Osage alphabet
Encyclopedia
In 2006, a distinctive script was promulgated for the Osage language
. Unlike previous means of transcribing Osage, which were based on the letter forms of the Latin script, the new Osage script has distinct letter shapes, though its derivation from the Latin script is apparent. Osage is a defective alphabet; it does not distinguish the stop series
, which were central to Osage phonology.
The Osage alphabet is undergoing revisions by its creator, Herman Mongrain Lookout, and the staff at the Osage Nation Language Department, to provide a more detailed representation of the sounds in Osage as well as to account for and document changes in the Osage language.
The vowels are as follows:
It is not clear which vowel the "ə" is, as it is not phonemic in Osage, but it may appear nasalized (not shown). The a comes from Roman ⟨A⟩ (without the crossbar, as in the NΛSΛ
logo), e from Roman ⟨a⟩ (cursive; the English letter a is pronounced rather like Osage e). The source for i is obscure, though Roman ⟨I⟩ does appear in the diphthong ai.
The consonants are as follows:
The alphabet does not distinguish the ejective, fortis, and lenis series of obstruents. The aspirate series are written as sequences such as tx and kš. The use of ky and hy is unclear.
The source of p is Roman ⟨p⟩ or ⟨P⟩, that of t is Roman ⟨D⟩ (an alternative transcription of Osage t), č is from ⟨Ch⟩, k from ⟨K⟩. C is from ⟨T⟩ and the Osage s. S and z are the top halves of ⟨S⟩, ⟨Z⟩; š and ž are derived from adding a tail to the full letters, much like Roman ⟨ʒ⟩. Br, st, sk are ligatures of those letters, m, n, and l appear to be from cursive, and ð is a ligature of ⟨Th⟩, which is how it is often transcribed. W is a partial ⟨w⟩. X might be from cursive ⟨x⟩; h is obscure.
Osage language
Osage is a Siouan language spoken by the Osage people of Oklahoma. The last native speaker, Lucille Roubedeaux, died ca. 2005.Osage has an inventory of sounds very similar to that of Dakota, plus vowel length, preaspirated obstruents, and an interdental fricative...
. Unlike previous means of transcribing Osage, which were based on the letter forms of the Latin script, the new Osage script has distinct letter shapes, though its derivation from the Latin script is apparent. Osage is a defective alphabet; it does not distinguish the stop series
Manner of articulation
In linguistics, manner of articulation describes how the tongue, lips, jaw, and other speech organs are involved in making a sound. Often the concept is only used for the production of consonants, even though the movement of the articulars will also greatly alter the resonant properties of the...
, which were central to Osage phonology.
The Osage alphabet is undergoing revisions by its creator, Herman Mongrain Lookout, and the staff at the Osage Nation Language Department, to provide a more detailed representation of the sounds in Osage as well as to account for and document changes in the Osage language.
Letters
For the pronunciation of the letters of the alphabet, see Osage language#Phonology or the links below.The vowels are as follows:
It is not clear which vowel the "ə" is, as it is not phonemic in Osage, but it may appear nasalized (not shown). The a comes from Roman ⟨A⟩ (without the crossbar, as in the NΛSΛ
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
logo), e from Roman ⟨a⟩ (cursive; the English letter a is pronounced rather like Osage e). The source for i is obscure, though Roman ⟨I⟩ does appear in the diphthong ai.
The consonants are as follows:
The alphabet does not distinguish the ejective, fortis, and lenis series of obstruents. The aspirate series are written as sequences such as tx and kš. The use of ky and hy is unclear.
The source of p is Roman ⟨p⟩ or ⟨P⟩, that of t is Roman ⟨D⟩ (an alternative transcription of Osage t), č is from ⟨Ch⟩, k from ⟨K⟩. C is from ⟨T⟩ and the Osage s. S and z are the top halves of ⟨S⟩, ⟨Z⟩; š and ž are derived from adding a tail to the full letters, much like Roman ⟨ʒ⟩. Br, st, sk are ligatures of those letters, m, n, and l appear to be from cursive, and ð is a ligature of ⟨Th⟩, which is how it is often transcribed. W is a partial ⟨w⟩. X might be from cursive ⟨x⟩; h is obscure.
External links
- Presentation at Osage Nation, with non-native sound files for some letters
- Presentation at Native-languages.org, along with various romanizations
- Osage font download