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A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese: Difference between revisions
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A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese (view source)
Revision as of 01:44, 3 November 2017
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The 'p' vs. 'b' and 'k' vs. 'g' may be hard to differentiate at first. The 'b' and 'g' are voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate along with the consonant. The 'p' and 'k' (and 't') 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 | 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 | 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]] | ||
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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'. | 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''. | ||
[[File:specialVowl.ogg]] | [[File:specialVowl.ogg]] | ||