Letter H
Letter h is pronounced as in English 'head' and 'hat'. Note though that, unlike English, h is a very common sound at the end of a syllable in Tanacross.Click on a video below to see and hear Mrs. Irene Arnold pronouncing words with H.
hên small creek
nehtseyh she or he is picking, gathering (it)
aahaał he or she is walking
teejuh poor thing!
neníhhuuth I am pulling it
xah Canada goose
Click below to hear Mrs. Irene Arnold illustrating the difference between x and h at the start of syllables.
Sentences contrasting x and h sounds.
Hąháalá stáanét-t'ek. The oldsquaw duck quickly flew away.
Nxeh xah ts'į́ xen aahaał. You sister-in-law is walking quickly toward the goose.
Tanacross h is a voiceless glottal fricative [h]. It is much more common at the end of syllables than at the beginning.
similar sounds