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'''''Li<u>e</u> hø<u>r</u>!''''' [[Taiwanese Hokkien|Taiwanese]] is a beautiful and musical language spoken in [[Taioaan|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 the [[Modern Literal Taiwanese]] writing system, which we call MTL for "Modern Taiwanese Language".
'''''Li<u>e</u> hø<u>r</u>!''''' [[Taiwanese Hokkien|Taiwanese]] is a beautiful and musical language spoken in [[Taioaan|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 the [[Modern Literal Taiwanese]] writing system, which we call MTL for "Modern Taiwanese Language".


Most speakers of Taiwanese aren't aware that there are several writing systems for the language. ''[[Pe̍h-ōe-jī]]'' (POJ), also known as Church Romanization, might be the most popular romanization, though the government is now promoting a similar system called [[TRS]]. We're going to use MTL here because we found it very useful while studying Taiwanese at the [[Washington DC Taiwanese School]], and we think it could help you too. True, most Taiwanese speakers won't be able to read any of these systems, but they will probably understand you better because you learned one.
Most speakers of Taiwanese aren't aware that there are several writing systems for the language. ''[[Pe̍h-ōe-jī]]'' (POJ), also known as Church Romanization, might be the most popular romanization, though the government is now promoting a similar system called ''[[Tâi-lô]]''. We're going to use MTL here because we found it very useful while studying Taiwanese at the [[Washington DC Taiwanese School]], and we think it could help you too. True, most Taiwanese speakers won't be able to read any of these systems, but they will probably understand you better because you learned one.


== How to make a syllable ==
== How to make a syllable ==
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=== Initial consonants ===
=== Initial consonants ===
A syllable can start with one of [[List of all initial consonants in MTL|18 initial consonants]]. Some sounds have an approximation in English, while others may be more exotic. For now, you can just ignore the silent indicators (mainly ''f'', ''r'', ''x'', ''v'').
A syllable can start with one of [[List of all initial consonants in MTL|18 initial consonants]]. Some sounds have an approximation in English, while others may be more exotic. For now, you can just ignore the silent indicators (mainly ''f'', ''x'', ''r'', ''v'').


[[File:Initial_consonants.mp3|thumb|none|Consonants]]
[[File:Initial_consonants.mp3|thumb|none|Consonants]]
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=== Vowels ===
=== Vowels ===
A syllable in Taiwanese can't go without having a vowel. [[:File:Seven Tones of Taiwanese.pdf|This chart, ''Seven Tones of Taiwanese'']], shows how to write any vowel in any tone. For now, just look at the basic tone, and the five categories: simple, compound, plus three categories ending in nasals.  
A syllable in Taiwanese can't go without having a vowel. [[Media:Seven Tones of Taiwanese.pdf|This chart, ''Seven Tones of Taiwanese'']], shows how to write any vowel in any tone. For now, just look at the basic tone, and the five categories: simple, compound, plus three categories ending in nasals.  


==== Single vowels ====
==== Single vowels ====
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| {{x|iong}} || {{x|iong}} || to use
| {{x|iong}} || {{x|iong}} || to use
|}
|}
 
Some pointers:
* ''ien'' (from ia + n = ian) is often spoken without the ''i''
* '''ien''' (from '''ia''' + '''n''' = '''ian'''): used to sound like "yan", then "yen", now usually "en"
* ''eng'', used to sound like ''e'' + ''ng'', (see [[:File:Greetings to the Universe in 55 Different Languages - amoy.ogg|here]]), now more like ''ying'' but not quite
* '''eng''' (from '''e''' + '''ng'''): used to sound as written, now is a little more like "ieng", but not quite "ing"


==== Nasal vowels ====
==== Nasal vowels ====


These vowel sounds are made using your nose. Most vowels from the first two groups can be nasalized, indicated by the letter ''[[v]]'' (read like "you" in English but nasal), chosen because it looks like the Greek letter "nu" ({{wt|ν}}).
These vowel sounds are made using your nose. Most vowels from the first two groups can be nasalized, indicated by the letter ''[[v]]'' (read like "you" in English but nasal), chosen because it looks like the Greek letter "nu" ({{wt|ν}}). The word for nose is ''{{x|phvi}}'', which also means "to smell".


[[File:Front_nasal_new.mp3]]
[[File:Front_nasal_new.mp3]]
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| vai || {{x|vai}} || to carry on back  
| vai || {{x|vai}} || to carry on back  
|-  
|-  
| vau || {{x|gvau}} || lotus root. see {{x|liengvau}}
| vau || {{x|liengvau}} || lotus root
|-  
|-  
| {{x|via}} || {{x|kvia}} || classifier for luggage, clothes, events
| {{x|via}} || {{x|kvia}} || classifier for luggage, clothes, events
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=== Tones ===
=== Tones ===


Taiwanese is a tonal language which means that pitch is used to convey meaning. Many words are differentiated solely by tone. Learning to speak and hear the [[tones of Taiwanese]] correctly is often difficult for beginners. With practice you will be able to hear and speak them. Again most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware of the different tones but they can all understand you when you pronounce them correctly.
Taiwanese is a tonal language which means that pitch is used to convey meaning. Many words are differentiated solely by tone (e.g., all seven tones of ''{{x|si}}''). Learning to speak and hear the [[tones of Taiwanese]] correctly is often difficult for beginners. With practice you will be able to hear and speak them. Again most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware of the different tones but they can all understand you when you pronounce them correctly.


As you may have noticed from the ''Seven Tones'' chart, there are five long tones and two short tones:
As you may have noticed from the ''Seven Tones'' chart, there are five long tones and two short tones:
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* high short tones end with ''h'' ({{w|glottal stop}}), ''p'', ''t'' and ''k'', which are stops sounding similar to how they're used as an initial consonant
* high short tones end with ''h'' ({{w|glottal stop}}), ''p'', ''t'' and ''k'', which are stops sounding similar to how they're used as an initial consonant
* low short tones end with ''q'', ''b'', ''d'', and ''g'', which are the same stops as above, but signal the vowel is low pitch
* low short tones end with ''q'', ''b'', ''d'', and ''g'', which are the same stops as above, but signal the vowel is low pitch
* ''{{x|iet}}'' and ''{{x|ek}}'', the short tones of ''ien'' and ''eng'', may sound more like ''et'' and ''iek''


==== Long tones ====
==== Long tones ====
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|}
|}


The tone indicators always come to the right of the vowel, with one exception. To indicate the curving tone of a compound vowel, normally its last letter is repeated. But when there is an ''a'', it is the one repeated, even when it doesn't sit at the very end of the vowel. For example: ''{{x|laai}}'', ''{{x|thaau}}'', ''{{x|tiaau}}''.
The tone indicators always come to the right of the vowel, with one exception. To indicate the curving tone of a compound vowel, double the ''a'' if present, or else the last vowel letter. For example: ''{{x|cviaa}}'', ''{{x|laai}}'', ''{{x|ngg}}''.


===== Special vowels =====
===== Special vowels =====
For certain vowels in certain tones, the following ornamental substitutions/shortcuts are used:
For certain vowels in certain tones, some ornamental substitutions/shortcuts are used. Refer to the [[Media:Seven Tones of Taiwanese.pdf|''Seven Tones'']] chart.
* [[shouting tone]]: ''ie'', ''uo'', ''ea'', ''ae'', ''ao'', when they end the syllable
* '''{{x|y}}''', '''{{x|w}}''': [[high tone]] of '''i''' and '''u'''
* [[high tone]]: ''{{x|y}}, w'', (and ''{{x|ym}}'', ''{{x|yn}}'', ''{{x|wn}}'')
* '''{{x|ie}}''', '''{{x|uo}}''', '''{{x|ea}}''': [[shouting tone]] of '''i''', '''u''', '''e'''
* curving-tone: ''øø'' -> ''{{x|øo}}'' (and ''iøø'' -> ''{{x|iøo}}'')
* '''{{x|ae}}''', '''{{x|ao}}''': shortcuts for "a + ie" and "a + uo"
 
* '''{{x|øo}}''': shortcut for "øø"
[[File:ie, uo, ea, ae, ao.mp3|thumb|none|ie, uo, ea, ae, ao]]
* None of these apply with NFCs except: '''{{x|ym}}''', '''{{x|yn}}''', '''{{x|wn}}'''
[[File:y w ym yn wn.mp3|thumb|none|y, w, ym, yn, wn]]


{| class="wikitable"  
{| class="wikitable"  
! Vowel<sup>#</sup> !! Parts !! Substitution !! Example || Meaning
! Syll. Tail !! Shortcut !! Example || Meaning
|-  
|-  
| i<sup>2</sup>  || i + r || {{x|ie}} || {{x|lie}} || you
| if, ifm, ifn || {{x|y}}, {{x|ym}}, {{x|yn}} || {{x|ty}}, {{x|kym}}, {{x|cyn}} || pig, gold, very
|-  
|-  
| u<sup>2</sup>  || u + r || {{x|uo}} || {{x|kuo}} || (''of time'') long
| uf, ufn || {{x|w}}, {{x|wn}} || {{x|titw}}, {{x|zhwn}} || spider, springtime
|-  
|-  
| e<sup>2</sup>  || e + r || {{x|ea}}  || {{x|bea}} || horse
| ir || {{x|ie}}  || {{x|lie}} || you; ...
|-  
|-  
| ai<sup>2</sup>  || a + ie || {{x|ae}}  || {{x|hae}} || sea
| ur || {{x|uo}}  || {{x|kuo}} || (''of time'') long
|-  
|-  
| au<sup>2</sup>  || a + uo || {{x|ao}}  || {{x|kao}} || dog. nine
| er || {{x|ea}}  || {{x|boea}} || tail
|-  
|-  
| i<sup>1</sup>  || i + f || {{x|y}}  || {{x|y}}, {{x|yn}}, {{x|kym}} || he; she; it. they. gold
| air || {{x|ae}}  || {{x|hae}} || sea
|-  
|-  
| u<sup>1</sup>  || u + f || w || {{x|titw}}, {{x|zhwn}} || spider. spring season
| aur || {{x|ao}} || {{x|kao}} || dog. nine
|-  
|-  
| ø<sup>5</sup>  || ø + ø || {{x|øo}} || {{x|kiøo}} || bridge; eggplant
| øø || {{x|øo}} || {{x|kiøo}} || bridge; eggplant
|}
|}
[[File:lie,_kuo,_bea,_hae, kao.mp3|thumb|none|lie, kuo, bea, hae, kao]]
[[File:y yn kym titw zhwn.mp3|thumb|none|y, yn, kym, titw, zhwn]]
For shouting tone vowel + nasal final consonant, ''r'' is always used, e.g., ''{{x|irm}}'', ''{{x|iarm}}'', ''{{x|irn}}'', ''{{x|urn}}'', ''{{x|iern}}'', etc.
Now may be a good time to try your hand at the [[:File:Seven Tones of Taiwanese.pdf|''Seven Tones'']] chart.


=== Syllable structure ===
=== Syllable structure ===
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Also, we almost never find more than one nasal:  
Also, we almost never find more than one nasal:  
* ''{{x|man}}'' and ''{{x|mang}}'' don't exist
* e.g. ''{{x|man}}'' and ''{{x|mang}}'' don't exist (but ''{{x|ban}}'' and ''{{x|bang}}'' do exist)
* ''{{x|ban}}'' and ''{{x|bang}}'' do exist
* the only exceptions are the various tones of ''{{x|mng}}'' and ''{{x|nng}}''
* exceptions: ''{{x|mng}}'', ''{{x|mngg}}'', ''{{x|nngf}}'', ''{{x|nng}}'', ''{{x|nngx}}'', ''{{x|nngr}}'', ''{{x|nngg}}''


== Tone sandhi ==
== Tone sandhi ==
[[File:Tone Circles.png|right|frame|The seven tones, and how they change due to tone sandhi.]]
[[File:Tone Circles.png|right|frame|The seven tones, and how they change due to tone sandhi.]]


The basic unit of speech is the syllable, which can change tone depending on its environment. This process of [[tone sandhi]], from the Sanskrit word for "joining", is extensive in Taiwanese.
The basic unit of speech is the syllable, which can change tone depending on its environment. This process is generally called [[tone sandhi]] ("sandhi" is from the Sanskrit word for "joining") and in Taiwanese the rules for it are extensive.


Generally, a syllable inside of a word changes tone according to the Tone Circles. For example, the single-syllable word for "duck" (bird): ''{{x|aq}}''. Its original tone is low-short. After adding the suffix ''{{x|ar}}'', the tone becomes high-short: ''{{x|ah'ar}}''.  
Generally, a syllable inside of a word changes tone according to the Tone Circles. For example, the single-syllable word for "duck" (bird): ''{{x|aq}}''. Its original tone is low-short. After adding the suffix ''{{x|ar}}'', the tone becomes high-short: ''{{x|ah'ar}}''.  
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=== Apostrophe (') ===
=== Apostrophe (') ===


When two syllables are put together, sometimes one letter might appear to be connected to the right syllable when it shouldn't be. The [[apostrophe]] is used to remove the ambiguity. For example:  
When two syllables are put together, sometimes one letter might appear to be connected to the right syllable when it shouldn't be. The apostrophe is used to remove the ambiguity. For example:  


* {{x|of}} (烏; "black") + {{x|kix}} (痣;  "mole") = o'kix = {{x|okix}}
* {{x|of}} (烏; "black") + {{x|kix}} (痣;  "mole") = o'kix = {{x|okix}}
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=== Hyphen (-) ===
=== Hyphen (-) ===


A [[hyphen]] is used to join two, or more isolated words to  
A hyphen is used to join two, or more isolated words to  
make a new compound word with its own meaning. When reading a hyphenated word, the syllable just before the hyphen should change tone. For example: {{XL|Taioaan}} + laang = {{XL|Taioaan-laang}} (Taiwanese person)
make a new compound word with its own meaning. When reading a hyphenated word, the syllable just before the hyphen should change tone. For example: {{XL|Taioaan}} + laang = {{XL|Taioaan-laang}} (Taiwanese person)
[[File:Taioaan, Taioaan-laang.mp3]]
[[File:Taioaan, Taioaan-laang.mp3]]
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://learntaiwanese.org/Beginner's%20Guide%20to%20Taiwanese.html HTML version]
* [https://learntaiwanese.org/Beginner's%20Guide%20to%20Taiwanese.html ''A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese''], version 1.0: 2017
* [https://wdcts.org/ WDCTS] - MLT Introduction, Useful Handout, Videos & References. (in Chinese)
* [https://wdcts.org/ WDCTS] - MLT Introduction, Useful Handout, Videos & References. (in Chinese)
* Modern Literal Taiwanese Foundation (MLTF). [https://learntaiwanese.org/english/mtl.html Modern Literal Taiwanese (MLT) Handbook]
* Modern Literal Taiwanese Foundation (MLTF). [https://learntaiwanese.org/english/mtl.html Modern Literal Taiwanese (MLT) Handbook]
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