Shingazidja is an easy language to learn, especially when it comes to
pronunciation. Many of its words
are pronounced the way they are written.
ALPHABET
words with normal articulation
|
A |
Pronounced
as in
Alaska |
|
B |
Is
bilabial except in loaned words |
|
C |
Pronounced
as in
Church |
|
D |
Pronounced
as in
Darwin |
|
E |
Pronounced
as in
Egg |
|
F |
Pronounced
as in
Fault |
|
G |
Pronounced
as in
Go |
|
H |
Pronounced
as in
Hire |
|
I |
Pronounced
as in India |
|
J |
Pronounced
as in
James |
|
K |
Pronounced
as in
Kentucky |
|
L |
Pronounced
as in
Land |
|
M |
Pronounced
as in
Miami |
|
N |
Pronounced
as in
Nebraska |
|
O |
Pronounced
as in
Orange |
|
P |
Pronounced
as in
People |
|
R |
Pronounced
as in
Ranch |
|
S |
Pronounced
as in
South |
|
T |
Pronounced
as in
Teacher |
|
U |
Pronounced
as in
Rule |
|
V |
Pronounced
as in
Voice |
|
W |
Pronounced
as in
West |
|
Y |
Pronounced
as in
York |
|
Z |
Pronounced
as in
Zanzibar |
As you may have
noticed, there is no Q & X in Shingazidja.
Moreover, C sound always as CH in church and never as an S.
words
with combined consonants
Some alphabetical
sounds are the result of combined consonants.
These combined consonants are used in borrowed words especially arabic
ones
|
Dj |
As
in Jungle |
"example,
djirani = the neighbor" |
|
Sh |
As
in Show |
"example,
shahula = meal" |
|
Pv |
As
in |
"example,
" |
|
Ny |
As
in spanish mañaña |
"example,
nyama = meat " |
|
Th |
As
in think |
"example,
thamani = price or value
" |
|
Dh |
As
in The |
"example,
dhahabu = or" |
|
Kh* |
|
"example, khatwari = danger" |
|
Gh |
|
"example,
lugha = language" |
|
Tw |
As
in twin |
"example,
twawuni = famine" |
|
Sw |
As
in swift |
"example,
swala = prayer " |
|
Dhw |
|
"example,
dhwamana = the supervisor " |
|
Mw |
|
"example,
mwaha = a year " |
|
Tr |
As
in tree |
"example,
trango = melon " |
|
Dr |
As
in dream |
"example,
ndravu = branch " |
|
Ts |
|
"example,
tsumu = fasting " |
|
Pw |
|
"example,
pwapwai = papaya fruit " |
|
Bw |
|
"example,
bwibwii = woman voile " |
|
Ng |
Pronunced
as written |
"example,
ngama = a hole " |
* Most of
the tim the “kh” could be replaced by “h”; example “kheri =
goodness” could become “heri”.
Some
words with complex or specific articulation
pre-nasal articulation
-
m in
front of bilabial (p, b, pv, pb ),
the m is articulated together with the word combined with and use the vowel as
if it was a normal combined word:
mbuzi = goat
mpbua = nose mpundra
= ane
mpvenye = storms
-
n in front of other words
ndevu = bird
nvua = rain ntondoo = a piece (a loaf)
nasal articulation
-
m is used in front of consonnant and there is
some kind of holding the m [mu] before finishing the word.
In this case the m is used with all consonants and sound the same way
except in front of w and y which are considered as semi-vowels.
Mdzadze = mother mda
= cultivated field mtsundji
= a water conainer
N.B :. In front of bilabials (p, b, pv, pb ), the nasal m
can be heard clearly and you can make a real difference between it and the
pre-nasal.
Mbaba
= father
mpaka = limit (border line)
VOWELS
A
Pronounced as in Alaska with all consonants and no matter which vowel
follows it. Combined with i and e, you can hear some kind of sound close to the "y" in
York. ( example, faida(benefit) is
read fayida; elea (serve the food) is read
eleya. Combined with u
and o,
you can hear some kind of sound close to the "w" in watt
( example, fua(to wash cloth) is read fuwa; toa (get something
out) is read towa.
I
Pronounced as in Italy is read the same way if it follows a consonant :
Hiri (chair), fikira (idea). When
beginning a word or when following another vowel, it is read with "y"
sound; example, itranda (bed) is read
yitranda; mwiano (border
line or limit) is read mwiyano.
U
Pronounced as in Zulu is read as the
"ou" in you :
puhu = rat. When beginning a
word or if it is preceded by another vowel, the u
is pronounced with a weak sound of w.
Example, upepo (wupepo) = wind; hufua
(hufuwa) = to do the laundry.
E
Pronounced as in Egg
O Pronounced as in Orange
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