Alphabet

Lesson 1

Numo is written in the Latin alphabet, the same alphabet used to write English alongside many other languages, including other IALs. Unlike English, however, Numo much more consistently uses one letter per sound, and one sound per letter. The alphabet and its standard pronunciations are:

• Aa - /a/ as in father

• Bb - /b/ as in butter

• Cc - /t͡ʃ/ as in chess

• Dd - /d/ as in dive

• Ee - /e/ as in egg

• Ff - /f/ as in fan

• Gg - /g/ as in gap

• Hh - /h/ as in hotel

• Ii - /i/ as in need

• Jj - /j/ as in yes

• Kk - /k/ as in king

• Ll - /l/ as in love

• Mm - /m/ as in moon

• Nn - /n/ as in nice

• Oo - /o/ as in go

• Pp - /p/ as in pick

• Rr - /r/ as in Spanish perro

• Ss - /s/ as in sign

• Tt - /t/ as in top

• Uu - /u/ as in scoot

• Ww - /w/ as in word

Even though there are examples, keep in mind that different speakers of English pronounce things differently, especially vowels, so the IPA letter (between the slashes) is the only truly standard pronunciation. However, because of the relatively small number of sounds and ways you can put them together, you will most likely have no problem being understood by pronouncing Numo in the way that is easiest for you. The main thing to watch out for for most speakers is that the letter C is pronounced like English Ch, not like K or S, otherwise the overlap could cause misunderstandings. Also note that J is pronounced like English Y as a consonant, and R is typically rolled.

The letter names are A, Be, Ce, De, E, eF, Ge, He, I, Je, Ke, eL, eM, eN, O, Pe, eR, eS, Te, U, We.

The unused letters have names too:

• Qq - Kiu /kju/

• Vv - W duotel /we ˈdwo.tel/ (Half W)

• Xx - Krois /krojs/ (Cross)

• Yy - Upsilon /ˈup.si.lon/

• Zz - Tset /tset/

Notice how some I's became J's and U's became W's in the pronunciation guide? We'll explore exactly when that happens in the next section.

Practice 1

Try reading these sentences aloud:

1. Mir cantes. "The woman sings."

2. Felin pijes milke ai etes kal. "Cats drink milk and eat fish."

3. Poje wes burger, ked pu awes nai mone kaf. "The boy wants a burger, but he doesn't have enough money."

Vocabulary 1

Mir - Woman

Poje - Boy

Burger - Burger

Felin - Cat

Kal - Fish

Milke - Milk

Mone - Money

Cantes - Sing

Pijes - Drink

Etes - Eat

Wes - Want

Awes - Have

Ked - But

Pu - He

Nai - Not

Kaf - Enough

Ai - And