inserted ''between'' words and morphemes if contact would otherwise result in a bad consonant sequence). This is most obvious when looking at the [[spelling]] of Mi'gmaq - for example, in words like ''o'plteg'', 'it (inanimate) is not set right)', there are '''three''' consonants that are written together: ''p'', ''l'', and ''t''. Since Mi'gmaq never allows more than '''two''' consonants to be adjacent to one another, a schwa must be inserted somewhere within this sequence. It could either be inserted between the ''p'' and the ''l'' or between the ''l'' and the ''t'' - whichever is not allowed by the restrictions on [[syllables]] within Mi'gmaq. The consonant cluster ''lt'' '''is''' allowed, because it '''falls''' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy sonority] and can be broken up into two syllables. The consonant cluster ''pl'' is '''not''' allowed by the syllabification system of Mi'gmaq - it '''rises''' in sonority and can't be split across two syllables. Therefore the schwa gets inserted there to form [o:.b'''ə'''l.dɛkʰ].

==Stress==

''For more information, please see [[Stress]]''

As mentioned above, schwa is often '''skipped over''' by the stress assignment rules of Mi'gmaq (although it is obvious that it this is not always the case from words like ''als'g'', 'it (inanimate) glides about'). In general, stress is assigned on every other syllable counting from right to left, as in ''amiet'', 'he or she is silly', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiet/recording1.mp3 ['''à'''.mi.'''ét''']]. However, in ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her (obviative) something', only three syllables are ever stressed: [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording2.mp3 ['''à'''.gə.nu.de.'''mù'''.a.'''də́l''']]. Crucially, the syllable ''nu'' is '''not''' stressed. This is because neither the syllable ''gə'' nor the syllable ''də'' counts - if they did, we would expect *[à.gə.'''nù'''.də.mù.a.də́l] (where the asterisk (*) means that the form is not allowed within the language).

However, things are not always so simple. Schwa may become visible to the stress system (or countable) if certain conditions are met. These are listed below:

* When it is the first or last vowel of a word, like in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 ['''kə̀'''.nékʰ]] and in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 [èː.'''nə́kʰ''']]).
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 [à'''p.sə̀'''.si.dát]]

==Deletion==

Occasionally, if a schwa of Mi'gmaq is skipped over by the stress rules, it may optionally '''delete''' or disappear altogether within a pronunciation. So, for example, within the word ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]]) something', there are three schwas: [a.g'''ə'''.nu.d'''ə'''.mu.a.d'''ə'''l]. The first two are skipped over by the stress system (see above), giving [à.'''gə'''.nu.'''də'''.mù.a.də́l]. Either of these is subject to being deleted (although it is usually the second), giving [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording1.mp3 [à.gə.'''nud'''.mù.a.də́l]]. This is similar to what happens in Passamaquoddy (see LeSourd 1993), although it does not seem to apply on as large of a scale.

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Schwa

2012-11-26T21:32:41Z

Erin: /* Stress */

Mi'gmaq has five main [[vowels]] which can be either [[Sound Length|long]] or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short.

Schwa is also present in English - it's the same sound at the beginning of ''about'' (pronounced ['''ə'''baʊt]) and in the first and last syllables of ''banana'' (pronounced [b'''ə'''næn'''ə''']). Schwa in Mi'gmaq is pronounced about the same - like in ''apt'tesg'', 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) is stuck', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]] (recording from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]).

This page gives a general outline of how schwa behaves in Mi'gmaq - from pronunciation to behaviour within the words of the language. A knowledge of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be beneficial for reading this page, although it is not necessary, as audio samples will be provided along with IPA transcriptions where possible. For a general overview of the IPA as it relates to Mi'gmaq, please see the [[Spelling]] page.

=Pronunciation of Schwa=

The pronunciation of schwa in ''apt'tesg'', above, is the most common pronunciation in Mi'gmaq. However, there are two other pronunciations that are less common but still attested. These are listed in order of frequency, below (for the rest of this page, lone pronunciations are from Ladefoged''s "A Course in Phonetics" online material, Mi'gmaq words are from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
| align="center" | ə
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-15a.AIFF [ə]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 ''apt'tesg'']
| [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is stuck'
|-
| align="center" | ɨ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-02a.AIFF [ɨ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording2.mp3 ''als'g'']
| [als'''ɨ'''kʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is gliding about'
|-
| align="center" | ʉ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-03a.AIFF [ʉ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apu%27s%27g/recording2.mp3 ''apu's'g'']
| [abuːs'''ʉ'''kʰ]
| 'he or she warms it (inanimate) up'
|}

At least two of these pronunciations are present in English - for example, in the phrase ''Rose's roses'', the first schwa (in ''Rose's'') is pronounced as [ə] and the second schwa (in ''roses'') is most often pronounced as [ɨ]: [ɹoʊz'''ə'''z ɹoʊz'''ɨ'''z]. The third pronunciation in the table above is not attested in English, and is very rare in Mi'gmaq.

Unlike in English, however, schwas in Mi'gmaq may bear [[stress]]. (In English, the stressed counterpart of schwa is the vowel [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-20a.AIFF [ʌ]]† - in Mi'gmaq no vowel quality difference is usually present). So it is equally likely to have words like ''agnutg'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [àg'''ə'''nútkʰ]], 'he or she tells about it (inanimate)', and words like ''als'g'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording1.mp3 [àls'''ə́'''kʰ]], 'it (inanimate) glides about'.

† A note on [ʌ] - in Mi'gmaq, this sound is considered to be another pronunciation of the vowel /a/. See ''[[Laxed Vowels]]'' for more information.

=Behaviour of Schwa=

Schwa is a special vowel with respect to the sound system of Mi'gmaq. It is often used as a default vowel that is inserted to fix bad [[Syllables|consonant sequences]] within words. It is often skipped over during assignment of [[stress]] (or accent), as if it is invisible to the system. Finally, it is one of the most common vowels to be deleted from words in pronunciation, since it has such a neutral status. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below.

==Epenthesis==

''For more information and examples, please see [[Writing Schwa]] and [[Syllables]]''

As stated above, schwa is often the default vowel in Mi'gmaq - it is the vowel that gets inserted or '''epenthesized''' ''into'' words when there would otherwise be a bad sequence of consonants (please note that Mi'gmaq has a separate default vowel, ''i'', that is inserted ''between'' words and morphemes if contact would otherwise result in a bad consonant sequence). This is most obvious when looking at the [[spelling]] of Mi'gmaq - for example, in words like ''o'plteg'', 'it (inanimate) is not set right)', there are '''three''' consonants that are written together: ''p'', ''l'', and ''t''. Since Mi'gmaq never allows more than '''two''' consonants to be adjacent to one another, a schwa must be inserted somewhere within this sequence. It could either be inserted between the ''p'' and the ''l'' or between the ''l'' and the ''t'' - whichever is not allowed by the restrictions on [[syllables]] within Mi'gmaq. The consonant cluster ''lt'' '''is''' allowed, because it '''falls''' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy sonority] and can be broken up into two syllables. The consonant cluster ''pl'' is '''not''' allowed by the syllabification system of Mi'gmaq - it '''rises''' in sonority and can't be split across two syllables. Therefore the schwa gets inserted there to form [o:.b'''ə'''l.dɛkʰ].

==Stress==

''For more information, please see [[Stress]]''

As mentioned above, schwa is often '''skipped over''' by the stress assignment rules of Mi'gmaq (although it is obvious that it this is not always the case from words like ''als'g'', 'it (inanimate) glides about'). In general, stress is assigned on every other syllable counting from right to left, as in ''amiet'', 'he or she is silly', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiet/recording1.mp3 ['''à'''.mi.'''ét''']]. However, in ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her (obviative) something', only three syllables are ever stressed: [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording2.mp3 ['''à'''.gə.nu.de.'''mù'''.a.'''də́l''']]. Crucially, the syllable ''nu'' is '''not''' stressed. This is because neither the syllable ''gə'' nor the syllable ''də'' counts - if they did, we would expect *[à.gə.'''nù'''.də.mù.a.də́l] (where the asterisk (*) means that the form is not allowed within the language).

However, things are not always so simple. Schwa may become visible to the stress system (or countable) if certain conditions are met. These are listed below:

* When it is the first or last vowel of a word, like in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 ['''kə̀'''.nékʰ]] and in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 [èː.'''nə́kʰ''']]).
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 [à'''p.sə̀'''.si.dát]]

==Deletion==

Occasionally, if a schwa of Mi'gmaq is skipped over by the stress rules, it may optionally '''delete''' or disappear altogether within a pronunciation. So, for example, within the word ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]]) something', there are three schwas: [a.g'''ə'''.nu.d'''ə'''.mu.a.d'''ə'''l]. The first two are skipped over by the stress system (see below), giving [à.'''gə'''.nu.'''də'''.mù.a.də́l]. Either of these is subject to being deleted (although it is usually the second), giving [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording1.mp3 [à.gə.'''nud'''.mù.a.də́l]]. This is similar to what happens in Passamaquoddy (see LeSourd 1993), although it does not seem to apply on as large of a scale.

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Schwa

2012-11-26T21:32:19Z

Erin: /* References */

Mi'gmaq has five main [[vowels]] which can be either [[Sound Length|long]] or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short.

Schwa is also present in English - it's the same sound at the beginning of ''about'' (pronounced ['''ə'''baʊt]) and in the first and last syllables of ''banana'' (pronounced [b'''ə'''næn'''ə''']). Schwa in Mi'gmaq is pronounced about the same - like in ''apt'tesg'', 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) is stuck', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]] (recording from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]).

This page gives a general outline of how schwa behaves in Mi'gmaq - from pronunciation to behaviour within the words of the language. A knowledge of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be beneficial for reading this page, although it is not necessary, as audio samples will be provided along with IPA transcriptions where possible. For a general overview of the IPA as it relates to Mi'gmaq, please see the [[Spelling]] page.

=Pronunciation of Schwa=

The pronunciation of schwa in ''apt'tesg'', above, is the most common pronunciation in Mi'gmaq. However, there are two other pronunciations that are less common but still attested. These are listed in order of frequency, below (for the rest of this page, lone pronunciations are from Ladefoged''s "A Course in Phonetics" online material, Mi'gmaq words are from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
| align="center" | ə
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-15a.AIFF [ə]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 ''apt'tesg'']
| [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is stuck'
|-
| align="center" | ɨ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-02a.AIFF [ɨ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording2.mp3 ''als'g'']
| [als'''ɨ'''kʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is gliding about'
|-
| align="center" | ʉ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-03a.AIFF [ʉ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apu%27s%27g/recording2.mp3 ''apu's'g'']
| [abuːs'''ʉ'''kʰ]
| 'he or she warms it (inanimate) up'
|}

At least two of these pronunciations are present in English - for example, in the phrase ''Rose's roses'', the first schwa (in ''Rose's'') is pronounced as [ə] and the second schwa (in ''roses'') is most often pronounced as [ɨ]: [ɹoʊz'''ə'''z ɹoʊz'''ɨ'''z]. The third pronunciation in the table above is not attested in English, and is very rare in Mi'gmaq.

Unlike in English, however, schwas in Mi'gmaq may bear [[stress]]. (In English, the stressed counterpart of schwa is the vowel [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-20a.AIFF [ʌ]]† - in Mi'gmaq no vowel quality difference is usually present). So it is equally likely to have words like ''agnutg'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [àg'''ə'''nútkʰ]], 'he or she tells about it (inanimate)', and words like ''als'g'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording1.mp3 [àls'''ə́'''kʰ]], 'it (inanimate) glides about'.

† A note on [ʌ] - in Mi'gmaq, this sound is considered to be another pronunciation of the vowel /a/. See ''[[Laxed Vowels]]'' for more information.

=Behaviour of Schwa=

Schwa is a special vowel with respect to the sound system of Mi'gmaq. It is often used as a default vowel that is inserted to fix bad [[Syllables|consonant sequences]] within words. It is often skipped over during assignment of [[stress]] (or accent), as if it is invisible to the system. Finally, it is one of the most common vowels to be deleted from words in pronunciation, since it has such a neutral status. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below.

==Epenthesis==

''For more information and examples, please see [[Writing Schwa]] and [[Syllables]]''

As stated above, schwa is often the default vowel in Mi'gmaq - it is the vowel that gets inserted or '''epenthesized''' ''into'' words when there would otherwise be a bad sequence of consonants (please note that Mi'gmaq has a separate default vowel, ''i'', that is inserted ''between'' words and morphemes if contact would otherwise result in a bad consonant sequence). This is most obvious when looking at the [[spelling]] of Mi'gmaq - for example, in words like ''o'plteg'', 'it (inanimate) is not set right)', there are '''three''' consonants that are written together: ''p'', ''l'', and ''t''. Since Mi'gmaq never allows more than '''two''' consonants to be adjacent to one another, a schwa must be inserted somewhere within this sequence. It could either be inserted between the ''p'' and the ''l'' or between the ''l'' and the ''t'' - whichever is not allowed by the restrictions on [[syllables]] within Mi'gmaq. The consonant cluster ''lt'' '''is''' allowed, because it '''falls''' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy sonority] and can be broken up into two syllables. The consonant cluster ''pl'' is '''not''' allowed by the syllabification system of Mi'gmaq - it '''rises''' in sonority and can't be split across two syllables. Therefore the schwa gets inserted there to form [o:.b'''ə'''l.dɛkʰ].

==Stress==

''For more information, please see [[Stress]]''

As mentioned above, schwa is often skipped over by the stress assignment rules of Mi'gmaq (although it is obvious that it this is not always the case from words like ''als'g'', 'it (inanimate) glides about'). In general, stress is assigned on every other syllable counting from right to left, as in ''amiet'', 'he or she is silly', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiet/recording1.mp3 ['''à'''.mi.'''ét''']]. However, in ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her (obviative) something', only three syllables are ever stressed: [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording2.mp3 ['''à'''.gə.nu.de.'''mù'''.a.'''də́l''']]. Crucially, the syllable ''nu'' is '''not''' stressed. This is because neither the syllable ''gə'' nor the syllable ''də'' counts - if they did, we would expect *[à.gə.'''nù'''.də.mù.a.də́l] (where the asterisk (*) means that the form is not allowed within the language).

However, things are not always so simple. Schwa may become visible to the stress system (or countable) if certain conditions are met. These are listed below:

* When it is the first or last vowel of a word, like in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 ['''kə̀'''.nékʰ]] and in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 [èː.'''nə́kʰ''']]).
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 [à'''p.sə̀'''.si.dát]]

==Deletion==

Occasionally, if a schwa of Mi'gmaq is skipped over by the stress rules, it may optionally '''delete''' or disappear altogether within a pronunciation. So, for example, within the word ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]]) something', there are three schwas: [a.g'''ə'''.nu.d'''ə'''.mu.a.d'''ə'''l]. The first two are skipped over by the stress system (see below), giving [à.'''gə'''.nu.'''də'''.mù.a.də́l]. Either of these is subject to being deleted (although it is usually the second), giving [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording1.mp3 [à.gə.'''nud'''.mù.a.də́l]]. This is similar to what happens in Passamaquoddy (see LeSourd 1993), although it does not seem to apply on as large of a scale.

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Schwa

2012-11-26T21:31:50Z

Erin: /* Stress */

Mi'gmaq has five main [[vowels]] which can be either [[Sound Length|long]] or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short.

Schwa is also present in English - it's the same sound at the beginning of ''about'' (pronounced ['''ə'''baʊt]) and in the first and last syllables of ''banana'' (pronounced [b'''ə'''næn'''ə''']). Schwa in Mi'gmaq is pronounced about the same - like in ''apt'tesg'', 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) is stuck', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]] (recording from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]).

This page gives a general outline of how schwa behaves in Mi'gmaq - from pronunciation to behaviour within the words of the language. A knowledge of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be beneficial for reading this page, although it is not necessary, as audio samples will be provided along with IPA transcriptions where possible. For a general overview of the IPA as it relates to Mi'gmaq, please see the [[Spelling]] page.

=Pronunciation of Schwa=

The pronunciation of schwa in ''apt'tesg'', above, is the most common pronunciation in Mi'gmaq. However, there are two other pronunciations that are less common but still attested. These are listed in order of frequency, below (for the rest of this page, lone pronunciations are from Ladefoged''s "A Course in Phonetics" online material, Mi'gmaq words are from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
| align="center" | ə
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-15a.AIFF [ə]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 ''apt'tesg'']
| [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is stuck'
|-
| align="center" | ɨ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-02a.AIFF [ɨ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording2.mp3 ''als'g'']
| [als'''ɨ'''kʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is gliding about'
|-
| align="center" | ʉ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-03a.AIFF [ʉ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apu%27s%27g/recording2.mp3 ''apu's'g'']
| [abuːs'''ʉ'''kʰ]
| 'he or she warms it (inanimate) up'
|}

At least two of these pronunciations are present in English - for example, in the phrase ''Rose's roses'', the first schwa (in ''Rose's'') is pronounced as [ə] and the second schwa (in ''roses'') is most often pronounced as [ɨ]: [ɹoʊz'''ə'''z ɹoʊz'''ɨ'''z]. The third pronunciation in the table above is not attested in English, and is very rare in Mi'gmaq.

Unlike in English, however, schwas in Mi'gmaq may bear [[stress]]. (In English, the stressed counterpart of schwa is the vowel [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-20a.AIFF [ʌ]]† - in Mi'gmaq no vowel quality difference is usually present). So it is equally likely to have words like ''agnutg'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [àg'''ə'''nútkʰ]], 'he or she tells about it (inanimate)', and words like ''als'g'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording1.mp3 [àls'''ə́'''kʰ]], 'it (inanimate) glides about'.

† A note on [ʌ] - in Mi'gmaq, this sound is considered to be another pronunciation of the vowel /a/. See ''[[Laxed Vowels]]'' for more information.

=Behaviour of Schwa=

Schwa is a special vowel with respect to the sound system of Mi'gmaq. It is often used as a default vowel that is inserted to fix bad [[Syllables|consonant sequences]] within words. It is often skipped over during assignment of [[stress]] (or accent), as if it is invisible to the system. Finally, it is one of the most common vowels to be deleted from words in pronunciation, since it has such a neutral status. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below.

==Epenthesis==

''For more information and examples, please see [[Writing Schwa]] and [[Syllables]]''

As stated above, schwa is often the default vowel in Mi'gmaq - it is the vowel that gets inserted or '''epenthesized''' ''into'' words when there would otherwise be a bad sequence of consonants (please note that Mi'gmaq has a separate default vowel, ''i'', that is inserted ''between'' words and morphemes if contact would otherwise result in a bad consonant sequence). This is most obvious when looking at the [[spelling]] of Mi'gmaq - for example, in words like ''o'plteg'', 'it (inanimate) is not set right)', there are '''three''' consonants that are written together: ''p'', ''l'', and ''t''. Since Mi'gmaq never allows more than '''two''' consonants to be adjacent to one another, a schwa must be inserted somewhere within this sequence. It could either be inserted between the ''p'' and the ''l'' or between the ''l'' and the ''t'' - whichever is not allowed by the restrictions on [[syllables]] within Mi'gmaq. The consonant cluster ''lt'' '''is''' allowed, because it '''falls''' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy sonority] and can be broken up into two syllables. The consonant cluster ''pl'' is '''not''' allowed by the syllabification system of Mi'gmaq - it '''rises''' in sonority and can't be split across two syllables. Therefore the schwa gets inserted there to form [o:.b'''ə'''l.dɛkʰ].

==Stress==

''For more information, please see [[Stress]]''

As mentioned above, schwa is often skipped over by the stress assignment rules of Mi'gmaq (although it is obvious that it this is not always the case from words like ''als'g'', 'it (inanimate) glides about'). In general, stress is assigned on every other syllable counting from right to left, as in ''amiet'', 'he or she is silly', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiet/recording1.mp3 ['''à'''.mi.'''ét''']]. However, in ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her (obviative) something', only three syllables are ever stressed: [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording2.mp3 ['''à'''.gə.nu.de.'''mù'''.a.'''də́l''']]. Crucially, the syllable ''nu'' is '''not''' stressed. This is because neither the syllable ''gə'' nor the syllable ''də'' counts - if they did, we would expect *[à.gə.'''nù'''.də.mù.a.də́l] (where the asterisk (*) means that the form is not allowed within the language).

However, things are not always so simple. Schwa may become visible to the stress system (or countable) if certain conditions are met. These are listed below:

* When it is the first or last vowel of a word, like in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 ['''kə̀'''.nékʰ]] and in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 [èː.'''nə́kʰ''']]).
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 [à'''p.sə̀'''.si.dát]]

==Deletion==

Occasionally, if a schwa of Mi'gmaq is skipped over by the stress rules, it may optionally '''delete''' or disappear altogether within a pronunciation. So, for example, within the word ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]]) something', there are three schwas: [a.g'''ə'''.nu.d'''ə'''.mu.a.d'''ə'''l]. The first two are skipped over by the stress system (see below), giving [à.'''gə'''.nu.'''də'''.mù.a.də́l]. Either of these is subject to being deleted (although it is usually the second), giving [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording1.mp3 [à.gə.'''nud'''.mù.a.də́l]]. This is similar to what happens in Passamaquoddy (see LeSourd 1993), although it does not seem to apply on as large of a scale.

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Schwa

2012-11-26T21:31:02Z

Erin: /* Pronunciation of Schwa */

Mi'gmaq has five main [[vowels]] which can be either [[Sound Length|long]] or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short.

Schwa is also present in English - it's the same sound at the beginning of ''about'' (pronounced ['''ə'''baʊt]) and in the first and last syllables of ''banana'' (pronounced [b'''ə'''næn'''ə''']). Schwa in Mi'gmaq is pronounced about the same - like in ''apt'tesg'', 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) is stuck', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]] (recording from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]).

This page gives a general outline of how schwa behaves in Mi'gmaq - from pronunciation to behaviour within the words of the language. A knowledge of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be beneficial for reading this page, although it is not necessary, as audio samples will be provided along with IPA transcriptions where possible. For a general overview of the IPA as it relates to Mi'gmaq, please see the [[Spelling]] page.

=Pronunciation of Schwa=

The pronunciation of schwa in ''apt'tesg'', above, is the most common pronunciation in Mi'gmaq. However, there are two other pronunciations that are less common but still attested. These are listed in order of frequency, below (for the rest of this page, lone pronunciations are from Ladefoged''s "A Course in Phonetics" online material, Mi'gmaq words are from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
| align="center" | ə
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-15a.AIFF [ə]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 ''apt'tesg'']
| [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is stuck'
|-
| align="center" | ɨ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-02a.AIFF [ɨ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording2.mp3 ''als'g'']
| [als'''ɨ'''kʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is gliding about'
|-
| align="center" | ʉ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-03a.AIFF [ʉ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apu%27s%27g/recording2.mp3 ''apu's'g'']
| [abuːs'''ʉ'''kʰ]
| 'he or she warms it (inanimate) up'
|}

At least two of these pronunciations are present in English - for example, in the phrase ''Rose's roses'', the first schwa (in ''Rose's'') is pronounced as [ə] and the second schwa (in ''roses'') is most often pronounced as [ɨ]: [ɹoʊz'''ə'''z ɹoʊz'''ɨ'''z]. The third pronunciation in the table above is not attested in English, and is very rare in Mi'gmaq.

Unlike in English, however, schwas in Mi'gmaq may bear [[stress]]. (In English, the stressed counterpart of schwa is the vowel [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-20a.AIFF [ʌ]]† - in Mi'gmaq no vowel quality difference is usually present). So it is equally likely to have words like ''agnutg'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [àg'''ə'''nútkʰ]], 'he or she tells about it (inanimate)', and words like ''als'g'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording1.mp3 [àls'''ə́'''kʰ]], 'it (inanimate) glides about'.

† A note on [ʌ] - in Mi'gmaq, this sound is considered to be another pronunciation of the vowel /a/. See ''[[Laxed Vowels]]'' for more information.

=Behaviour of Schwa=

Schwa is a special vowel with respect to the sound system of Mi'gmaq. It is often used as a default vowel that is inserted to fix bad [[Syllables|consonant sequences]] within words. It is often skipped over during assignment of [[stress]] (or accent), as if it is invisible to the system. Finally, it is one of the most common vowels to be deleted from words in pronunciation, since it has such a neutral status. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below.

==Epenthesis==

''For more information and examples, please see [[Writing Schwa]] and [[Syllables]]''

As stated above, schwa is often the default vowel in Mi'gmaq - it is the vowel that gets inserted or '''epenthesized''' ''into'' words when there would otherwise be a bad sequence of consonants (please note that Mi'gmaq has a separate default vowel, ''i'', that is inserted ''between'' words and morphemes if contact would otherwise result in a bad consonant sequence). This is most obvious when looking at the [[spelling]] of Mi'gmaq - for example, in words like ''o'plteg'', 'it (inanimate) is not set right)', there are '''three''' consonants that are written together: ''p'', ''l'', and ''t''. Since Mi'gmaq never allows more than '''two''' consonants to be adjacent to one another, a schwa must be inserted somewhere within this sequence. It could either be inserted between the ''p'' and the ''l'' or between the ''l'' and the ''t'' - whichever is not allowed by the restrictions on [[syllables]] within Mi'gmaq. The consonant cluster ''lt'' '''is''' allowed, because it '''falls''' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy sonority] and can be broken up into two syllables. The consonant cluster ''pl'' is '''not''' allowed by the syllabification system of Mi'gmaq - it '''rises''' in sonority and can't be split across two syllables. Therefore the schwa gets inserted there to form [o:.b'''ə'''l.dɛkʰ].

==Stress==

''For more information, please see [[Stress]]''

As mentioned above, schwa is often skipped over by the stress assignment rules of Mi'gmaq (although it is obvious that it this is not always the case from words like ''als'g'', 'it (inanimate) glides about'). In general, stress is assigned on every other syllable counting from right to left, as in ''amiet'', 'he or she is silly', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiet/recording1.mp3 ['''à'''.mi.'''ét''']]. However, in ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her (obviative) something', only three syllables are ever stressed: [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording2.mp3 ['''à'''.gə.nu.de.'''mù'''.a.'''də́l''']]. Crucially, the syllable ''nu'' is '''not''' stressed. This is because neither the syllable ''gə'' nor the syllable ''də'' counts - if they did, we would expect *[à.gə.'''nù'''.də.mù.a.də́l] (where the asterisk (*) means that the form is not allowed within the language).

However, things are not always so simple. Schwa may become visible to the stress system (or countable) if certain conditions are met. These are listed below:

* When it is the first or last vowel of a word, like in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 ['''kə̀'''.nékʰ]] and in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 [è'.'''nə́kʰ''']]).
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 [à'''p.sə̀'''.si.dát]]

==Deletion==

Occasionally, if a schwa of Mi'gmaq is skipped over by the stress rules, it may optionally '''delete''' or disappear altogether within a pronunciation. So, for example, within the word ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]]) something', there are three schwas: [a.g'''ə'''.nu.d'''ə'''.mu.a.d'''ə'''l]. The first two are skipped over by the stress system (see below), giving [à.'''gə'''.nu.'''də'''.mù.a.də́l]. Either of these is subject to being deleted (although it is usually the second), giving [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording1.mp3 [à.gə.'''nud'''.mù.a.də́l]]. This is similar to what happens in Passamaquoddy (see LeSourd 1993), although it does not seem to apply on as large of a scale.

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Schwa

2012-11-26T21:29:44Z

Erin: Created page with "Mi'gmaq has five main vowels which can be either long or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short. Schwa is also present in En..."

Mi'gmaq has five main [[vowels]] which can be either [[Sound Length|long]] or short. It also has a sixth vowel - schwa - which can ''only'' be short.

Schwa is also present in English - it's the same sound at the beginning of ''about'' (pronounced ['''ə'''baʊt]) and in the first and last syllables of ''banana'' (pronounced [b'''ə'''næn'''ə''']). Schwa in Mi'gmaq is pronounced about the same - like in ''apt'tesg'', 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) is stuck', [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]] (recording from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]).

This page gives a general outline of how schwa behaves in Mi'gmaq - from pronunciation to behaviour within the words of the language. A knowledge of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA, may be beneficial for reading this page, although it is not necessary, as audio samples will be provided along with IPA transcriptions where possible. For a general overview of the IPA as it relates to Mi'gmaq, please see the [[Spelling]] page.

=Pronunciation of Schwa=

The pronunciation of schwa in ''apt'tesg'', above, is the most common pronunciation in Mi'gmaq. However, there are two other pronunciations that are less common but still attested. These are listed in order of frequency, below (for the rest of this page, lone pronunciations are from Ladefoged''s "A Course in Phonetics" online material, Mi'gmaq words are from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]):

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
| align="center" | ə
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-15a.AIFF [ə]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apt%27tesg/recording1.mp3 ''apt'tesg'']
| [apt'''ə'''dɛskʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is stuck'
|-
| align="center" | ɨ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-02a.AIFF [ɨ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording2.mp3 ''als'g'']
| [als'''ɨ'''kʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) is gliding about'
|-
| align="center" | ʉ
| align="center" | [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-03a.AIFF [ʉ]]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apu%27s%27g/recording2.mp3 ''apu's'g'']
| [abuːs'''ʉ'''kʰ]
| 'he or she warms it (inanimate) up'
|}

At least two of these pronunciations are present in English - for example, in the phrase ''Rose's roses'', the first schwa (in ''Rose's'') is pronounced as [ə] and the second schwa (in ''roses'') is most often pronounced as [ɨ]: [ɹoʊz'''ə'''z ɹoʊz'''ɨ'''z]. The third pronunciation in the table above is not attested in English, and is very rare in Mi'gmaq.

Unlike in English, however, schwas in Mi'gmaq may bear [[stress]]. (In English, the stressed counterpart of schwa is the vowel [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Vow-20a.AIFF [ʌ]]† - in Mi'gmaq no vowel quality difference is usually present). So it is equally likely to have words like ''agnutg'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [àg'''ə'''nútkʰ]], 'he or she tells about it (inanimate)', and words like ''als'g'' [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/als%27g/recording1.mp3 [àls'''ə́'''kʰ]], 'it (inanimate) glides about'.

† A note on [ʌ] - in Mi'gmaq, this sound is considered to be another pronunciation of the vowel /a/. See [[Laxed Vowels]] for more information.

=Behaviour of Schwa=

Schwa is a special vowel with respect to the sound system of Mi'gmaq. It is often used as a default vowel that is inserted to fix bad [[Syllables|consonant sequences]] within words. It is often skipped over during assignment of [[stress]] (or accent), as if it is invisible to the system. Finally, it is one of the most common vowels to be deleted from words in pronunciation, since it has such a neutral status. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below.

==Epenthesis==

''For more information and examples, please see [[Writing Schwa]] and [[Syllables]]''

As stated above, schwa is often the default vowel in Mi'gmaq - it is the vowel that gets inserted or '''epenthesized''' ''into'' words when there would otherwise be a bad sequence of consonants (please note that Mi'gmaq has a separate default vowel, ''i'', that is inserted ''between'' words and morphemes if contact would otherwise result in a bad consonant sequence). This is most obvious when looking at the [[spelling]] of Mi'gmaq - for example, in words like ''o'plteg'', 'it (inanimate) is not set right)', there are '''three''' consonants that are written together: ''p'', ''l'', and ''t''. Since Mi'gmaq never allows more than '''two''' consonants to be adjacent to one another, a schwa must be inserted somewhere within this sequence. It could either be inserted between the ''p'' and the ''l'' or between the ''l'' and the ''t'' - whichever is not allowed by the restrictions on [[syllables]] within Mi'gmaq. The consonant cluster ''lt'' '''is''' allowed, because it '''falls''' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy sonority] and can be broken up into two syllables. The consonant cluster ''pl'' is '''not''' allowed by the syllabification system of Mi'gmaq - it '''rises''' in sonority and can't be split across two syllables. Therefore the schwa gets inserted there to form [o:.b'''ə'''l.dɛkʰ].

==Stress==

''For more information, please see [[Stress]]''

As mentioned above, schwa is often skipped over by the stress assignment rules of Mi'gmaq (although it is obvious that it this is not always the case from words like ''als'g'', 'it (inanimate) glides about'). In general, stress is assigned on every other syllable counting from right to left, as in ''amiet'', 'he or she is silly', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiet/recording1.mp3 ['''à'''.mi.'''ét''']]. However, in ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her (obviative) something', only three syllables are ever stressed: [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording2.mp3 ['''à'''.gə.nu.de.'''mù'''.a.'''də́l''']]. Crucially, the syllable ''nu'' is '''not''' stressed. This is because neither the syllable ''gə'' nor the syllable ''də'' counts - if they did, we would expect *[à.gə.'''nù'''.də.mù.a.də́l] (where the asterisk (*) means that the form is not allowed within the language).

However, things are not always so simple. Schwa may become visible to the stress system (or countable) if certain conditions are met. These are listed below:

* When it is the first or last vowel of a word, like in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 ['''kə̀'''.nékʰ]] and in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 [è'.'''nə́kʰ''']]).
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 [à'''p.sə̀'''.si.dát]]

==Deletion==

Occasionally, if a schwa of Mi'gmaq is skipped over by the stress rules, it may optionally '''delete''' or disappear altogether within a pronunciation. So, for example, within the word ''agnutmuatl'', 'he or she tells him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]]) something', there are three schwas: [a.g'''ə'''.nu.d'''ə'''.mu.a.d'''ə'''l]. The first two are skipped over by the stress system (see below), giving [à.'''gə'''.nu.'''də'''.mù.a.də́l]. Either of these is subject to being deleted (although it is usually the second), giving [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutmuatl/recording1.mp3 [à.gə.'''nud'''.mù.a.də́l]]. This is similar to what happens in Passamaquoddy (see LeSourd 1993), although it does not seem to apply on as large of a scale.

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-21T21:27:24Z

Erin: /* The Invisibility of Vowels */

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and '''longer''' than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
#* e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
#* e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
#* è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
#* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó'''], 'on one side'

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít'''], 'February'

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†, 'checker'

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét'''], 'it (inanimate) is coiled'

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'' seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq'''], 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)'

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít'''], 'he or she goes away'

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-21T21:22:46Z

Erin: /* References */

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and '''longer''' than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
#* e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
#* e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
#* è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
#* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó'''], 'on one side'

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít'''], 'February'

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†, 'checker'

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét'''], 'it (inanimate) is coiled'

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'' seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq'''], 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)'

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít'''], 'he or she goes away'

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-19T18:18:31Z

Erin: /* The Invisibility of Vowels */

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and '''longer''' than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
#* e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
#* e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
#* è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
#* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó'''], 'on one side'

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít'''], 'February'

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†, 'checker'

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét'''], 'it (inanimate) is coiled'

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'' seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq'''], 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)'

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít'''], 'he or she goes away'

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-19T18:13:21Z

Erin: /* Ground Rules */

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and '''longer''' than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
#* e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
#* e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
#* è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
#* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó'''], 'on one side'

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', 'February' (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít''']

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', 'checker', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'', 'it (animate) is coiled' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét''']

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'', 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)', seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq''']

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'', 'he or she goes away':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít''']

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-19T18:12:15Z

Erin: /* Ground Rules */

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and '''longer''' than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
#* e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
#* e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
#* è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
#* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', 'on one side', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó''']

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', 'February' (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít''']

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', 'checker', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'', 'it (animate) is coiled' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét''']

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'', 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)', seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq''']

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'', 'he or she goes away':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít''']

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-19T18:09:16Z

Erin: /* What Stress Sounds Like */

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and '''longer''' than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
** e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
** e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
** è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
** [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', 'on one side', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó''']

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', 'February' (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít''']

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', 'checker', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'', 'it (animate) is coiled' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét''']

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'', 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)', seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq''']

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'', 'he or she goes away':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít''']

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Stress

2012-10-19T18:05:55Z

Erin: Created page with "The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain syllables of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing th..."

The '''stress system''' of a language is the way by which certain [[syllables]] of a word become more noticeable than others in that word. This is often illustrated by writing that syllable in all capital letters in a dictionary; for example, the English word ''information'' has two stressed syllables, and can be written ''IN-for-MA-tion'' (or just ''in-for-MA-tion'', since ''ma'' is the most noticeable).

This page will introduce the reader to the essentials of the stress system of Mi'gmaq. First, a way of identifying stressed syllables will be outlined, then the essential rules will be laid out in a way meant to be as accessible as possible to learners and teachers of Mi'gmaq. Then a system will be presented to those who are interested in the research of Mi'gmaq.

For the most part, the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] will be used on this page, with examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]. Two kinds of stress will be marked: '''primary stress''', which marks the most prominent syllable in a word, and '''secondary stress''', which marks all other prominent syllables. Primary stress will be marked with an acute accent ('''é'''), and secondary stress with a grave accent ('''è'''). When [[schwa]] is introduced, it will be written with the symbol '''ə''' instead of with an apostrophe (''' ' '''), as is usual in the Listuguj spelling system.

=What Stress Sounds Like=

Stressed syllables are usually '''higher''' in pitch, '''louder''', and longer than the syllables around them. In [[Pronunciation Differences|English]], they also have fuller, easier-to-distinguish vowels than their unstressed neighbours. The stress system of Mi'gmaq works somewhat similarly, but since [[Sound Length|long]] vowels and consonants lead to a difference in meaning in Mi'gmaq, length is usually not a good cue to whether a syllable is stressed or not. [[Laxed Vowels|Vowel quality]] differences are also not usually cues to the presence or absence of stress in Mi'gmaq.

Furthermore, each stressed syllable in English is usually both louder and higher in pitch than an unstressed syllable. In Mi'gmaq, only the ''primary'' stressed syllable has a higher pitch; all other syllables are simply louder.

=Basic Stress Patterns=

The basic stress pattern of Mi'gmaq is presented below - that is, the stress pattern will be laid out with respect to all vowels with the exception of [[Stress#Schwa|schwa]] and the [[Stress#Syllalbic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences|syllabic sonorant consonants]], which will be discussed in further sections. Mi'gmaq makes a distinction between ''heavy'' and ''light'' syllables, which must be explained before going on to the description of the whole system.

==Heavy and Light Syllables==

Heavy and light syllables behave differently within the Mi'gmaq stress system. Before discussing how they are different, it is first necessary to identify which syllables are heavy and which are light. Light syllables are:

* Of the type '''consonant-vowel''' (hereafter abbreviated as "CV").
* A '''single (short) vowel''' (not counting schwa; abbreviated as "V").
* Of the type '''consonant-syllabic sonorant''' (abbreviated as Cl, Cn, or Cm)

Heavy syllables are:

* Any syllable with a '''long vowel''', such as V', CV', and CV'C syllables, among others.
* Any syllable that '''ends in a consonant''' (provided that consonant is not syllabic), such as VC, CVC, and CVCC syllables, among others.

For the purposes of this article, all heavy syllables will be written in boldface, and all light syllables will remain written normally, as in the following example:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eleget/recording1.mp3 e.le.'''get'''], 'he or she throws it ([[Animacy|inanimate]])'

==Stress Assignment Rules==

Below is outlined a simple way to predict which syllables will be stressed in a given word of Mi'gmaq. However, a "word" in this sense ''does not'' correspond to a "word" in the sense of the spelling system. If a word has a non-bound [[Preverbs|preverb]], this preverb will count as its own word for the stress system.

''For an account of this system within Metrical Theory, please visit the page [[Stress and Metrical Theory]].''

===Ground Rules===

There are four basic rules that can derive the proper stress pattern for any word in Mi'gmaq. They are listed below (many of which are also applicable to Passamaquoddy, another Algonquian language whose stress system was investigated by LeSourd):

# Assign stress to every ''heavy syllable''.
# If there is a sequence of two or more light syllables, assign stress to every ''second syllable'' counting from ''right to left''.
# Assign stress to the ''first syllable'' (regardless of weight) of every word.
# The ''last stressed syllable'' in a word receives ''primary stress''. All other stresses will count as ''secondary''.

An example of how these rules apply is given below for the word ''elasumteget'', 'he or she wades through snow':

# First, heavy and light syllables are identified:
** e.la.'''sum'''.te.'''get'''
# Next, each heavy syllable receives a stress (marked here as a grave accent):
** e.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Now, the light syllables are considered. There is only one string of two or more light syllables in this word: ''e.la''. Stress falls on the first of these by the second rule:
** è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gèt'''
# Since the first syllable already has stress, the third rule is skipped.
# The syllable ''get'' receives primary stress (marked with an acute accent) since it is the last stressed syllable in the word:
** [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elasumteget/recording1.mp3 è.la.'''sùm'''.te.'''gét''']

However, one final small rule needs to be introduced before moving on:

* If a word ends in a short vowel, that vowel will behave as a long vowel with respect to the stress system - that is, the syllable in which it is located will be counted as a ''heavy syllable''.

This is most apparent with the word ''anapo'', 'on one side', which has the following stress pattern:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anapo/recording1.mp3 à.na.'''pó''']

===Optional Rule===

There is also one optional rule that applies within Mi'gmaq stress systems:

* If the stress system assigns stress such that two stressed syllables are adjacent, the second stress will be deleted if it falls on a light syllable.

So, for example, the word ''ali'puluet'', 'he or she rides horseback', may be pronounced either as:

à.'''lì' '''.pù.lu.'''ét'''

or as

à.'''lì' '''.pu.lu.'''ét'''

Note, however, that the heavy syllable ''li' '' can't be unstressed, even though it follows a stressed ''a''.

This rule seems to apply most within normal conversational speech. It does not seem to apply at all in careful speech.

=Schwa=

==The Invisibility of Vowels==

The stress system described above works well with respect to all syllables with vowels other than schwa. Schwa, however, is often considered to be '''invisible''' with respect to these rules, as can be shown by the word ''apignajit'', 'February' (where the syllable with schwa is written in italics):

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apignajit/recording1.mp3 à.pì.''gə''.na.'''jít''']

This invisibility comes about because schwa is '''weightless''' - it is neither heavy nor light, and thus does not contribute to the stress rules. This can be seen by the word ''atnaqan'', 'checker', which has the following stress pattern (where the weightless syllable is written in italics and schwa is written with the symbol ''ə'':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atnaqan/recording1.mp3 à.''tə''.na.'''qán''']†

Even though the light syllables ''pi'' and ''na'' are separated by the weightless syllable ''gə'', they still act as if they are obeying rule 2, above.

Furthermore, when a syllable is of the form CəC, this syllable will behave as a light syllable instead of a heavy syllable, as is usual for syllables of this type. So, for example, the word ''el'tqet'', 'it (animate) is coiled' is ''not'' pronounced *è.'''lə̀t'''.'''qét''', but is instead is pronounced:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/el'tqet/recording1.mp3 è.lət.'''qét''']

Other vowels do behave in this way as well: for example, the ''i'' in ''amiputoq'', 'he or she rubs it (inanimate)', seems to behave this way:

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/amiputoq/recording1.mp3 à.''mi''.pu.'''tóq''']

Schwa can, in some cases, also behave like the other vowels of Mi'gmaq and is ''always'' weighted within a certain word or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpheme morpheme]. For example, the schwa in the preverb ''ejigl'' may be such a schwa, as shown by the word ''ejigla'sit'', 'he or she goes away':

[http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ejigla%27sit/recording1.mp3 è.jì.gə.'''là''''.'''sít''']

† Note: When a ''tə'' syllable is followed by a sonorant, the syllable often becomes a copy of that sonorant by [[Assimilation with N|assimilation]]. Thus, while this might more accurately be written ''a.n.na.qan'', the first ''n'' still behaves as if it were a ''tə'' syllable with respect to the stress system, so it is still written in this way.

==Making Schwa Visible==

While schwa is generally weightless and invisible to stress rules, there are cases when it ''does'' act like a weighted syllable even though it is not inherently weighted. The two most solidly-attested cases are listed here:

* When it is the first or the last vowel of word, as in ''gneg'', 'it (inanimate) is far' (prounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gneg/recording1.mp3 gə̀.'''née''']) and as in ''e'n'g'', 'he or she loses it (inanimate)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/e%27n%27g/recording1.mp3 '''è''''.'''nə́k''']).
** Note: since schwa is never word-final, it will ''always'' act like a heavy syllable in these cases, since it will count as weighted and is followed by a consonant.
* When it follows a sequence of two consonants, as in ''aps'sitat'', 'he or she has small feet', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/aps%27sitat/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.sə̀.si.'''tát'''].

These two rules are also present in the Passamaquoddy stress system as described by LeSourd (1993). Some other of his rules are mentioned below, as well as if they could be considered applicable to Mi'gmaq:

* When a sonorant is flanked by two weightless schwas (that is, there is a sequence ''ə sonorant ə'' within a word), the first schwa becomes weighted. So far, there is some evidence for this in Mi'gmaq, such as the word ''tm'tgi'gnn'', 'scissors', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tm%27tqe%27gnn/recording1.mp3 tə.mət.'''gi' '''.'''gənn''']
* When two ore more weightless schwas appear in a row, the second (counting from left to right) becomes weighted. So far this does not seem to apply in Mi'gmaq, and the only case thus far examined is in ''egs'pugua'latl'', 'he or she lies to him or her ([[Obviation|obviative]])'', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/egs%27pugua%27latl/recording1.mp3 '''èg'''.''sə''.''pə''.gu.'''à''''.lá.tl]. It should be noticed that the second schwa is written as ''u'', and that neither schwa seems to count as weighted.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it follows ''hl'' is not applicable to Mi'gmaq, since Mi'gmaq has no ''h''.
* A weightless schwa becomes weighted if it is between ''s'' and ''hs'' is also not valid for the same reason.

=Syllabic Sonorants and Schwa-Sonorant Sequences=

It may be noticed in the rules above that no reference is made to syllables with [[Syllalbes#Syllabic_Sonorants|syllabic sonorants]]. These - for the most part - seem to be consistently counted as light syllables, as in ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a%27gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn]) and ''eluatl'', 'he or she resembles him or her (obviative)' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eluatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.á.tl]). However, some words (especially those ending in the obviative suffix ''-l'') seem to show that they may also be counted as schwa-sonorant sequences, as in the word ''apjimatl'', 'he or she causes him or her (obviative) to be speechless', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjimatl/recording1.mp3 '''àp'''.jì.ma.'''tə́l'''].

Recalling that a weightless schwa in a syllable closed by a consonant causes that syllable to be counted as light, just as having a syllabic sonorant does, means that at this time there is no good way to differentiate these cases. It is evident that both are needed: thus words like ''a'gwesn'', 'hat' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/a'gwesn/recording1.mp3 '''à''''.gwé.sn̩]) - where the final syllable is light - can be differentiated from words like ''elue'wipnnatl'', 'he or she incites him or her (obviative) to wickedness' (pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elue'wipnnatl/recording1.mp3 è.lu.'''è''''.wi.'''pə̀n'''.ná.tl̩]) - where there must be a schwa before the ''n''. As of now, however, these are the only data that tells that there should be a difference.

=References=
* LeSourd (1993) ''Accent and Syllable Structure in Passamaquoddy''. Routledge.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/|Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:52:09Z

Erin: /* Lengthening */

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels ''/a/'' and ''/ɛ/'', as well as their long counterparts ''/aː/'' and ''/ɛː/''. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** Before a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** Before a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]]) is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w'' 's after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, ''never'' between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i'''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:51:04Z

Erin: /* /u/ */

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels ''/a/'' and ''/ɛ/'', as well as their long counterparts ''/aː/'' and ''/ɛː/''. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** Before a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** Before a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]]) is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w'' 's after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, ''never'' between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:50:24Z

Erin: /* /u/ */

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels ''/a/'' and ''/ɛ/'', as well as their long counterparts ''/aː/'' and ''/ɛː/''. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** Before a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** Before a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]]) is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w'' 's after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, never between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:49:59Z

Erin: /* /u/ */

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels ''/a/'' and ''/ɛ/'', as well as their long counterparts ''/aː/'' and ''/ɛː/''. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** Before a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** Before a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]]) is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w''s after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, never between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:49:23Z

Erin: /* /u/ */

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels ''/a/'' and ''/ɛ/'', as well as their long counterparts ''/aː/'' and ''/ɛː/''. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** Before a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** Before a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w''s after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, never between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:48:12Z

Erin: /* /i/ */

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels ''/a/'' and ''/ɛ/'', as well as their long counterparts ''/aː/'' and ''/ɛː/''. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** After a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** After a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w''s after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, never between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

W and I

2012-08-07T18:47:23Z

Erin: Created page with "Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like English does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spe..."

Mi'gmaq has two '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semivowel glides]''' (or ''semivowels''), much like [[Pronunciation Differences|English]] does. These glides are '''[j]''' ([[Spelling|written]] ''i''), pronounced like English ''y'', and '''[w]''' (also written ''w''), pronounced like English ''w''. However, these two sounds (as indicated by the choice to write them in [square brackets]) are not considered individual sounds, or '''phonemes''', by researchers, but are instead considered to be specific pronunciations, or '''allophones''', of the [[vowels]] /i/ and /u/ (where /slash brackets/ indicate phonemic status).

Below are described the places or '''environments''' where the vowels become their respective glides. It will be noted that it is far more common for /u/ to become [w] than it is for /i/ to become [j].

Learners and language teachers should be aware that the sounds on this page are written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa International Phonetic Alphabet], or IPA. Audio examples will usually be given when a relevant sound is introduced, but not all will be present. A basic introduction to the IPA sounds of Mi'gmaq can be found on the [[Spelling]] page.

=/i/=

The phoneme /i/ becomes [j] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-52b.AIFF [aja]] (Ladefoged 2005)) after the vowels '''/a/''' and '''/ɛ/''', as well as their long counterparts /aː/ and /ɛː/. Relevant examples (spoken examples taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]) are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ /i/ → [j]
! Environment||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | a_†
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eltaqaiaq/recording1.mp3 eltaqa'''i'''aq]
| [ɛltaχʌ'''j'''aχ]
| 'it ([[Animacy|inanimate]]) extends toward…'
|-
! align="center" | a'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/atla%27i/recording1.mp3 atla''''i''']
| [adəla''''j''']
| 'shirt'
|-
! align="center" | e_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/alawei/recording1.mp3 alawe'''i''']
| [alawɛ'''j''']
| 'pea'
|-
! align="center" | e'_
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tle%27iawig/recording1.mp3 tle''''i'''awig]
| [tl̩leː'''j'''awikʰ]
| 'it (inanimate) belongs there'
|}

† A note on notation: the underscore (_) here indicates where the /i/ would be.

=/u/=

The phoneme /u/ becomes [w] (as in [http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter1/ipaSOUNDS/Con-73b.AIFF [awa]] (Ladefoged 2005)) in the following environments:

* After a vowel and another sound:
** After a vowel, as in ''m'''awe'''glulg'', 'it (inanimate) is very good', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawiglulg/recording1.mp3 [m'''awe'''gəlul̥kʰ]]
** After a consonant, as in ''m'''awg'''itg'', 'he or she includes it (inanimate) in a count', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgitg/recording1.mp3 [m'''aw̥k'''itkʰ]]
* At the beginnings of words ''before'' vowels, as in '''''we'''lp'teg'', 'it (inanimate) is nice and warm', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/w/welp%27teg/recording1.mp3 ['''wɛ'''lbədɛkʰ]]
* At the ends of words ''after'' vowels, as in ''apt'''iw''''', 'always', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/apjiw/recording1.mp3 [apd͡ʒ'''iw''']]

An exhaustive list of the environments where /u/ becomes [w] (written in the [[Spelling|Listuguj orthography]] is found in the table below. Please note that the hashmark (#) stands in for both a word ''beginning'' and a word ''end''. Please also note that the ''w''s after ''g'' and ''q'' are not counted, since ''gw'' and ''qw'' are considered to be separate letters or phonemes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Environments where /u/ → [w]
! scope="col" | Word-Initially
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Word-Medially
! scope="col" | Word-Finally
|-
| #wa(')
| a(')wa(')
| e(')wa(')
| i(')wa(')
| owa(')
| uwa
| a(')w#
|-
| #we(')
| a(')we(')
| e(')we(')
| iwe(')
| o(')we(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| e(')w#
|-
| #wi(')
| a(')wi(')
| e(')wi(')
| iwi
| owi(')
| uwi'
| i(')w#
|-
| #wo(')
| awo(')
| e(')wo(')
| iwo
| owo(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ow#
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awu
| e(')wu(')
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awp
| ewp
| iwp
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awt
| ewt
| iwt
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awg
| ewg
| iwg
| owg
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awgw
| ewgw
| iwgw
| owgw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awq
| ewq
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewqw
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| aws
| ews
| iws
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awj
| ewj
| iwj
| owj
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| ewm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| owm
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awn
| ewn
| iwn
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|-
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| awl
| ewl
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
| style="background: grey; color: white" |
|}

The following patterns can be noticed in the table above:

* /u/ never becomes [w] ''before'' a vowel word-medially: these are always uV(') sequences (where V stands for any vowel).
* [[Schwa]] is never present in any sequence.
* [w] is only allowed between a short vowel and a consonant, never between a [[Sound Length|long]] vowel and a consonant.

=Processes=

Although [j] and [w] are ultimately vowels, they behave like other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonorant sonorant] [[consonants]] in Mi'gmaq. That is, they are subject to the same processes as the other sonorants, such as '''devoicing''' and '''lengthening''', described below. They are, however, barred from being [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]] - their vowel counterparts are found in that position.

==Devoicing==

''Main page: [[Obstruents#Devoicing|Devoicing]]

Like other sonorants, [w] and [j] are able to be '''devoiced''' when located before [[obstruents]]. Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Devoiced Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" | j
| align="center" | j̊
| align="center" | [aj̊a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/seitun/recording1.mp3 se'''i'''tun]
| [se'''j̊'''tun]
| 'blabbermouth'
|-
! align="center" | w
| align="center" | w̥
| align="center" | [aw̥a]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/anawtig/recording1.mp3 ana'''w'''tig]
| [ana'''w̥'''tikʰ]
| 'it is inexpensive'
|}

==Lengthening==

''Main page: [[Sound Length]]''

Sonorants (including glides) may also be optionally '''lengthened''' when located between a vowel and another consonant (usually described as being in a [[Syllables|syllable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllable_coda#Coda coda]). This lengthening is ''not'' the same as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate gemination] - a second sonorant will ''not'' appear in the [[spelling]] of the word as it does in ''wigatignn'', 'books'.

The lengthened sonorants may also be subject to [[W and I#Devoicing|devoicing]], depending on whether the following consonant is a sonorant or an [[Obstruents|obstruent]]. Examples of the lengthened glides, both voiced and devoiced, are given in the table below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lengthened Glides
! Glide||Allophone||Pronunciation||Example||Transcription||Translation
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | j
| align="center" | jː
| align="center" | [ajːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/metla%27saigl/recording1.mp3 metlasa'''i''gl]
| [mɛdəlasa'''jː'''gl̩]
| 'ten dollars'
|-
| align="center" | j̊ː
| align="center" | [aj̊ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/eig/recording1.mp3 e'''i'''g]
| [e'''j̊ː'''kʰ]
| 'he or she is present'
|-
! align="center" rowspan="2" | w
| align="center" | wː
| align="center" | [awːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/elawlet/recording1.mp3 ela'''w'''let]
| [ɛla'''wː'''lɛtʰ]
| 'he or she lugs something toward on back'
|-
| align="center" | w̥ː
| align="center" | [aw̥ːa]
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mawgamit/recording1.mp3 ma'''w'''gamit]
| [ma'''w̥ː'''kamitʰ]
| 'he or she is the fattest'
|}

=References=
* Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. ''A Course in Phonetics''. 5th ed. Boston: Thomson Higher Education.
* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:43:29Z

Erin: /* Word-Final */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Word-Final Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ No Schwa Insertion
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:42:57Z

Erin: /* Word-Medial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa Insertion with Three Consonants
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:42:09Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below. [[Syllables]] are marked off with dots. All audio examples are taken from the [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/ Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:40:33Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below (syllables marked off with dots):

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:39:49Z

Erin: /* Word-Final */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below (syllables marked off with dots):

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| si'''gn'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sign/recording1.mp3 [si.'''gən''']]
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu''''gl'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tapu%27gl/recording1.mp3 [ta.puː.'''gəl''']]
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnu'''tg'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/a/agnutg/recording1.mp3 [a.gə.nu'''tkʰ''']]
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu''''sgw'''
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sigu%27sgw/recording1.mp3 [si.guː'''skʷʰ''']]
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilmi'''nn'''
| [əs.gɪl.mɪ'''nn''']
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:36:43Z

Erin: /* Word-Medial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below (syllables marked off with dots):

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''o'''qn'''isgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| sign
| si.gən
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu'gl
| da.puː.gəl
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnutg
| a.gə.nutk
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu'sgw
| si.guːskʷ
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilminn
| əs.gɪl.mɪnn
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:36:02Z

Erin: /* Word-Medial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below (syllables marked off with dots):

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''oqnisgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.'''ħə.n'''is.gwaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is of the same sonority as ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''tpl'''utaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.pə.l'''u.da.ħan]]
| 'law'
|-
| o''''plt'''eg
| [oː.'''bəl.d'''ɛkʰ]
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| '''gmsnm'''uaw
| ['''kəm.sən.m'''u.aw]
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/i/istua%27latl/recording1.mp3 [isˑ.du.aː.la.'''tl̩''']].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like '''''gsn'''qo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.sən.h'''oː.hwon]].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/e/ennmtesg/recording1.mp3 ['''ɛn.nəm'''.tɛskʰ]]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| sign
| si.gən
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu'gl
| da.puː.gəl
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnutg
| a.gə.nutk
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu'sgw
| si.guːskʷ
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilminn
| əs.gɪl.mɪnn
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]

Writing Schwa

2012-08-07T18:29:26Z

Erin: /* Word-Initial */

In addition to the five main vowels ''a, e, i, o'' and ''u'', Mi'gmaq has an additional "sixth vowel", or [[schwa]]. Written in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa| International Phonetic Alphabet], it is [ə]. When written in the Listuguj [[Spelling| orthography]], it is written with an apostrophe. However, regardless of the spelling system used, it is for the most part not written. This page describes the places where schwa is written and where it is not.

=Where to Write Schwa=

Schwa is written in any place where it is ''not predictable by rule''. That is, it is written when it is said and not predicted by the writing system. The following section will detail the places where schwa is predictable and therefore ''not written''.

=Where NOT to Write Schwa=

These are all the places where schwa is predictable and ''not'' included in the orthography. They are broken up by word-initial, word-medial, and word-final '''epenthesis''' or insertion rules. As a general rule of thumb, a schwa is inserted wherever a sequence of consonants cannot be [[Syllables|syllabified]] in Mi'gmaq.

==Word-Initial==

The general rule for word-initial schwa epenthesis is as follows:

"When a word begins with two consonants, insert a schwa before the '''most sonorous''' consonant."

In this case, the "most sonorous" consonant is the consonant that is the loudest, or pronounced closest to the way a vowel is pronounced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonority_hierarchy]. In Mi'gmaq, the hierarchy is as follows:

all vowels > ''l'' > ''n'' > ''m'' > ''s, p, t, g, q, gw, qw'', and ''j''

Some examples of where to insert schwa are given in the table below (syllables marked off with dots):

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before ''m'', ''n'', ''l''
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''ln'''ui'sit
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lnui%27sit/recording1.mp3 ['''əlː.n'''u.iː.sitʰ]]
| 'he speaks the native language'
|-
| '''lm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog'
|-
| '''ml'''agejg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mlagejg/recording1.mp3 ['''mə.l'''a.gɛtʃkʰ]]
| 'milk'
|-
| '''nm'''u'j
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/n/nmu%27j/recording1.mp3 ['''ən.m'''uːtʃ]]
| 'dog' (alternate pronunciation)
|-
| '''mn'''tn
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/m/mntn/recording1.mp3 ['''mən'''ː.dən]]
| 'mountain'
|-
| '''sm'''tug
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/smtug/recording1.mp3 ['''səm̩̊'''ː.tukʷʰ]]
| 'right away'
|-
| '''sl'''aps
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/slaps/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.l'''aps]]
| 'slab of wood'
|-
| '''sn'''awei
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/snawei/recording1.mp3 ['''sə.n'''a.wej]
| 'maple tree'
|}

When the two consonants have the ''same sonority'', however, the schwa is always placed before the ''first'' consonant. The following are some examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schwa before Consonants of the Same Sonority
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| '''sg'''u'l
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/sgu%27l/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.k'''uːl]
| 'school'
|-
| '''st'''oqon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/s/stoqon/recording1.mp3 ['''əsː.t'''ɔ.hon]]
| 'fir tree'
|-
| '''ll'''uigneg
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/l/lluigneg/recording1.mp3 ['''əl.l'''u.i.gə.nɛkʰ]]
| 'seven'
|-
| '''tg'''nu
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tgnu/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.k'''ə.nu]]
| 'sweat'
|-
| '''tq'''oq
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tqoq/recording1.mp3 ['''ətʰ.ɢ'''ɔq͡χ]]
| 'last fall'
|-
| '''pt'''aqan
| ['''əp.t'''a.ħan]
| 'plate'
|-
| '''tp'''lutaqan
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/t/tplutaqan/recording1.mp3 ['''ət.p'''ə.lu.da.ħan]
| 'law'
|-
| ''gs''nqo'qon
| [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/words-mp3/media/g/gsnqo%27qon/recording1.mp3 ['''ək.s'''ənˑ.hoː.hwɔn]]
| 'foolishness'
|}

==Word-Medial==

When ''two'' consonants appear between two vowels within a word (and are ''not identical'' consonants, or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminate geminate] consonant), the epenthesis rules are slightly different. Usually, the schwa appears between the consonants. However, this will only happen if the first consonant is ''lower in sonority'' than the second. In other words:

"When two non-identical consonants are between two vowels, insert a schwa ''only'' if the first consonant is ''less sonorous'' than the second.
Otherwise, insert no schwa."

So, for example, a schwa will be inserted between ''q'' and ''n'' in the word ''oqnisgwa'tu'', 'cover it up', so that it is pronounced [o.ħə.nis.gʷaː.du]. However, no schwa is necessary between the ''s'' and the ''gw'' in this word since ''s'' is higher in sonority than ''gw''. No schwa is needed in the word ''jiptug'', 'perhaps', as well, since both consonants are of the same sonority.

'''Note''': This rule does not work as well with respect to the sound ''g'', which is subject to the epenthesis rules for some speakers and not for others. For example, some speakers will pronounce ''Mi'gmaq'' [miːk.maq] and others will pronounce it [miː.gə.maq].

When ''three or more'' consonants appear between two vowels (or word-initially), the schwa is generally inserted ''before the most sonorous'', as in the word-initial cases listed above. Three examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| tplutaqan
| ət.pə.lu.da.ħan
| 'law'
|-
| o'plteg
| oː.bəl.dɛk
| 'it's not set right'
|-
| gmsnmuaw
| gəm.sən.mu.aw
| 'do not take (imperative)'
|}

In ''o'plteg'', some speakers may simply replace the vowel with the ''l'' and pronounce it [oː.bl̩.dɛk]. This is very common word-finally, as in ''istua'latl'', 'he or she turns him or her sideways', pronounced [ɪs.du.aː.la.tl̩].

For words that have ''many consonants'' in a row, it is best to pick out the ''most sonorous'' and insert a schwa before it. So, if a form like ''gsnqo'qon'', 'foolishness', is encountered, a schwa will be inserted first before the ''n'', giving the provisionary [ksən.qoː.qon]. No schwa needs to be inserted between the ''n'' and the ''q'', since ''n'' is higher in sonority than ''q''. A further schwa is needed to break up the ''gs'', however, so by the word-initial rules, it is inserted before the ''g'', giving the final [ək.sən.qoː.qon].

If there is a ''double consonant'' or '''geminate''', however, the schwa will appear ''after the geminate'', as in ''ennmtesg'', 'it pierces', pronounced [ɛn.nəm.tɛsk]. This is occasionally written with the apostrophe in the Listuguj orthography and occasionally not.

==Word-Final==

When two consonants are located at the end of a word, a schwa is only inserted if the second consonant is ''more sonorous'' than the first consonant.† Some examples are given below:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| sign
| si.gən
| 'sock, stocking'
|-
| tapu'gl
| da.puː.gəl
| 'two of them'
|}

† There is debate over whether there is actually a schwa inserted here, or if the sonorant is [[Syllables#Syllabic Sonorants|syllabic]]. For discussion, please see the page [[Stress]].

If the two consonants are of equal sonority or are identical, no schwa is inserted, as in the following examples:

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Word||Pronunciation||Translation
|-
| agnutg
| a.gə.nutk
| 'he or she talks about it'
|-
| sigu'sgw
| si.guːskʷ
| 'widow'
|-
| sgilminn
| əs.gɪl.mɪnn
| 'seeds'
|}

=References=

* [http://www.mikmaqonline.org/| Mi'gmaq Talking Dictionary]