Intervocalic usage
Can be second member of consonant 'cluster', always followed by a nasal vowel. Doesn't follow dʲ, ɗ, ɓ, or n.b,9
-ɾ after d or t,b,9 eg. +
ɾ after d or t,b,9 eg. 𖫞𖫪𖫲𖫐𖫐𖫪𖫲𖫐
-n̆ after all other consonants,b,9 eg. +
n̆ after all other consonants,b,9 eg. 𖫟𖫧𖫰𖫐𖫐𖫧𖫰𖫐
@@ -32,269 +36,457 @@ `, + + + + + '\u{16AD1}': `𖫑
-k eg. +
k eg. 𖫜𖫧𖫱𖫑𖫧𖫰
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD2}': `𖫒
-s eg. +
s eg. 𖫔𖫧𖫱𖫒𖫨𖫴
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD3}': `𖫓
-f eg. +
f eg. 𖫓𖫪𖫰𖫞𖫪𖫰
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD4}': `𖫔
-ɓ or m (not common) when followed by an oral vowel, eg. +
ɓ or m (not common) when followed by an oral vowel, eg. 𖫔𖫧𖫴
-m when followed by a nasalised vowel, ie. when the syllable ends with 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], eg. +
m when followed by a nasalised vowel, ie. when the syllable ends with 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], eg. 𖫔𖫨𖫰𖫐
Intervocalic usage
-ɓ can be second member of consonant 'cluster', always followed by an oral vowel. Occurs after d, t, ɗ, and kb,9, eg. +
ɓ can be second member of consonant 'cluster', always followed by an oral vowel. Occurs after d, t, ɗ, and kb,9, eg. 𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰
-m can be second member of consonant 'cluster', always followed by a nasal vowel. Occurs after t, n, s, z, and kb,9, eg. +
m can be second member of consonant 'cluster', always followed by a nasal vowel. Occurs after t, n, s, z, and kb,9, eg. 𖫡𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫔𖫬𖫱𖫐
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD5}': `𖫕
-dʲ when followed by an oral vowel, eg. +
dʲ when followed by an oral vowel, eg. 𖫕𖫪𖫰
-ɲ when followed by a nasalised vowel, ie. when the syllable ends with 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], eg. +
ɲ when followed by a nasalised vowel, ie. when the syllable ends with 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], eg. 𖫤𖫭𖫲𖫐𖫕𖫫𖫲𖫐
Bertkau knows only one instance where this is followed by an oral, rather than nasal, vowel.b,5
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD6}': `𖫖
-ɡ eg. +
ɡ eg. 𖫖𖫫𖫲𖫞𖫫𖫲
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD7}': `𖫗
+d
+𖫗𖫧𖫲𖫔𖫧𖫲
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD8}': `𖫘
-k͡p eg. +
k͡p eg. 𖫘𖫨𖫲𖫐
`, + + + + + '\u{16AD9}': `𖫙
+ɟ
+𖫙𖫧𖫳𖫑𖫧𖫲𖫒𖫭𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16ADA}': `𖫚
+xʷ ~ ħʷ
+𖫚𖫧𖫲
`, + + + + + '\u{16ADB}': `𖫛
-w eg. +
w eg. 𖫧𖫰𖫛𖫧𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16ADC}': `𖫜
-z eg. +
z eg. 𖫜𖫧𖫱𖫑𖫧𖫰
`, + + + + + '\u{16ADD}': `𖫝
-ɡ͡b when followed by an oral vowelb,5, eg. +
ɡ͡b when followed by an oral vowelb,5, eg. 𖫝𖫧𖫳
-ŋ͡m when followed by a nasal vowelb,5, eg. +
ŋ͡m when followed by a nasal vowelb,5, eg. 𖫝𖫧𖫲𖫐
`, + + + + + '\u{16ADE}': `𖫞
Never immediately followed by a nasal vowel.b,5
Intervocalic usage
Can be second member of consonant 'cluster', always followed by an oral vowel. Doesn't follow ɗ, m, n, or ɲ.b,9
-ɾ after d or tb,9, eg. +
ɾ after d or tb,9, eg. 𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳
-ɺ after all other consonantsb,9, eg. +
ɺ after all other consonantsb,9, eg. 𖫓𖫪𖫰𖫞𖫪𖫰
`, + + + + + '\u{16ADF}': `𖫟
-c eg. +
c eg. 𖫟𖫫𖫰𖫞𖫬𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE0}': `𖫠
-hʷ eg. +
hʷ eg. 𖫠𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE1}': `𖫡
-d eg. +
d eg. 𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE2}': `𖫢
-b eg. +
b eg. 𖫢𖫧𖫲𖫢𖫧𖫲
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE3}': `𖫣
-v eg. +
v eg. 𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE4}': `𖫤
-h eg. +
h eg. 𖫤𖫭𖫲𖫐𖫕𖫫𖫲𖫐
Rare, occurring mostly in borrowed words.b,5
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE5}': `𖫥
-p eg. +
p eg. 𖫥𖫧𖫱𖫥𖫧𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE6}': `𖫦
-Was added to the repertoire by Dr. Lewis, but never used by him. It represents the sound ɾ, which is an allophone of ɗ and appears only after t or d in a syllable initial 'cluster', but is generally written with 𖫞 [U+16ADE BASSA VAH LETTER DO] or 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], eg. -𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳 -
+ +ɾ rarely used consonant. It was added to the repertoire by its inventor, Dr. Lewis, but never used by him, to represent the sound ɾ, which is an allophone of ɗ and appears only after t or d in a syllable initial 'cluster'. This is generally written with +𖫞 [U+16ADE BASSA VAH LETTER DO] +or +𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], eg.
+𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳
+ +Transitional vowel
+In some cases, determined by personal preference, the initial vowel may be replaced with 𖫦 [U+16AE6 BASSA VAH LETTER WADDA],b2 eg.
+𖫞𖫦𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE7}': `𖫧
-a eg. +
a eg. 𖫧𖫰𖫛𖫧𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE8}': `𖫨
-ɔ eg. +
ɔ eg. 𖫔𖫧𖫱𖫒𖫨𖫴
`, + + + + + '\u{16AE9}': `𖫩
-o eg. +
o eg. 𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳
`, + + + + + '\u{16AEA}': `𖫪
-u eg. +
u eg. 𖫓𖫪𖫰𖫞𖫪𖫰
`, + + + + + '\u{16AEB}': `𖫫
-e eg. +
e eg. 𖫟𖫫𖫰𖫞𖫬𖫱
`, + + + + + '\u{16AEC}': `𖫬
-ɛ eg. +
ɛ eg. 𖫞𖫬𖫲
`, + + + + + '\u{16AED}': `𖫭
-i eg. +
i eg. 𖫒𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱𖫪𖫰𖫐
`, + + + + + '\u{16AF0}': `𖫰
-˦ eg. +
˦ eg. 𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰
In Latin transcription á
`, + + + + + '\u{16AF1}': `𖫱
-˨ eg. +
˨ eg. 𖫥𖫧𖫱𖫥𖫧𖫱
In Latin transcription à
`, + + + + + '\u{16AF2}': `𖫲
-˧ eg. +
˧ eg. 𖫞𖫬𖫲
In Latin transcription ē or no diacritic.
`, + + + + + '\u{16AF3}': `𖫳
-˨˧ eg. +
˨˧ eg. 𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳
In Latin transcription a᷅ or ǎ.
`, + + + + + '\u{16AF4}': `𖫴
-˥˩ eg. +
˥˩ eg. 𖫔𖫧𖫱𖫒𖫨𖫴
In Latin transcription áà or â.
`, + + + + + '\u{16AF5}': `𖫵
-Can be used as an alternative to the full stop.
+Can be used as an alternative to the ASCII full stop.
`, @@ -302,5 +494,5 @@ - +// } \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/bass/bsq-examples.js b/bass/bsq-examples.js index 0ee0ca099..31d8c2bb1 100644 --- a/bass/bsq-examples.js +++ b/bass/bsq-examples.js @@ -1,66 +1,94 @@ /* @ Source: https://cefliberia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bertkau-Phonology-of-Bassa.pdf -§ 'Noto Sans Bassa Vah' -# 200 -~ ltr -! bsq + +native|meaning|IPA¹|transcription|notes|wiktionary² + +~ before an IPA transcription indicates that it has been autogenerated or guessed at and needs checking + +[₁] separate CCS with §, separate phonetic syllables with . +use ‹ and › for a sound that spans 2 CCSes +use – for a CCS that doesn't produce sound + +[₂] x means that no link to Wiktionary should be added */ autoExpandExamples.bsq = ` -𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐|big|vᵋ̃nɛ̃˨|vnɛ̃̀ +𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐|big|v§ᵋ̃§‹§n§ɛ̃§‹|vnɛ̃̀ +𖫔𖫧𖫴|to ask for||ɓáà|ɓa˦a˨ 𖫔𖫧𖫴|to make a mistake||máà 𖫔𖫧𖫴|friend/to make a mistake||ɓáà/máà -𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳|mountain|tᵒɾō|tɖō -𖫔𖫧𖫱𖫒𖫨𖫴|Bassa|ɓa˨sɔ˥˩|ɓàsóò -𖫞𖫪𖫲𖫐𖫐𖫪𖫲𖫐|fog|dᵘ̃ɾũ̄|dnũ̄ -𖫓𖫪𖫰𖫞𖫪𖫰|to float|fᵘɺú|fɖú -𖫟𖫧𖫰𖫐𖫐𖫧𖫰𖫐|grease|cᵃ̃n̆ã́|cnã́ -𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰|to kill|ɗᵃɓa˦|ɗɓá -𖫞𖫦𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰|to kill|ɗᵃɓa˦|ɗɓá -𖫡𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫔𖫬𖫱𖫐|to teach|tᵋ̃mɛ̃̀|tmɛ̃̀ -𖫥𖫧𖫱𖫥𖫧𖫱|slipper|pàpà -𖫧𖫰𖫛𖫧𖫱|hour|a˦wa˨|áwà -𖫟𖫫𖫴|to write|ce˥ -𖫞𖫬𖫲|thing|ɗē -𖫟𖫫𖫰𖫞𖫬𖫱|book|ce˦ɗɛ˨ -𖫜𖫧𖫱𖫑𖫧𖫰|musical instrument|za˦ka˨|zákà -𖫪𖫰𖫐|I|ḿ -𖫒𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱𖫪𖫰𖫐|trousers|síàṹ -𖫔𖫨𖫰𖫐|to want, wish|mɔ̃́ -𖫕𖫪𖫰|child|dʲú|dyú -𖫤𖫭𖫲𖫐𖫕𖫫𖫲𖫐|four|hĩ˧ɲɛ̃˧|hĩ̄nyɛ̃̄ +𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳|mountain|t§ᵒ§ɾ§ō|tɖō||x +𖫔𖫧𖫱𖫒𖫨𖫴|Bassa|ɓ§ǎ§s§ɔ̂|ɓǎsóò||ɓa˨sɔ˥˩ +𖫢𖫧𖫳𖫒𖫨𖫰𖫨𖫱|Bassa|ɓ§ǎ§s§ɔ̂|ɓǎsóò||ɓa˨sɔ˥˩ +𖫞𖫪𖫲𖫐𖫐𖫪𖫲𖫐|fog|d§ᵘ̃§‹§ɾ§ũ̄§‹|dnũ̄ +𖫓𖫪𖫰𖫞𖫪𖫰|to float|f§ᵘ§ɺ§ú|fɖú +𖫟𖫧𖫰𖫐𖫐𖫧𖫰𖫐|grease|c§ᵃ̃§‹§n̆§ã́§‹|cnã́ +𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰|to kill|ɗ§ᵃ§ɓ§á|ɗɓá|ɗᵃɓa˦ +𖫞𖫦𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰|to kill|ɗ§ᵃ§ɓ§á|ɗɓá|ɗᵃɓa˦ +𖫡𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫔𖫬𖫱𖫐|to teach|t§ᵋ̃§‹§m§ɛ̃̀§‹|tmɛ̃̀ +𖫥𖫧𖫱𖫥𖫧𖫱|slipper|p§à§p§à +𖫧𖫰𖫛𖫧𖫱|hour|á§w§à|áwà|a˦wa˨ +𖫟𖫫𖫴|to write|c§é||ce˥ +𖫞𖫬𖫲|thing|ɗ§ē +𖫟𖫫𖫰𖫞𖫬𖫱|book|c§é§ɗ§ɛ̀||ce˦ɗɛ˨ +𖫜𖫧𖫱𖫑𖫧𖫰|musical instrument|z§á§k§à|zákà|za˦ka˨ +𖫪𖫰𖫐|I|–§ḿ +𖫒𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱𖫪𖫰𖫐|trousers|s§í§à§ṹ§‹ +𖫔𖫨𖫰𖫐|to want, wish|m§ɔ̃́§‹ +𖫕𖫪𖫰|child|dʲ§ú|dyú +𖫤𖫭𖫲𖫐𖫕𖫫𖫲𖫐|four|h§ĩ§‹§ɲ§ɛ̃§‹|hĩ̄nyɛ̃̄|hĩ˧ɲɛ̃˧ 𖫢𖫧𖫲𖫢𖫧𖫲|ripe||bōbō -𖫔𖫧𖫴|to ask for|ɓa˦a˨|ɓáà -𖫔𖫧𖫴𖫐|guinea fowl|mã˦ã˨|máà -𖫔𖫪𖫱𖫫𖫰|friend|mu˨e˦|mùe -𖫕𖫧𖫲|to bring|dʲa˨|dyà -𖫕𖫧𖫲𖫐|anteater|ɲã˧|nya -𖫥𖫩𖫲 𖫕𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|to plant in rich soil|po˧ ɲa˧a˨|po nyaà -𖫝𖫧𖫳|to lock|ɡ͡ba˨˧|gbà -𖫝𖫧𖫲𖫐|law|ɲmã˧|gma -𖫞𖫧𖫲|to fry|ɗa˧|ɖa -𖫐𖫧𖫲𖫐𖫧𖫱𖫐|bird|nã˧ã˨|naà -𖫐𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|country devil|na˧a˨|naà -𖫢𖫪𖫱𖫭𖫳|brother-in-law|bu˨i˨˧ -𖫐𖫨𖫴|here|no˥˩ -𖫥𖫪𖫴|just, only|pu˥˩ -𖫝𖫧𖫳𖫧𖫱|nanny goat|ɡ͡ba˨˧˨ -𖫝𖫧𖫱𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|nanny goat|ɡ͡ba˨˧˨ -𖫔𖫫𖫳𖫧𖫱|we (inclusive)|ɓe˨˧a˨ -𖫔𖫫𖫳𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|we (inclusive)|ɓe˨˧a˧˨ -𖫟𖫬𖫲𖫐|to talk to|cɛ̃˧ -𖫟𖫬𖫲𖫐𖫬𖫲𖫐|talk to him|cɛ̃ɛ̃˧ -𖫑𖫪𖫱𖫐𖫧𖫱𖫐|work|kũã˨ -𖫑𖫪𖫱𖫐𖫧𖫱𖫐𖫨𖫱|working|kũãɔ̃˨ -𖫖𖫫𖫲𖫞𖫫𖫲𖫭𖫰𖫐|in the farm|ɡᵉɺe˧ĩ˦ -𖫟𖫫𖫰𖫫𖫱𖫭𖫴𖫐|will write|cee˦˨ĩ˥˩ -𖫥𖫩𖫲𖫬𖫲𖫭𖫰𖫐|throwing|po˧e˧ĩ˦ -𖫘𖫨𖫲𖫐𖫨𖫲𖫪𖫰𖫐|catching|k͡pɔ̃˧ɔ̃ũ˦ -𖫖𖫫𖫲𖫞𖫫𖫲|farm|ɡᵉɺe˧ -𖫘𖫨𖫲𖫐|to catch|k͡pɔ̃˧ -𖫠𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱|hungry time|hʷi˦a˨ +𖫔𖫧𖫴𖫐|guinea fowl|m§á̃§‹§à̃§‹|máà|mã˦ã˨ +𖫔𖫪𖫱𖫫𖫰|friend|m§ù§é|mùe|mu˨e˦ +𖫕𖫧𖫲|to bring|dʲ§à|dyà|dʲa˨ +𖫕𖫧𖫲𖫐|anteater|ɲ§ā̃§‹|nya|ɲã˧ +𖫥𖫩𖫲 𖫕𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|to plant in rich soil|p§ō§ §ɲ§ā§à|po nyaà|po˧ ɲa˧a˨ +𖫝𖫧𖫳|to lock|ɡ͡b§ǎ|gbà|ɡ͡ba˨˧ +𖫝𖫧𖫲𖫐|law|ɲm§ā̃§‹|gma|ɲmã˧ +𖫞𖫧𖫲|to fry|ɗ§ā|ɖa|ɗa˧ +𖫐𖫧𖫲𖫐𖫧𖫱𖫐|bird|n§ā̃§‹§à̃§‹|naà|nã˧ã˨ +𖫐𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|country devil|n§ā§à|naà|na˧a˨ +𖫢𖫪𖫱𖫭𖫳|brother-in-law|b§ù§ǐ||bu˨i˨˧ +𖫐𖫨𖫴|here|n§ô||no˥˩ +𖫥𖫪𖫴|just, only|p§û||pu˥˩ +𖫝𖫧𖫳𖫧𖫱|nanny goat|ɡ͡b§a˨˧˨§‹ +𖫝𖫧𖫱𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|nanny goat|ɡ͡b§a˨˧˨§‹§‹ +𖫔𖫫𖫳𖫧𖫱|we (inclusive)|ɓ§ě§à||ɓe˨˧a˨ +𖫔𖫫𖫳𖫧𖫲𖫧𖫱|we (inclusive)|ɓ§ě§â§‹||ɓe˨˧a˧˨ +𖫟𖫬𖫲𖫐|to talk to|c§ɛ̄̃§‹̄||cɛ̃˧ +𖫟𖫬𖫲𖫐𖫬𖫲𖫐|talk to him|c§ɛ̃§‹§ɛ̄̃§‹||cɛ̃ɛ̃˧ +𖫑𖫪𖫱𖫐𖫧𖫱𖫐|work|k§ũ§‹§à̃§‹||kũã˨ +𖫑𖫪𖫱𖫐𖫧𖫱𖫐𖫨𖫱|working|k§ũ§‹§ã§‹§ɔ̀̃§‹||kũãɔ̃˨ +𖫖𖫫𖫲𖫞𖫫𖫲𖫭𖫰𖫐|in the farm|ɡ§ᵉ§ɺ§e§í̃§‹||ɡᵉɺe˧ĩ˦ +𖫟𖫫𖫰𖫫𖫱𖫭𖫴𖫐|will write|c§e§e˦˨§ĩ˥˩§‹||cee˦˨ĩ˥˩ +𖫥𖫩𖫲𖫬𖫲𖫭𖫰𖫐|throwing|p§o§e§í̃§‹||po˧e˧ĩ˦ +𖫘𖫨𖫲𖫐𖫨𖫲𖫪𖫰𖫐|catching|k͡p§ɔ̃§ɔ̃§‹§ú̃§‹||k͡pɔ̃˧ɔ̃ũ˦ +𖫖𖫫𖫲𖫞𖫫𖫲|farm|ɡ§ᵉ§ɺ§e||ɡᵉɺe˧ +𖫘𖫨𖫲𖫐|to catch|k͡p§ɔ̃§‹||k͡pɔ̃˧ +𖫠𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱|hungry time|hʷ§í§à||hʷíà +𖫚𖫧𖫲|hand|xʷ§ā|xwa||x +𖫗𖫧𖫲𖫔𖫧𖫲|to light a fire|d§a§ɓ§a|daɓa||x +𖫙𖫧𖫳𖫑𖫧𖫲𖫒𖫭𖫱|donkey|ɟ§ǎ§k§a§s§ì|jǎkasì||x + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/bass/bsq.css b/bass/bsq.css index 34aadc3a8..4aac35056 100755 --- a/bass/bsq.css +++ b/bass/bsq.css @@ -14,3 +14,31 @@ @media print { #freeText { font-size: 18px; } } [lang=bsq] { font-family: "Noto Sans Bassa Vah WF", serif; font-size: 140%; } .large .ex { font-size: 300%; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; line-height: 1; } + + + + + + +.rb { + font-size: 2rem; + font-family: 'Noto Sans Bassa Vah WF'; + } + +.useBlockExamples .charExample .ex { + font-size:200%; + line-height: 1; + } +.useBlockExamples .charExample.inline .ex { + font-size: 200%; + } + +.map .charExample .ex { + font-size: 1.6rem; +} + + + + + + diff --git a/bass/bsq.html b/bass/bsq.html index 3c5705bef..dd3d8fde6 100755 --- a/bass/bsq.html +++ b/bass/bsq.html @@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ -Updated - 5 January, 2023 + 28 January, 2023
@@ -97,17 +97,23 @@The Bassa Vah script is used to write the Bassa language spoken in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and by Bassa speakers in Brazil and the Caribbean. It is not widely used at present, although there are some ongoing efforts to revive its use.
+𖫢𖫧𖫳𖫒𖫨𖫰𖫨𖫱 ba⁴sɔ¹ɔ² (Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀) Bassa
+ +𖫢𖫧𖫳𖫒𖫨𖫰𖫨𖫱
+According to ScriptSource, "the script developed from the earlier Bassa communication system of signs made from chewed leaves or carved into trees and left in set locations where they would be found and interpreted. As this system developed, it was employed by the Bassa people to avoid slave traders, so was suppressed by colonial powers and became almost extinct".
+Wikipedia takes up the story: "Dr. Thomas Flo Lewis, who rediscovered the script in South America from descendants of Bassa Slaves taken to the Americas ... instigated publishing of limited materials in the language from the mid-1900s through the 1930s, with its height in the 1910s and 1920s. It is alleged that some of the signs are based on native Bassa pictograms revealed by a former slave. It is not clear what connection it may have had with neighboring scripts, but type was cast for it, and an association for its promotion was formed in Liberia in 1959."
-Sources: Scriptsource, Wikipedia.
+Sources: Scriptsource, Wikipedia.
Bassa has 5 tones, 2 of which are contour tones.
+ +The following table provides typical phonological transcriptions and descriptions for the five tones.
+| high | +á | +˦ | +𖫧𖫰𖫛𖫧𖫱 | +
| mid | +a/ā | +˧ | +𖫖𖫫𖫲𖫞𖫫𖫲 | +
| low | +à | +˨ | +𖫔𖫧𖫱𖫒𖫨𖫴 | +
| low-mid | +a᷅/ǎ | +˨˧ | +𖫢𖫪𖫱𖫭𖫳 | +
| high-low | +áà/â | +˥˩ | +𖫥𖫪𖫴 | +
Bassa morphemes typically don't have final consonants, but do often end in a nasalised vowel.
+The morphemes may begin with a consonant 'cluster', which is formed from an initial consonant followed by a 'transitional vowel', then another consonant. In rapid speech the transitional vowel is very short, and its sound is entirely predictable from the combination of consonants. In slow speech, the sound is the same as that of the 'full vowel' which follows the consonant cluster.b,8
+A romanisation system such as that used by Bertkau omits the transitional vowel, eg. vnɛ̃̀, but the Bassa Vah script represents the transitional vowel with the same vowel symbol used for the full vowel, b,46 eg. 𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐 vɛ²nnɛ²n
+The above is a type of intervocalic consonant. The pattern CVCV usually only occurs for this or for one of the following reasons:b,8ff
+Use of vowels is straightforward. These are the characters.
+ +It is quite common to find vowels at the beginning of a word, and sometimes several together, eg. 𖫒𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱𖫪𖫰𖫐
+In rapid speech the vowel between an initial consonant and a medial consonant that is one of 𖫞 [U+16ADE BASSA VAH LETTER DO], 𖫔 [U+16AD4 BASSA VAH LETTER MBE], or 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], the initial vowel is collapsed, in a predictable way. The initial vowel becomes a shortened version of the vowel that follows the medial consonant. The shortness is typically not shown in the Vah orthography, but may affect a Latin transcription, eg. +𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰 +𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳 +𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐 +
+ +In some cases, determined by personal preference, the initial vowel may be replaced with 𖫦 [U+16AE6 BASSA VAH LETTER WADDA],b2 eg.
+𖫞𖫦𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰
+𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI] is used in syllable-final position to indicate nasalisation of the preceding vowel,sr eg. 𖫛𖫨𖫰𖫐-𖫛𖫨𖫰𖫐 wɔ¹n-wɔ¹n wɔ̃́-wɔ̃́
+Bertkau reports that the ENNI glyph is sometimes attached to the vowel,b,46 something like this 𖫑𖫪𖫱𖫐𖫧𖫐 kũ̀ã̀ work
+Bassa Vah has 5 tone marks. Every syllable must have a tone mark, and they are positioned in the centre of the vowel glyph, eg. 𖫩𖫰 𖫩𖫱 𖫩𖫲 𖫩𖫳 𖫩𖫴 o¹ o² o³ o⁴ o⁵𖫫𖫰 𖫫𖫱 𖫫𖫲 𖫫𖫳 𖫫𖫴 e¹ e² e³ e⁴ e⁵
+Tone marks are stored as combining marks immediately after a vowel letter. In a sequence involving standalone vowel sounds, each vowel will have a tone mark, eg. 𖫒𖫨𖫱𖫫𖫱𖫭𖫱𖫐 sɔ²e²i²n
+Use of vowels is straightforward. These are the characters.
-It is quite common to find vowels at the beginning of a word, and sometimes several together, eg. 𖫒𖫭𖫰𖫧𖫱𖫪𖫰𖫐
-In rapid speech the vowel between an initial consonant and a medial consonant that is one of 𖫞 [U+16ADE BASSA VAH LETTER DO], 𖫔 [U+16AD4 BASSA VAH LETTER MBE], or 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI], the initial vowel is collapsed, in a predictable way. The initial vowel becomes a shortened version of the vowel that follows the medial consonant. The shortness is typically not shown in the Vah orthography, but may affect a Latin transcription, eg. -𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰 -𖫡𖫩𖫳𖫞𖫩𖫳 -𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐 -
-In some cases, determined by personal preference, the initial vowel may be replaced with 𖫦 [U+16AE6 BASSA VAH LETTER WADDA],b2 eg. -𖫞𖫦𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰 -
-𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI] is used in syllable-final position to indicate nasalisation of the preceding vowel,sr eg. 𖫛𖫨𖫰𖫐-𖫛𖫨𖫰𖫐 wɔ¹n-wɔ¹n (wɔ̃́-wɔ̃́)
-Bertkau reports that the ENNI glyph is sometimes attached to the vowel,b,46 something like this 𖫑𖫪𖫱𖫐𖫧𖫐 (kũ̀ã̀) work
-Three letters each represent either a plosive or a nasal. The alternative sound is normally triggered by whether the syllable is nasalised or not, however there are estimated to be around 30 words which have oral vowels but nasal onsets.
+𖫔 [U+16AD4 BASSA VAH LETTER MBE] represents both ɓ and m sounds. The pronunciation is usually m when followed by a nasalised vowel, ie. when the syllable ends with 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI].
+The same applies to 𖫕 [U+16AD5 BASSA VAH LETTER YIE], which represents both dʲ and ɲ sounds.
+Similarly, 𖫝 [U+16ADD BASSA VAH LETTER GBU], which is pronounced either ɡ͡b or ŋ͡m when followed by a nasalised vowel.
+There is, however, no way to tell the pronunciation when followed by an oral vowel. For example, the following two words are written the same way:b,46
+𖫔𖫧𖫴 ɓáà/máà friend/to make a mistake
+In all these cases, the Latin script orthography shows the differences, ie. ɓ/m, dy/ny, and gb/gm.
+Bassa Vah has 5 tone marks. Every syllable must have a tone mark, and they are positioned in the centre of the vowel glyph, eg. 𖫩𖫰 𖫩𖫱 𖫩𖫲 𖫩𖫳 𖫩𖫴 o¹ o² o³ o⁴ o⁵𖫫𖫰 𖫫𖫱 𖫫𖫲 𖫫𖫳 𖫫𖫴 e¹ e² e³ e⁴ e⁵
-Tone marks are stored as combining marks immediately after a vowel letter. In a sequence involving standalone vowel sounds, each vowel will have a tone mark, eg. 𖫒𖫨𖫱𖫫𖫱𖫭𖫱𖫐 sɔ²e²i²n
+ +𖫦 [U+16AE6 BASSA VAH LETTER WADDA] was added to the repertoire by Dr. Lewis, but never used by him. It represents the sound ɾ, which is an allophone of ɗ and appears only after t or d in a syllable initial 'cluster', but is generally written with 𖫞 [U+16ADE BASSA VAH LETTER DO].
+This letter may also be used to indicate a transitional vowel (see transitional).
+There aren't any real consonant clusters in Bassa. However, in rapid speech the vowel between two consonants in a bi-consonantal morpheme is collapsed, and this may be reflected in Latin transcription. For example, 𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰
+When 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI] appears before another consonant without an intervening vowel, it is nasalising the preceding vowel (see nasalisation).sr Two ENNI in a row indicates a nasalised vowel followed by an intervocalic n, and is always written this way to avoid confusion,b,46 eg. 𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐
+Three letters each represent either a plosive or a nasal. The alternative sound is normally triggered by whether the syllable is nasalised or not, however there are estimated to be around 30 words which have oral vowels but nasal onsets.
-𖫔 [U+16AD4 BASSA VAH LETTER MBE] represents both ɓ and m sounds. The pronunciation is usually m when followed by a nasalised vowel, ie. when the syllable ends with 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI].
-The same applies to 𖫕 [U+16AD5 BASSA VAH LETTER YIE], which represents both dʲ and ɲ sounds.
-Similarly, 𖫝 [U+16ADD BASSA VAH LETTER GBU], which is pronounced either ɡ͡b or ŋ͡m when followed by a nasalised vowel.
-There is, however, no way to tell the pronunciation when followed by an oral vowel. For example, the following two words are written the same way:b,46 𖫔𖫧𖫴
-In all these cases, the Latin script orthography shows the differences, ie. ɓ/m, dy/ny, and gb/gm.
-𖫦 [U+16AE6 BASSA VAH LETTER WADDA] was added to the repertoire by Dr. Lewis, but never used by him. It represents the sound ɾ, which is an allophone of ɗ and appears only after t or d in a syllable initial 'cluster', but is generally written with 𖫞 [U+16ADE BASSA VAH LETTER DO].
-This letter may also be used to indicate a transitional vowel (see transitional).
-There aren't any real consonant clusters in Bassa. However, in rapid speech the vowel between two consonants in a bi-consonantal morpheme is collapsed, and this may be reflected in Latin transcription. For example, 𖫞𖫧𖫰𖫔𖫧𖫰
-When 𖫐 [U+16AD0 BASSA VAH LETTER ENNI] appears before another consonant without an intervening vowel, it is nasalising the preceding vowel (see nasalisation).sr Two ENNI in a row indicates a nasalised vowel followed by an intervocalic n, and is always written this way to avoid confusion,b,46 eg. 𖫣𖫬𖫱𖫐𖫐𖫬𖫱𖫐
-tbd
- -This section looks at ways in which spacing is applied between characters over and above that which is introduced during justification.
Thanks to the following people for making useful suggestions that were incorporated into the text: Charles Riley, Tim Slager.