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A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese (view source)

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[[File:Lie hør.ogg|thumb|"Hello" in Taiwanese, written '''''[[Lie hør!]]''''']]  
[[File:Lie hør.ogg|thumb|"Hello" in Taiwanese, written '''''[[Lie hør!]]''''']]  


'''''Li<u>e</u> hø<u>r</u>!''''' [[Taigie|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).  
'''''Li<u>e</u> hø<u>r</u>!''''' [[Taioan'oe|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 a writing system called [[Modern Taiwanese Language]] (MTL).  


Most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware that there exist ways ([[cviarjixhoad|orthographies]]) to write it down. While there is not a single widely adopted system for the written form (not even in [[Harnji|Han characters]]), MTL is a very useful tool for learning Taiwanese. There are many other systems in use in [[Taioaan|Taiwan]], including ''[[Pe̍h-ōe-jī]]'' (POJ) and the similar [[Taiwanese Romanization System]]. Unfortunately most Taiwanese speakers will not be able to read any of these systems but they will understand it when you read it.
Most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware that there exist several ways to write it down. MTL and [[Taiwanese Romanization System]] both derive from ''[[Pe̍h-ōe-jī]]'' (POJ), which had over 100,000 users in the mid-20th century. While no single system has been widely adopted (whether romanized or in [[Harnji|Han characters]]), MTL is a very useful tool for learning Taiwanese. Most Taiwanese speakers may not be able to read any of these systems but will understand you better because you used it.


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
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=== Consonants ===
=== Consonants ===
[[File:conExp.ogg]]
[[File:conExp.ogg]]
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! MTL  !! Approx.  !! Example  !! Meaning  
! MTL  !! Approx.  !! Example  !! Meaning || More Examples
|-  
|-  
| [[p]]  || B / cris'''p'''y  || [[papaf|papa<u>f</u>]]  || father  
| [[p]]  || B / cris'''p'''y  || [[papaf|papa<u>f</u>]]  || father || [[Taipag]]
|-  
|-  
| ph  || P (crisp)  || {{x2|pha<u>q</u>|phaq}}  || to hit  
| ph  || P (crisp)  || {{x2|pha<u>q</u>|phaq}}  || to hit ||
|-  
|-  
| [[m]]  || me  || [[mi]]  || noodle  
| [[m]]  || me  || [[mi]]  || noodle  
|-  
|-  
| [[b]]  || mu'''mb'''le  || [[baq|ba<u>q</u>]]  || meat  
| [[b]]  || mu'''mb'''le  || [[baq|ba<u>q</u>]]  || meat || [[bin]], [[bexbae]]
|-  
|-  
| [[t]]  || D (crisp)  || {{x2|tit|tidtit}}  || straight  
| [[t]]  || D (crisp)  || {{x2|tit|tidtit}}  || straight || [[Taioaan]], [[tee]]
|-  
|-  
| th  || Thomas  || {{x2|the<u>h</u>|theh}}  || to take  
| th  || Thomas  || {{x2|the<u>h</u>|theh}}  || to take  
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| [[n]]  || neat  || [[nii]]  || year  
| [[n]]  || neat  || [[nii]]  || year  
|-  
|-  
| [[l]]  || Lima  || [[laang]]  || person  
| [[l]]  || Lima  || [[laang]]  || person || {{x2|laai}}
|-  
|-  
| [[k]]  || gear  || {{x2|ka<u>f</u>|kaf}} || to add (see {{x2|ka'iuu}})
| [[k]]  || gear  || {{x2|ka<u>f</u>|kaf}} || to add || {{x2|ka'iuu}}, [[kafmsia]]
|-  
|-  
| kh  || key  || [[khix|khi<u>x</u>]]  || go  
| kh  || key  || [[khix (toxngsuu)|khi<u>x</u>]]  || to go || [[khaothaau]]
|-  
|-  
| [[h]]  || heap  || [[hii]]  || fish  
| [[h]]  || heap  || [[hii]]  || fish  
|-  
|-  
| [[g]]  || ga'''gg'''le  || [[5|go]]  || five  
| [[g]]  || ga'''gg'''le  || [[5|go]]  || five || [[Gilaan]], [[goar]]
|-  
|-  
| [[c]](i)  || G  || {{x2|cia<u>f</u>|ciaf}}  || here  
| [[c]](i)  || G  || {{x2|cia<u>f</u>|ciaf}}  || here  
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| ch(i)  || cheese  || [[chiaf|chia<u>f</u>]]  || car  
| ch(i)  || cheese  || [[chiaf|chia<u>f</u>]]  || car  
|-  
|-  
| [[s]](i)  || she / sea  || {{x2|si}} || yes  
| [[s]](i)  || she / sea  || [[si (yes)|si]] || yes  
|-  
|-  
| [[j]](i)  || Z  || [[jit]]  || day  
| [[j]](i)  || Z  || [[jit]]  || day || [[Jidpurn]]
|-  
|-  
| [[z]]  || yar'''ds''' || {{x2|ze<u>f</u>|zef}}  || this  
| [[z]]  || yar'''ds''' || {{x2|ze<u>f</u>|zef}}  || this  
|-  
|-  
| zh  || ca'''ts''' || {{x2|zhai<u>x</u>|zhaix}}  || vegetable  
| zh  || ca'''ts''' || {{x2|zhai<u>x</u>|zhaix}}  || vegetable || [[zheq]]
|-  
|-  
| s  || Saul  || {{x2|sva<u>f</u>|svaf}}  || three
| s  || Saul  || {{x2|sva<u>f</u>|svaf}}  || three ([[3]]) || [[sampafn'ar|samparn]]
|-  
|-  
| j  || zoo  || [[joah]]  || hot  
| 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.
The ''p'' vs. ''b'' and ''k'' vs. ''g'' may be hard to differentiate at first. They are part of a three-way distinction, going from ''muddy'' to plain to [[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]. The muddy ''b'' and ''g'' are voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate along with the consonant. The plain ''p'' and ''k'' (and ''t'') 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.
Note that ''s'' and ''j'' appear twice: these are slightly different when followed by an ''i'' vs other vowels.


=== Vowels ===
=== Vowels ===
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|}   
|}   


The 'm' can be both vowel and consonant.
The ''m'' can be both vowel and consonant.


==== Compound Vowels ====
==== Compound Vowels ====
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These vowel sounds are made using your nose. Most vowels  
These vowel sounds are made using your nose. Most vowels  
have a nasal form. A 'v' is placed in front of the vowel to designate it.  
have a nasal form. A ''v'' is placed in front of the vowel to designate it.  


[[File:FrontNasalV3.ogg]]
[[File:FrontNasalV3.ogg]]
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==== Ending vowel ====
==== Ending vowel ====


Taiwanese has ending nasal vowel sounds using 'm', 'n' and 'ng'.  
Taiwanese has ending nasal vowel sounds using ''m'', ''n'' and ''ng''.  


[[File:RearNasal.ogg]]
[[File:RearNasal.ogg]]
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|}   
|}   


=== Syllabic structure ===
A syllable in Taiwanese follows one of these two patterns:
A syllable in Taiwanese follows one of these two patterns:
* [consonant] + [nasal] vowel  
* [consonant] + [nasal] vowel  
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Taiwanese is a tonal language which means that the vowels are pronounced with a distinctive tone that  
Taiwanese is a tonal language which means that the vowels are pronounced with a distinctive tone that  
relate a distinctive meaning. A vowel spoken with a different tones has different meanings. Learning to  
relate a distinctive meaning. A vowel spoken with a different tones has different meanings. Learning to  
speak and hear the [[tones of Taiwanese]] correctly is often difficult for an English speaker since there are no tones in English. With practice you will be able to hear and speak it. Taiwanese has seven tones (Mandarin has 4). Again most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware of the different tones but they can all understand it when you pronounce it.
speak and hear the [[tones of Taiwanese]] correctly is often difficult for an English speaker since there are no tones in English. With practice you will be able to hear and speak it. Taiwanese has seven tones (Mandarin has four). Again most speakers of Taiwanese are not aware of the different tones but they can all understand it when you pronounce it.


[[File:Tones1235784.ogg]]
[[File:Tones1235784.ogg]]
{| class="wikitable" border=3
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Tones !! Description !! MTL !! Example  
! # !! Tones !! Description !! MTL !! Example  
|-  
|-  
| 1 || High || high level tone || f || af  
| 1 || High || high level tone || [[f]] || [[af]]
|-  
|-  
| 2 || Shouting || start high, then sharp downward || r || ar  
| 2 || Shouting || start high, then sharp downward || [[r]] || [[ar]]
|-  
|-  
| 3 || Low Falling || start mid then downward tone || x || ax  
| 3 || Low Falling || start mid then downward tone || [[x]] || ax  
|-  
|-  
| 5 || Curving || start mid level then down and up  || doubling of vowel || aa  
| 5 || Curving || start mid level then down and up  || doubling of vowel || aa  
|-  
|-  
| 7 || Basic || mid level tone || default || a  
| 7 || Basic || mid level tone || default || a
|-  
|-  
| 8 || Short high || short high tone || ends with h, p, t or k  || ah, ap, at, ak   
| 8 || Short high || short high tone || ends with h, p, t or k  || [[ab'ar|ah]], ap, at, ak   
|-  
|-  
| 4 || Short low || short low tone || ends with q, b, d or g || aq, ab, ad, ag  
| 4 || Short low || short low tone || ends with q, b, d or g || [[ah'ar|aq]], {{x2|ab}}, {{x2|ad}}, {{x2|ag}}
|}   
|}   


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! Tone !! Example !! Meaning  
! Tone !! Example !! Meaning  
|-  
|-  
| Basic || si || is  
| Basic || [[si (yes)|si]] || is  
|-  
|-  
| High || hiaf || there  
| High || {{x2|hiaf}} || there  
|-  
|-  
| Low Falling || [[zhaix]] || vegetable  
| Low Falling || [[zhaix]] || vegetable  
|-  
|-  
| Shouting || zar || early  
| Shouting || {{x2|zar}} || early  
|-  
|-  
| Curving || hii || fish  
| Curving || hii || fish  
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|  ||  ||   
|  ||  ||   
|-  
|-  
| Short high || ciah || to eat  
| Short high || [[ciah]] || to eat  
|-  
|-  
| Short low || phaq || to hit  
| Short low || {{x2|phaq}} || to hit  
|-  
|-  
| Short high || hap || to close  
| Short high || {{x2|hap}} || to close  
|-  
|-  
| Short low || ciab || to catch  
| Short low || {{x2|ciab}} || to catch  
|-  
|-  
| Short high || kut || slippery  
| Short high || {{x2|kut}} || slippery  
|-  
|-  
| Short low || [[kud]] || bone  
| Short low || [[kud]] || bone  
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|}
|}


There are a few special vowels for certain tones. There are  
There are a few special vowels for certain tones. There are five special vowels in the shouting-out tone, plus two special vowels in the high tone. There is also a shortcut for the curving tone of ''ø''.
five special vowels in the shouting-out tone, plus two special vowels in  
the high tone. There is also a shortcut for the curving tone of 'ø'.


[[File:specialVowl.ogg]]
[[File:specialVowl.ogg]]
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| i  || r || ie  || [[lie]] || you
| i  || r || ie  || [[lie]] || you
|-  
|-  
| u  || r || uo  || kuo || (''of time'') long
| u  || r || uo  || {{x2|kuo}} || (''of time'') long
|-  
|-  
| e  || r || ea  || [[bea]] || horse
| e  || r || ea  || [[bea]] || horse
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| au  || r || ao  || [[kao]] || dog
| au  || r || ao  || [[kao]] || dog
|-  
|-  
| i  || f || y  || y || he / she / it
| i  || f || y  || [[y]] || he / she / it
|-  
|-  
| u  || f || w || [[wtiu]] || universe
| u  || f || w || [[wtiu]] || universe
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|}   
|}   


[[File:Tone Circle.gif|right|alt=|Taiwanese tones in isolation, and the changes they undergo when they precede another tone.]]
[[File:Tone Circle.gif|right|frame|Taiwanese tones in isolation, and the changes they undergo when they precede another tone.]]


The basic unit of speech is the syllable, which can change tone depending on where it is spoken in a sentence. If a syllable is spoken in the middle of a word, phrase or sentence, it changes tone according to the Tone Circle diagram below. If a syllable is spoken at the end of a phrase or sentence, it does not change tones. Most nouns do not change  
The basic unit of speech is the syllable, which can change tone depending on where it is spoken in a sentence. If a syllable is spoken in the middle of a word, phrase or sentence, it changes tone according to the Tone Circle diagram. If a syllable is spoken at the end of a phrase or sentence, it does not change tone. Most nouns do not change tone.
tone.


The different tones and the [[tone sandhi|tone changes]] (sandhi) in Taiwanese are by far the hardest part of learning  
The different tones and the [[tone sandhi|tone changes]] (sandhi) in Taiwanese are by far the hardest part of learning  
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