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Why learn the Tuvan alphabet?
If you learn to read in Tuvan, you will be able to find and read Tuvan song lyrics in books and online on your own. Some Tuvan songs have been translated into English and/or transliterated using the Latin script, but the majority of song lyrics are available in Tuvan only. Furthermore, a popular book genre you may find interesting is a compilation of Tuvan songs with lyrics and chords, for example, Тувинские народные песни и обрядовая поэзия [Tuvan Folk Songs and Ritual Poetry] by Zoya Kyrgys published in 2015.
It takes around an hour to learn the letters in the Tuvan alphabet. Of course, it will take much more time to master the Cyrillic script, that is to connect these letters into words and read fast. With practice, you will become more proficient in deciphering the letters. After all, you had years and years of practice with your first language.
Thus, the Tuvan alphabet is the first tool in your linguistic toolkit which gives you an opportunity to explore the world of Tuvan songs on your own.
What is the Tuvan alphabet like?
The Tuvan alphabet is based on the Cyrillic script and has 36 letters: 22 consonants, 12 vowels, and two signs. It matches the Russian alphabet (33 letters) but also has three additional letters (ө, ӊ, ү). Consequently, when you learn to read in Tuvan, you also by default learn to read in Russian. And if you already can read in Russian, you just need to learn the three additional letters to be able to read in Tuvan. The same way, if you know the Latin script, you can sound out words in German, Italian or even Uzbek. But unlike English - where spelling and pronunciation of words are often different - in Tuvan and Russian, you read words the way they are written. Easy!
Learning objectives:
By the end of this set, you will be able to
1. decipher the Tuvan letters
2. read Tuvan words and sentences (but not yet comprehend their meaning)
3. access online tools for practicing reading, typing, and writing in Russian (!)
One way to learn the Tuvan alphabet is to move from the familiar letters to the unfamiliar. Thus, the letters in the alphabet have been divided into six groups:
Group 3: "new friends" (part 1)
Group 4: "new friends" (part 2)
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