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Lesson 15: Pronunciation

01

Pronunciation

In 02.11.02, we presented the essential facts with respect to the characteristics and distribution of the three nasals (m, n, eng). In the exercises which follow, note carefully which nasal appears in each case. In 02.11.02 we noted that m appeared before labial stops (p, pʾ, b), n before dental stops (t, tʾ, d) and eng before velar stops (k, kʾ, g) and velar fricatives (j x), labiovelar (w), and before nasals (m, n), and all these in fast speech. In such cases the transition from one item to the next is normally close, that is, the nasals are followed by close juncture (not marked). In 02.11.02 we noted, likewise, that in slowspeech any one of these assimilated nasals could be replaced by the dental nasal (n). In such cases we may suggest that the non-assimilated dental nasal (n) is followed by open juncture. Listen carefully the following exercise and imitate precisely the nasal which you hear in each case:

Nasals and Open Juncture

Pronunciation exercise number 1

k in boʾotik
k in paʾatik
k in pʾátik
k in meyaj

02

Pronunciation

Note now the following:

Nasals and Open Juncture

Pronunciation exercise number 2

k in naʾatik
k in loxik
k in kanik
k in kʾubik
k in yéeyik
k in wenel
k in joʾosik
k in areglartik

03

Pronunciation

Now listen carefully to the following and repeat each example:

Nasals and Open Juncture

Pronunciation exercise number 3

in nail
in luʾum
in w òok
in yùum
in ʾajaw
ʾin ʾajaw
ʾin joʾol

04

Pronunciation

Now listen to the following and imitate it precisely:

Nasals and Open Juncture

Pronunciation exercise number 4

binen j màan
k u bin j xíimbal
k u bin j ʾaʾalej
ʾin j mèen

05

Pronunciation

Finally, note the following slow and fast forms:

Nasals and Open Juncture

Pronunciation exercise number 5

oxoʾomtej
ʾoxoʾontej
kíimsej
kíinsej
ʾíichamtsil
ʾíichantsil
máʾ ʾéemkeniʾ
máʾ ʾéenkeniʾ
k u y éemloʾob
k u y éenloʾob

06

Pronunciation

In certain items borrowed from Spanish, w alternates with u and y alternates with i, at the same time that the placing of high tone shifts from the vowel following the w or the y to the u or the i with which they alternate. Listen to the follwing and imitate what you hear:

Alternation between Semivowel and Vowel

Pronunciation exercise number 6

lwísaj
lúisaj
tyóoj
tíoj