Langue Tcherkess : Alphabet et Règles de lecture.

In Circassian language there are 7 vowels and 57 phonemes:

The following sounds have the corresponding in English.

А а = A (in the word 'after')

Б б = b (in the word 'bear')

В в = v ('voice')

Г г = g ('gain')

Д д = d ('dear')

Дж дж = j ('job')

Е е = ye ('yellow')

З = z ('zero')

И = ee ('bee')

Й = y (‘today’)

К = c ('cat')

Л = l ('leg')

М = m ('man')

Н = n ('new')

О = o ('box')

П = p ('pen')

С = s ('seven')

Т = t ('ten')

У = oo ('cool')

Ф = f ('fast')

Х = h ('help')

Ч = ch ('cheese')

Ш = sh ('shop')

Э = a ('glass')

Ю = you ('you')

Я = you ('young')

The Vowel sounds - а, э, ы, e, и, й, о, у, .

The Vowel ы has not the analogy in English. It is close to 'ee' ('beep') but more locked and has not the articulations in the manner of sprained lips.

From these vowels are formed an abruptives: Iа, Iэ, Iы, Iо, Iу.

At abruptive pronunciation speech organs execute the same function as at corresponding vowel pronunciation, but herewith occurs lump forced surge of air (as at moan), with no vocal cordses vibration. The difference between vowel and it's abruptive should be confirmed since it influences upon the sense.

Example: Iанэхэ - Tables, and анэхэ - their eyes, IукIын - meet and укIын to kill. For forming abruptive pronouncing - more sharp, staccato sound, at pronouncing which in larynxes between vocal cordses is formed the joining, which at the end of sound noisily tears.

Is a bit similar to the English 'r' ('ring') but the tongue should touch the salient under the teethes and make a vibration. Is similar to Russian "р" or Arabian "r"

Close to г with labialization i.e. is accompanied with lips truncation , as under 'oo' (look) in English. Is Read closely to 'go..' in English but sounds are pronounced simultaneously and 'у' does not serve here for forming the slab. For example: in the words 'гъогу' and 'джэгу' - one slab (heard "гъог", "джэг", but with lips truncation at the end of the word).

Close to г but more long, deep and pronounced with the vibration of the larynx lug. A bit similar to the French and to the German 'r'.

Close to гъ but labializated i.e. is accompanied with additional lips truncation, as under 'oo' ('look'). The lips are extended and rounded.

Close to дз, but the sounds meets in united sound

Close to 'sh' ('shop') but pronounced with voice.

Average between 'з' and 'ж. The narrow slot is formed between language and the tubercle on upper teeths. Air passing through this slot produces something average between whistle and hum.

Close to жъ but with labialization i.e. is accompanied with lips truncation . The Air gets through slot of round lips.

Is Pronounced as ж, but more long and softly.

Labialized к. Close to combination 'coo..' ('cool'), but is pronounced together.

Close to к, but is pronounced deeply in larynxes, "by the larynx top". The joining occurs at pronunciation and joining in larynxes between vocal cordses.

The labialized къ.

Hard laryngeal sound. Close to к but accompanied with additional vocal cordses articulation, which is at the beginning of sound closed, and at the end are opened, publishing noise. Average between 'k' ('key') and 'ch' ('child') but more deep and forced.

Labializated кI

More soft than English l.

Long, deaf, with no voice. A bit close to Л. The air passes through lateral slots between tongue and cheek inner face forming the intensive sound reminiscent hissing. Average between l('long') and sh ('shop').

Lateral, noisy, without aspiration. Close to лъ + vocal cordses additional articulation, which at the end of the sound are opened with noise.

Close to п + vocal cordses additional articulation forming joining, which at the end of the sound is opened with noise. The Lips under its pronunciation close tightly and tear the air, pronunciation its is accompanied the aspiration.

It Is Pronounced as пI but with presence an labialization ии.

Close to т + vocal cordses additional articulation forming joining, which at the end of the sound is opened with noise.

Close to тI but with labialization.

Has certain resemblance with English 'h' (heart), but more locked. The air blast is directed little skyward, and makes the lurinx lug to vibrate. Or as гъ but deaf, without voice.

Labialized хъ

Close to English 'h' (heart), but pronounced softly, with lips articulation, which corresponds to pronunciation vowel and in English.

Close to combination 'ts' ('bats'), but should be pronounced together.

Labialized ц. Close to English 'ts' ('tso').

Close to ц + vocal cordses additional articulation, which herewith do not publish any sound and occurs the unswitching of speech organs with noise at the end of the sound.

Close to ч. At breaking point of close organs larynxes is got sharp, staccato snapping sound.

Close to ч + additional joining of vocal cordses, which are opened at the end of sound, publishing typical noise.

Close to жъ but with no voice and more tense exhalation with aspiration.

Reminds 'sh' ('shop'). The Lips mildly ajar, tip of language mildly elated to the tubercle above the teeths. Air passes between tip of language and larynxes upper wall.

Labialized шъ.

Close to ш + the additional joining of vocal cordses, which at the end of sound are opened adding special tone.

Labialized шI. At sound termination lip accepting position as during prononcing 'oo' ('look'), form the slots betwen the lips air passes creating the additional noise reminiscent deaf whistle.

Laryngeal abruptive. The unswitching of close vocal cordses is formed with voice.

Labialized I

Before to start reading the sections make sure that you correcttly understand this chapter and may correctly read the Circassian sounds.