A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese: Difference between revisions

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==Introduction to Taiwanese Phonetics==
==Introduction to Taiwanese Phonetics==
We will first introduce all of the phonetic sounds that you will encounter in Taiwanese. Some sounds have an approximation in English, while others may be less familiar.
=== Consonants ===
[[File:conExp.ogg]]
{|
! MTL  !! Approx.  !! Example  !! Meaning
|-
| p  || B / cris'''p'''y  || papaf  || father
|-
| ph  || P (crisp)  || phaq  || to hit
|-
| m  || me  || mi  || noodle
|-
| b  || mu'''mb'''le  || baq  || meat
|-
| t  || D (crisp)  || tit  || straight
|-
| th  || Thomas  || theh  || to take
|-
| n  || neat  || nii  || year
|-
| l  || Lima  || laang  || person
|-
| k  || gear  || kaf (''ka'iuu'')  || to add
|-
| kh  || key  || khix  || go
|-
| h  || heap  || hii  || fish
|-
| g  || ga'''gg'''le  || go  || five
|-
| c(i)  || G  || ciaf  || here
|-
| ch(i)  || cheese  || chiaf  || car
|-
| s(i)  || she/sea  || si  || yes
|-
| j(i)  || Z  || jit  || day
|-
| z  || yar'''ds''' || zef  || this
|-
| zh  || ca'''ts''' || zhaix  || vegetable
|-
| s  || Saul  || svaf  || three
|-
| j  || zoo  || joah  || hot
|}
The 'k' vs. 'g' as well as the 'p' vs. 'b' may be hard to differentiate at first. The 'g' and the 'b' are voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate along with the consonant. The 'k' and 'p' are unvoiced, not  as aspirated as in English but do have a distinct click or pop.
Note that "j" and "s" appear twice: these are slightly different when  followed by an "i" vs other vowels.
=== Vowels ===


==Website==
==Website==

Revision as of 16:49, 9 September 2017

Li hø!

File:Lie hør.ogg
"Hello" in Taiwanese, written "Lie hør!"

Taiwanese is a beautiful and musical language spoken in Taiwan and by Taiwanese people around the world. This Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese will provide you with a brief introduction to the spoken language as well as a writing system called Modern Taiwanese Language (MTL).

Most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware that there are established ways to phonetically write down the language. While there is not a single widely adopted system for the written form of the language (not even in Harnji), MTL is a very useful tool for learning Taiwanese. There are several other systems in use in Taiwan, such as Pe̍h-ōe-jī (POJ), Daighi tongiong pingim, and Taiwanese Romanization System. Unfortunately most Taiwanese speakers will not be able to read any of these phonetic systems but they will understand it when you read it.

Introduction to Taiwanese Phonetics

We will first introduce all of the phonetic sounds that you will encounter in Taiwanese. Some sounds have an approximation in English, while others may be less familiar.

Consonants

File:ConExp.ogg

MTL Approx. Example Meaning
p B / crispy papaf father
ph P (crisp) phaq to hit
m me mi noodle
b mumble baq meat
t D (crisp) tit straight
th Thomas theh to take
n neat nii year
l Lima laang person
k gear kaf (ka'iuu) to add
kh key khix go
h heap hii fish
g gaggle go five
c(i) G ciaf here
ch(i) cheese chiaf car
s(i) she/sea si yes
j(i) Z jit day
z yards zef this
zh cats zhaix vegetable
s Saul svaf three
j zoo joah hot

The 'k' vs. 'g' as well as the 'p' vs. 'b' may be hard to differentiate at first. The 'g' and the 'b' are voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate along with the consonant. The 'k' and 'p' are unvoiced, not as aspirated as in English but do have a distinct click or pop.

Note that "j" and "s" appear twice: these are slightly different when followed by an "i" vs other vowels.

Vowels

Website