Vowels — Character and Classes

§2. CHARACTER OF VOWELS Each vowel has one principal sound, approximately as in Italian or Spanish. a = as in "father" e = as in "they" (never silent when final) i = as in "machine" o = as in "note" (never silent when final) u = as in "rule" The vowels e and o, when final, are never silent — they are always pronounced, unlike English or French. This is a fundamental feature of the language. §3. CLASSES OF VOWELS Vowels divide into two classes based on aperture: Open (wide): a, e, o Close (narrow): i, u This distinction is crucial for vowel harmony (see §23). §4. DIPHTHONGS True diphthongs do not exist. When two vowels come together within a word, each retains its full syllabic value. However, in rapid speech, combinations resembling diphthongs occur: ai → sounds like English "eye" au → sounds like English "ow" ei → sounds like English "ay" oi → sounds like English "oy" §5. NASALS The vowels a, e, o, i, u may be nasalized (written with following m or n before b, p, d, j, g respectively). The nasal modifies the following consonant rather than the vowel itself. §6. QUANTITY All vowels are long by nature. In polysyllabic words, the penultimate syllable receives the tonic accent, and its vowel is slightly lengthened. §7. QUALITY Final e and o are close (as in Spanish), not open as in English. Example: oke (he) — both vowels clearly pronounced.