Here 1
We actually have a policy now of writing Milluk diphthongs using only vowel symbols the way that Jacobs has them written, rather than using the semivowel symbols [ w ] and [ y ]. However, in this case, we do hear a phonetic distinction with this word from Lolly, however slight that distinction may be, so we use the semivowel letter [ w ], in order to indicate that we actually do hear more of a diphthong for one pronunciation of the word, as opposed to hearing more in the way of two vowels one after another in the word, for another pronunciation of the word.
This word meaning ‘here’, also occurs in the interview segment “He Lives Here 1” and in the interview segment “He Lives Here 2”.
Instant Phonetic Englishization: deeoo, but pronounced more or less as one syllable.
The phonetic distinction that we make between Lolly’s two times saying this word, first as [ diw ], then as [ diu ], here in this interview segment, is a very fine phonetic distinction that we think that we hear, which does not make a difference in meaning. The phonetic difference is that [ diw ] represents the vocalic part of the word more as a diphthong, while the phonetic transcription [ diu ] represents the vocalic part of the word more as two vowels one after the other.
In our table of transcriptions for Annie’s pronunciation of this word, we do not make this distinction between [ diw ] (more as a diphthong) and [ diu ] (more as two vowels one after the other). That is because we are relying on what Jacobs indicated as what he heard, rather than our being able to hear Annie say this word ouselves.