Letter TL
The sound written with letter tl is a combination of the letters t and barred-l. Though this sound does not occur in English, it is similar to the tl sound in a quick pronunciation of English 'atlas'. Note that this sound is pronounced as tł but is spelled tl for easier writing.Click on a video below to see and hear Mrs. Irene Arnold pronouncing words with TL.
xultlet it is slippery
ilshúutl it swelled up
taatleex soap
ts'étl brush (vegetation)
det-tlog it is soft
The tl sound is similar to other sounds in Tanacross. Below are examples that contrast these similar sounds.
Click below to hear Mrs. Irene Arnold illustrating the difference between tl and tl’ at the start of syllables.
Click below to hear Mrs. Irene Arnold illustrating the difference between tl and dl at the start and end of syllables.
Click below to hear Mrs. Laura Sanford illustrating the difference between tl and ł at the end of words.
Sentence contrasting tl and tl'.
Tlox det-tlog. The grass is soft.
Tanacross tl and dl are voiceless aspirated and unaspirated lateral alveolar affricates [tɬh] and [tɬ], respectively.
At the end of syllables tl and dl are pronounced as voiceless and voiced affricates [tɬ] and [dl], respectively. In word-final position the l of the affricate dl has nearly a syllabic quality.
similar sounds