{"id":419,"date":"2009-12-29T10:30:06","date_gmt":"2009-12-29T15:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beta.eastcree.org\/eastcree\/?page_id=419"},"modified":"2017-07-17T21:10:36","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T01:10:36","slug":"lax-vowels","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eastcree.org\/cree\/en\/grammar\/sounds-east-cree\/sounds\/vowels\/lax-vowels\/","title":{"rendered":"Lax Vowels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/a>Lax Vowels<\/h1>\r\n

The LAX VOWELS I, U, and A are very short in duration; they can even be silent<\/a>. Lax vowels also sound quite different when they are in combination<\/a> with W or U. (For example, they can be tense instead of lax.) The pronunciation of lax U, I and A is described below. (Most of the examples on this page are from speaker AD; the remainder are from speaker LS.)<\/p>\r\n

Lax U<\/h3>\r\n

U sounds like lax [ \u028a ]<\/span> (the vowel in push<\/em>). It can also sound O-like [ \u028a \u031e]<\/span>, and longer [ \u028a\u02d0 ]<\/span>. (To an English speaker, long [ \u028a\u02d0 ]<\/span> would a bit sound more like the [ u ]<\/span> in boot<\/em> because of its longer duration.) [ \u028a ]<\/span> is the most common pronunciation of U. See the vowel listening practice<\/a> page for more examples.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u14a5\u1525\u146f\u1511\u1525<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\namishku<\/strong>shish<\/td>\r\namish – ku<\/strong>shish<\/td>\r\n[ a\u031dm\u0283 – \u02c8k\u028a<\/strong>\u0283\u02d0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u144e\u1426\u1449<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>tihp<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>tihp<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u028a\u02d0<\/strong>t\u02b0p\u02b0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u148b\u1505\u1456\u14f1\u14d0\u1426<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nachistaasu<\/strong>nh<\/td>\r\na – chistaa – su<\/strong>nh<\/td>\r\n[ \u0268 – tsta\u02d0 – \u02c8s\u028a<\/strong>n ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14c3\u1502\u14f1\u14bb\u144e\u14c2\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nniiswaasu<\/strong>mtiniu<\/td>\r\nnii – swaa – su<\/strong>mi – ti – niu<\/td>\r\n[ ni – s\u0254\u02d0 – s\u028a<\/strong>m – \u02c8t\u026a – nu\u031d\u0294 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140b\u1426\u148c\u146f\u1525<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\naahchiiku<\/strong>sh<\/td>\r\naahchii – ku<\/strong>sh<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1473\u146f\u1525\u1426<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nkaaku<\/strong>shiish<\/td>\r\nkaa – ku<\/strong> – shiish<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14a7\u1426\u144c\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nmu<\/strong>hteu<\/td>\r\nmu<\/strong>h – teu<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

U can also sound like a tense [ u ]<\/span> (the vowel in boot<\/em>), particularly when preceded or followed by tense [ i ]<\/span> or the glide [ j ]<\/span>; it can also sound tense before [ h ]<\/span>, [ s ]<\/span> and [ \u0283 ]<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14a5\u152a\u1511\u14a5\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nmiyu<\/strong>shimiu<\/td>\r\nmi – yu<\/strong> – shi – miu<\/td>\r\n[mi – ju<\/strong> – \u02c8\u0283\u026am – mu\u031e\u0294 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1439\u144e\u146f\u1466<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\npaatiku<\/strong>t<\/td>\r\npaati – ku<\/strong>t<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8pa\u02d0t\u02b0 – ku\u031e\u02d0<\/strong>t\u02b0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u1446\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>pwaan<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong> – pwaan<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8u\u031e<\/strong> – p\u0254\u02d0n ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u1505\u1431\u1450\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>spitun<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>s – pi – tun<\/td>\r\n[u\u02d0<\/strong>s – \u02c8p\u028a – t\u028an ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u1426\u1431\u14d0\u1426<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>hpinh<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>h – pinh<\/td>\r\n[ u\u02d0<\/strong>\u02b0 – \u02c8p\u026an\u02b0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14a5\u152a\u1505\u1472\u14a8<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nmiyu<\/strong>skamuu<\/td>\r\nmi – yu<\/strong>s – ka – muu<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u1426\u1431\u14ef\u1472\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>hpisikan<\/td>\r\nu<\/strong>hpi – si – kan<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1410\u1424\u1426<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nwiiu<\/strong>h<\/td>\r\nwiiu<\/strong>h<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

In some cases, U can even sound a bit more like [ \u0259 ]<\/span> (the indistinct sound heard at the beginning of a<\/strong>bout<\/em>).<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1516\u1433\u14a5\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nshaapu<\/strong>min *<\/td>\r\nshaa – pu<\/strong> – min<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u0283a – p\u0259<\/strong> – m\u026an ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

* In this word, it’s hard to tell if the vowel sound is<\/em> [ \u028a ]<\/span> or<\/em> [ \u0259 ]<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140b\u1403\u1426\u146f\u14c8\u1489\u14f2<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\naaihku<\/strong>naachesuu<\/td>\r\naaih – ku<\/strong> – naa – che – suu<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Lax I<\/h3>\r\n

I sounds like lax [ \u026a ]<\/span> (the vowel in fish<\/em>). [ \u026a ]<\/span> is the most common pronunciation of I.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u1446\u14c2\u1525<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\napwaani<\/strong>sh<\/td>\r\na – pwaa – ni<\/strong>sh<\/td>\r\n[ \u0268 – p\u0254\u02d0 – \u02c8n\u026a<\/strong>\u0283 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u148b\u1505\u1431\u1473\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nchispi<\/strong>kaau<\/td>\r\nchispi<\/strong> – kaau<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8tsp\u026a<\/strong> – kaw ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u146d\u1431\u1456\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nki<\/strong>pi<\/strong>taau<\/td>\r\nki<\/strong> – pi<\/strong> – taau<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8k\u026a<\/strong> – p\u026a<\/strong> – taw ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14c2\u1505\u1483<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nni<\/strong>sk<\/td>\r\nni<\/strong>sk<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8n\u026a<\/strong>sk\u02b0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u152b\u14a5\u14c2\u14a1<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nayuumi<\/strong>nich<\/td>\r\na – yuu – mi<\/strong>nich<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1431\u148b\u1505\u1472\u14c8\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\npi<\/strong>chiskanaau<\/td>\r\npi<\/strong> – chiska – naau<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u144e\u14a5\u1426\u148b\u14c0\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\ntimihchi<\/strong>neu<\/td>\r\ntimih – chi<\/strong> – neu<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

However, I can also sound like tense [ i ]<\/span> (the vowel in eat<\/em>), particularly before Y, and at the beginning of the word before [ h ]<\/span>, [ s ]<\/span> or [ \u0283 ]<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1403\u1525\u1431\u14a5\u1426\u14a1<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>shpimihch<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>sh – pimihch<\/td>\r\n[ i\u0283 – \u02c8p\u026am\u02b0t\u0283 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1403\u152e\u1511\u1426\u1466<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>yaashiht<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong> – yaashiht<\/td>\r\n[ i<\/strong> – \u02c8ja\u0283\u02d0t\u02b0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1403\u1528\u14bb<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>yim<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong> – yim<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1403\u1525\u146f\u144c\u1426\u1473\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>shkutehkaan<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>sh – ku – teh – kaan<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1403\u1525\u1480\u152e\u14c2\u1426\u14a1<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>shkwaayaanihch<\/td>\r\ni<\/strong>sh – kwaa – yanihch<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

I can also sound more indistinct, like the [ \u0259 ]<\/span> sound in a<\/strong>bout<\/em> or the [ \u0268 ]<\/span> sound in dishe<\/strong>s<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14ab\u144e\u1419\u140e\u14d0\u1426<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nmaati<\/strong>waawinh<\/td>\r\nmaa – ti<\/strong> – waa – winh<\/td>\r\n[ ma – t\u0259<\/strong> – w\u0254\u02d0 – \u02c8w\u0259n\u02b0 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1431\u148b\u1505\u146d\u14c8\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\npi<\/strong>chiskinaau<\/td>\r\npi<\/strong>chis – ki – naau<\/td>\r\n[ p\u0259<\/strong>ts – \u02c8k\u026a – naw ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1431\u14db\u1405\u1505<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\npi<\/strong>laaus<\/td>\r\npi<\/strong> – laaus<\/td>\r\n[ p\u0259<\/strong> – \u02c8laws ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14c2\u1505\u148b\u14a6\u148b\u14bb<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nni<\/strong>schi<\/strong>miichim<\/td>\r\nni<\/strong>s – chi<\/strong> – mii – chim<\/td>\r\n[ n\u0268<\/strong>s – t\u0283\u0259<\/strong> – \u02c8mi\u02d0 – t\u0283\u0268m ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14a5\u1426\u1480\u1424<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nmi<\/strong>hkwaau<\/td>\r\nmi<\/strong>h – kwaau<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8m\u0268<\/strong>h – k\u0254\u02d0w ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14ab\u1426\u146f\u1431\u1455\u14bb<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nmaahkupi<\/strong>tam<\/td>\r\nmaah – ku – pi<\/strong> – tam<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u148b\u14a8\u14c2\u1438\u152b<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nchi<\/strong>muuni<\/strong>payuu<\/td>\r\nchi<\/strong> – muu – ni<\/strong> – pa – yuu<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/a>One interesting fact about the East Cree roman spelling system is that the letter I can sound like [ \u028a ]<\/span> when the following vowel is U, or when KW follows, or when some M sounds follow (particularly when the M is at the end of the word).<\/p>\r\n

I sounds like [ \u028a ]<\/span> in anticipation of the following U sound.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140b\u1431\u146f\u1512\u1525<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\naapi<\/strong>kushiish<\/td>\r\naa – pi<\/strong>ku – shiish<\/td>\r\n[ a – \u02c8p\u028a<\/strong>k\u028a\u0325 – \u0283i\u0283 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u1505\u1431\u1450\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nuspi<\/strong>tun<\/td>\r\nus – pi<\/strong> – tun<\/td>\r\n[ us – \u02c8p\u028a<\/strong> – t\u028an ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u148b\u1505\u144e\u146f\u1426\u1406<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nchisti<\/strong>kuhuu<\/td>\r\nchisti<\/strong>ku – huu<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u14c2\u146f\u1491\u1525<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nni<\/strong>kuchaash<\/td>\r\nni <\/strong>– ku – chaash<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

I sounds like [ \u028a ]<\/span> in anticipation of the following KW sound.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u148c\u1511\u1484<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nchiishi<\/strong>kw<\/td>\r\nchii – shi<\/strong>kw<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8t\u0283i\u02d0 – \u0283\u028a<\/strong>k\u02b7 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140b\u1426\u148b\u1484<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\naahchi<\/strong>kw<\/td>\r\naah – chi<\/strong>kw<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

In careful pronunciations, I might sound like [ \u026a ]<\/span> instead of [ \u028a ]<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1405\u1505\u1431\u1450\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nuspi<\/strong>tun<\/td>\r\nus – pi<\/strong> – tun<\/td>\r\n[ \u028as – \u02c8p\u026a<\/strong> – t\u028an ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140b\u1470\u1526\u148b\u1438\u148b\u1472\u14d0\u1426<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\naakuuyechi<\/strong>pachi<\/strong>kanh<\/td>\r\naa – kuu – ye – chi<\/strong> – pa – chi<\/strong> – kanh<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

I sounds like [ \u028a ]<\/span> when followed by word-final M. Historically, this M was an MW combination, so this example is similar to the chiishikw<\/em> example above.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u144e\u14bb<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\nati<\/strong>m<\/td>\r\na – ti<\/strong>m<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u026a – t\u028a<\/strong>m ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u1432\u14ef\u14bb<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\npiisi<\/strong>m<\/td>\r\npii – si<\/strong>m<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Lax A<\/h3>\r\n

In contrast with tense AA, which can sound like [ a(\u02d0) ]<\/span> or [ \u00e6(\u02d0) ]<\/span>, lax A more often sounds like the vowel [ \u025b ]<\/span> or [ a \u031d]<\/span> in e<\/strong>nd<\/em>, or the vowel [ \u026a ]<\/span> in begi<\/strong>n<\/em>. It can be difficult to tell whether the sound in question is [ \u026a ]<\/span> or [ \u025b ]<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n

A often sounds like [ \u025b ]<\/span> (the vowel in e<\/strong>nd<\/em>), or like [\u026a]<\/span> (the vowel in fi<\/strong>sh) or like [ \u0268 ]<\/span> (the last vowel sound in dishe<\/strong>s<\/em>).<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u14a5\u1505\u1484<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>miskw<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>miskw<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u025b<\/strong>msk\u02b7 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u14c2\u148b\u1484<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>nichikw<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>ni – chikw<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u025b<\/strong>n – t\u0283\u028ak\u02b7 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u14f5\u14a5\u14a1<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>saamich<\/td>\r\na<\/strong> – saamich<\/td>\r\n[ \u0268<\/strong> – \u02c8samt\u0283 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u144e\u1426\u1484<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>tihkw<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>tihkw<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u026a\u02d0<\/strong>t\u02b0k\u02b7 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u144e\u14bb<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>tim<\/td>\r\na<\/strong> – tim<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u026a<\/strong> – t\u028am ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u14c2\u148b\u1484<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>nichikw<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>ni – chikw<\/td>\r\n[ \u02c8\u026a<\/strong>n – t\u0283\u028ak\u02b7 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u146f\u1426\u1449<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>kuhp<\/td>\r\na<\/strong> – kuhp<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

A can also sound like [ \u0259 ]<\/span> (the first vowel in a<\/strong>bout<\/em>).<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u14f5\u14a5\u14a1<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>saamich<\/td>\r\na<\/strong> – saa – mich<\/td>\r\n[ \u0259<\/strong> – \u02c8sa – m\u026at\u0283 ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Southern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u1505\u148c<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>schii<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>s – chii<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

A can also sound like [ \u028c ]<\/span> (the vowel in hum<\/em>) when it precedes a word-final M.<\/p>\r\n

<\/a>Do the letters A and I represent two vowels or one?<\/h3>\r\n

In many cases, the letters A and I are pronounced the same. In addition to the above examples, consider this word in Northern East Cree, where the bolded A and I both sound like [ \u026a ]<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n
Northern<\/th>\r\nSyllables<\/th>\r\nIPA<\/a><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u1528\u14a5\u1419\u146d\u14d0<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\na<\/strong>yi<\/strong>miwaakin<\/td>\r\na<\/strong> – yi<\/strong>mi – waa – kin<\/td>\r\n[ \u026a<\/strong> – j\u026a<\/strong>m – \u02c8wa\u02d0 – k\u026an ]<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Depending on where you come from, the pronunciation of words with A and I can be very different. Northern speakers and Coastal Southern speakers tend to pronounce A and I the same way but Inland Southern speakers pronounce them differently. Listen to the word below to hear how the final A is pronounced by Coastal and Inland Southern speakers.<\/p>\r\n
<\/th>\r\n<\/th>\r\nInland<\/th>\r\nCoastal<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
\u140a\u144e\u1426\u146f\u1472\u14d0<\/td>\r\natihkuka<\/strong>n<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n\"Click<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Interestingly, this word in Northern East Cree is spelled with a final I, \u140a\u144e\u1426\u146f\u146d\u14d0<\/span> atihkukin<\/span>, reflecting the current pronunciation in that dialect.
\r\nTo know more, read: Dyck, Carrie, Marie-Odile Junker, and Kelly Logan. 2010. Phonetic and phonological evidence for a vowel merger in Southern East Cree.<\/a> In: Beth Rogers and Anita Szakay (eds.), Proceedings of the 15th Annual Workshop on the Structure and Constituency of the Languages of the Americas. UBC Working Papers in Linguistics 29: 98-114.<\/p>\r\n

How should I pronounce the letters A and I?<\/h3>\r\n

Conservatively speaking:<\/p>\r\n