Difference between revisions of "Pronunciation"

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*'nts' = n + 'ts' sound
 
*'nts' = n + 'ts' sound
 
*'š' = sh
 
*'š' = sh
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 +
===Accents in written Setswana===
 +
 +
You will occasionaly see accents (eg â) in written Setswana. š is regularly used, but the others are not.
 +
 +
In Heinmann "Setswana ya Mophato" by Emang Butale, Mpho Mmopi, Dimakatso Mahlanza ISBN 0-7962-0156-0 circumflex accents are used on ô ê to indicate @???@
 +
 +
Because use of accents makes it difficult to search for words, in this wiki, no accents other than š should be used (unless a non accented form is also given).
 +
 +
test ôtêst

Revision as of 23:44, 2 June 2007

In Setswana, the vowels are pronounced as in the following English words:

  • 'a' as in 'car'
  • 'e' as in 'let'
  • 'i' as in 'meet'
  • 'o' as in 'go'
  • 'u' as in 'school'

There are also a few combinations of consonants which are pronounced very differently from English:

  • 'g' = an 'h' sound deep in your throat, like the end of "loch"
  • 'kg' = k + an 'h' sound deep in your throat
  • 'kh' = k + some air
  • 'ph' = p + some air
  • 'th' = t + some air (NOT like English "th")
  • 'ny' = think of isolating the 'ny' in 'canyon'
  • 'tl' = think of isolating the 'tl' in 'Atlanta'
  • 'tlh' = 'tl' + some air
  • 'ts' - think of isolating the 'ts' in 'itself'
  • 'tsh' = 'ts' + some air
  • 'nts' = n + 'ts' sound
  • 'š' = sh

Accents in written Setswana

You will occasionaly see accents (eg â) in written Setswana. š is regularly used, but the others are not.

In Heinmann "Setswana ya Mophato" by Emang Butale, Mpho Mmopi, Dimakatso Mahlanza ISBN 0-7962-0156-0 circumflex accents are used on ô ê to indicate @???@

Because use of accents makes it difficult to search for words, in this wiki, no accents other than š should be used (unless a non accented form is also given).

test ôtêst