Letter G
Letter g is pronounced slightly differently, depending on whether it is at the start or end of a syllable. At the start of a syllable, g usually has a raspy quality similar to letter x or gh . At the end of a syllable g does not have a raspy quality but often is followed by a distinct 'uh' sound.
Click on a video below to see and hear Mrs. Irene Arnold pronouncing words with G.
gah rabbit
taag three
shí' gęyh dry meat
dlêg tree squirrel
ngót your knee
danch'ǒg' raspberry
The g sound is similar to other sounds in Tanacross. Below are examples that contrast these similar sounds.
Click below to hear Mrs. Laura Sanford illustrating the difference between g and k at the start of syllables.
Click below to hear Mrs. Irene Arnold illustrating the difference between g and gh at the start of syllables.
Sentences contrasting velar sounds -- sounds produced in the back of the mouth.
Gah gha xuu'éł naxghogdek. I am telling them a story about a rabbit.
Naagêddh ké' k'ée shgáal' aaxá' nék-'ęh. I see fox tracks near my rabbit snare.
Wuk'îig yaashěg' ts'enh xetl gaay xaaxeeł. They are packing the small sled down from the distant ridge.
Tanacross k and g are phonologically voiceless aspirated and unaspirated velar stops /kh/ and /k/, respectively. However, in stem-initial position these sounds are heavily affricated, being realized as [kx] and [kɣ] (or even [gɣ]), respectively. For this reason learners often confuse the sounds k and x, and the sounds g and gh.
At the end of syllables k and g are pronounced as voiceless and voiced stops [k] and [g].
similar sounds