Chapter 2 – Blends

Doris Googoo

Chapter 2 – Blends

Blends, also known as Dipthongs in many other texts, are vowel-consonant combinations where the resulting sound is different from the basic rules laid out in Chapter 1. While most of these sounds will be familiar to English speakers, please note that some do not have direct correlations in English. Begin by listening carefully to the video and seek out other fluent speakers to train your ear. Finally, remember the apostrophe, which lengthens the sound of a vowel.

Watch the video: Level 1 Mi'kmaw: Video 02 - Dipthongs

Source: Video produced by Captive Expression for No'kmaq Village / Flat Bay Band, Inc., Jun 12, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNiKPfcBhX0

	AW sounds like the OU in OUT.	Awti is Road.
	A'W sounds like the OW in COW.	Mia'wj is Cat.
	AY sounds like the I in BIKE.	Pu'tay is Bottle.
	AI sounds like EYE.	A'tlai is Shirt.
	EW has no English equivalent.	Ewle'jit means She or He is poor.
	E'W also has no English equivalent	Ne'wt is One (1).
	EY sounds like the A in BAKE.	Eliey means I am going.
	EI sounds like the AY in DAY.	Welei means I am fine/well.
	IW sounds like the EW in VIEW	Iapjiw is Forever.
	OW sounds like the OA in OAK.	Te'sipow is Horse.

The following are examples of food-related words and phrases, which contain blends. Try using them around the dinner table in everyday conversation.

Tips!: Ewey is often used at the end of food words, but you may also see uey. O’q turns something in to a holder for that thing. Apu to make something into a liquid or juice.

Mijipjewey	food	Eksitpu'kewey	breakfast
Miawula'kewey	lunch	Wula'kewey	supper
Saluey	salt	Tepi’sewey	pepper
Pɨtewey	tea	Pɨteweyo'q	tea pot
Tipu’lewey	butter	Kakkinewe’l	cookie
Pɨtew	broth	Keltikewey	ice cream
Tia'mewey	moose meat	Wa'wl	eggs
Kulkw'sewey	bacon, ham, pork	Apli'kmujewey	rabbit meat
Peltekewey	oatmeal	Klumkewe’l	cereal
Alawey	pea	Alawe'l	peas
Klitaw	raspberry	Sewlukowey	rhubarb
Sapte'kney	fork	Wow	cooking pot