Chapter One – Basic Sounds
Watch an interview with Mi’kmaw Elder Bernie Francis, where he shares the development of the Francis/Smith orthography.
Source: CBC News Nova Scotia. (2019, December 10). Mi’kmaw language & culture 02 | Bernie Francis on his biography & orthography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJzBwKX8AL0&list=PLAtUYiZ2wUbGB6kSgep-Qo4lRNE84cEUu&index=2
There are a variety of sounds that you will hear as you begin your Mi’kmaw language journey. Take a moment to review the video linked below to get started by learning about the use of vowels and consonants in the Mi’kmaw language.
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 Watch the Video: Level 1 Mi’kmaw: Video 01 – Basic Sounds Source: Video produced by Captive Expression for No’kmaq Village / Flat Bay Band, Inc., Jun 12, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tDTUjKDoII |
Basic Sounds
The following content acts as a simple guide to the variations of sound you will hear in Mi’kmaw. Not all of them sound the same as you might expect in English however, and some have been marked as either uncommon or rare to Mi’kmaw.
Here are the vowels and consonants that make up the initial basic sounds. Note that the schwa (Ɨ) does not have a long form. Be aware of the use of the apostrophe, which can completely change a word’s meaning. Finally, in the consonants, notice how some change sound when there are two of the same adjacent.
Short Vowels
A E I O U Ɨ
| A sounds like the A in FATHER. | E sounds like the E in BED. | ||
| I sounds like the EE as in BEET. | O sounds like the O in ALSO. | ||
| U sounds like OU as in YOU. | Ɨ (schwa) sounds like UH as in HUH. |
Long Vowels
A’ E’ I’ O’ U’
These long vowels sound the same as the short version, but are extended.
| A’ sounds like the A in FATHER only held longer. | E’ sounds like the E in EH only held longer. | ||
| I’ sounds like the I in POLICE, only held longer. | O’ sounds like the O in NOTE, only held longer. | ||
| U’ sounds like the U in TUNE, only held longer. |
Consonants
P T K J L M N Q S W Y
| P sounds like B as in BALL. | PP sounds like P as in PUT. | ||
| T sounds like D as in DOG. | TT sounds like T as in TOY. | ||
| K sounds like G as in GO. | KK sounds like K as in KICK. | ||
| J sounds like J as in JOG. | JJ sounds like CH as in CHURCH. | ||
| L sounds like L as in LIKE. | M sounds like M as in ME. | ||
| N sounds like N as in NEW. | Q sounds like HK as in the ACH in BACH. | ||
| S sounds like S as in SIT. | W sounds like W as in WILL. | ||
| Y sounds like Y as in YES. |
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Try this to help remember: Peter Took Karate, Just Like Mary, Never Quit School Will You |
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Have a look at this interactive poster of the Mi’kmaq Alphabet from. the First Nations Help Desk |
