When Letters Sound Different

When certain consonants (k, c, t, p, g, s) are surrounded by single prime vowels, (a, i, u) they are pronounced more softly, often sounding like letters that do not even appear in the Alutiiq alphabet! This can cause confusion, but luckily the sound changes follow a recognizable pattern.

A prime vowel in Alutiiq is a, i, or u. The sound of one of the following consonants will change only if has a single prime vowel (a, i, or u) before and after it. If a doubled vowel (aa, ii, uu) or dipthong (ai, au, ia, iu, ua, ui) appears on either side of the consonant, the consonant's sound will not change.

K: When a k occurs between two prime vowels, it sounds more like an English g.

Example word: akit (money)

C: If c is surrounded by two single prime vowels, it produces more of an English j sound

Example word: macaq (sun)

T: When a single prime vowel occurs both before and after a t, it sounds like a d.

Example word: qatayaq (sea gull)

P: If p is surrounded by two single prime vowels, it sounds like an English b.

Example word: napaq (tree or pole)

G: A Alutiiq g occurring between two single prime vowels makes a soft gh sound halfway between an h and a hard English g (the normal Alutiiq g sounds much like an English h).

Example word: agi (go)

S: Depending on the speaker, an s between two single prime vowels will make a z or zh sound.

Example word: isumat (raisin)

Example word: isuwiq (seal)

 

Au: When you think you are hearing an "o" in an Alutiiq word, it is most likely the vowel combination (a.k.a dipthong) au, which can sound like the ou in out or like the ow in grow.

Example word: qenauq (sick)

Example word: aqum'aut (they are all sitting)

 

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