Lesson 7: Pronunciation

01

Pronunciation

  • In Maya, as in many other languages, a large number of related sound-variants are represented by the chameleon-like j. Many words in Maya begin with j followed by a vowel. In the following pronunciation exercise listen to how the initial j assumes the shape and quality of the vowel which it precedes. Note that the j is like the vowel except that it is voiceless through all, or most, of its course and has more breath-force behind it. It may be difficult to tell the point at which the j ends and the vowel begins. Note, too, its frequent fricativeness, especially before front i and back u.

Initial j

Pronunciation exercise number 1

  • jiil
  • jeel
  • jaal
  • jool
  • juul
  • jiitʾ
  • jeʾ
  • jaʾ
  • joʾ
  • juukʾ
02

Pronunciation

  • Not only can Maya words begin in j plus any vowel, but also in j plus any consonant. Note that when j is followed by a consonant, it has the shape and quality of none of the Maya vowels; here it has the quality of a "neutral" vowel as in English ʾjust [so]ʾ (although here, too, this Maya j is voiceless).

Initial j

Pronunciation exercise number 2

  • j miis
  • j meen
  • j maan
  • j mool
  • j muul
  • j tʾeel
  • j tsoʾ
  • j chʾoom
  • j looxnajij
  • j iʾ
  • j tsʾóonij
  • j jíitʾij
  • j báabnajij
  • j paynajij
  • j xíimbanajij
03

Pronunciation

  • In neutral-accented Maya words of one syllable ending in j, it is easy to hear the final j. Note that it is heard as a rapid de-voicing of the vowel which precedes it, that is, it maintains the shape and quality of the vowel, but acquires the voiceless aspirate characteristics of initial j.

Utterance-final j

Pronunciation exercise number 3

  • kij
  • bej
  • naj
  • koj
  • puj
  • nej
  • baj
  • toj
  • xeh
  • yaj
  • yej
  • tsaj
04

Pronunciation

  • A few words with the complex syllabic vʾv also end in j, and in these, too, the j is easily heard.

Utterance-final j

Pronunciation exercise number 4

  • yiʾij
  • cheʾej
  • naʾaj
  • noʾoj
05

Pronunciation

  • In level-accented Maya words of one syllable ending in j, the final j varies somewhat in strength, sometimes fairly strong, sometimes somewhat more breathy in character (with little noticeable local friction in the mouth).

Utterance-final j

Pronunciation exercise number 5

  • leej
  • waaj
  • kooj
  • chuuj
  • tsʾeej
  • jaaj
  • chooj
  • juuj
  • laaj
  • tʾooj
  • baaj
  • taaj
06

Pronunciation

  • In glide-accented Maya words of one syllable ending in j, the final j is clear although not strong and with little or no local friction in the mouth.

Utterance-final j

Pronunciation exercise number 6

  • kéej
  • kʾáaj
  • chúuj
07

Pronunciation

  • Here, too, the j is clear, but has more noticeable local friction in the mouth after i and u than after e, o, or a. These syllable-final jʾs are not very strong.

Syllable-final j before a consonant

Pronunciation exercise number 7

  • chʾíijsaj
  • bejlaʾeʾ
  • sajkab
  • nojbeʾen
  • kʾujsaj
  • yiijtal
  • in w éej taal
  • páajtal
  • xojkʾiin
  • chujkaab
  • síijsaj
  • tsʾon kejnajij
  • kʾaʾajsajil
  • x noʾojkʾabil
  • káajtal
  • kolojcheʾ
  • jaajtal
08

Pronunciation

  • Such final jʾs are extremely weak. In words of Spanish origin (josej, papaj, meesaj, peedroj, priimoj, iijoj, peesoj, espiirituj), final j may be entirely absent. Listen to what your informant does here and elsewhere in such words.

Final j in a neutral-accented syllable of words of more-than-one syllable

Pronunciation exercise number 8

  • kíimij
  • aʾalej
  • lúubsaj
  • peedroj
  • espiirituj
  • jéetij
  • ukʾej
  • éemsaj
  • priimoj
  • buuluj
  • jaʾatsʾij
  • tsʾajej
  • ukʾaj
  • iijoj
  • luubuj
  • tsʾoʾonij
  • t u y éemej
  • papaj
  • peesoj
  • josej
  • meesaj
  • taataj
  • jeʾes a baj
09

Pronunciation

  • All these jʾs are reasonably clear and fairly strong. Listen carefully and repeat them precisely.

Syllable-final compound-medial jʾs

Pronunciation exercise number 9

  • cheʾej okol
  • túuntaj óol
  • toj óol
  • táaj talam
  • kímsaj wíinik
10

Pronunciation

  • Such jʾs are present when the word occurs in utterance-final but frequently absent when the words occur in phrase or utterance-medial position. Listen carefully and repeat each example precisely.

Word-final phrase-medial jʾs

Pronunciation exercise number 10

  • u taataj
  • u taataj wíinik
  • u maamaj
  • u maamaj oolgaj
  • meesaj
  • le meesaj teʾeloʾ
  • jeʾes a baj
  • jeʾes a baj teʾeloʾ
  • espiirituj
  • u espiirituj kʾáax
  • buuluj
  • buuluj kʾáax
  • un peesoj
  • un peesoj wá doos pesos
  • t u y éemej
  • t u y éemej teʾeloʾ
  • maayaj
  • k u tʾaʾanal maayaj teʾeloʾ