GB2427959A

GB2427959A - Acoli accented orthography with diacritical marks.

Info

Publication number: GB2427959A
Application number: GB0503702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Janet Lakareber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-23
Filing date: 2005-02-23
Publication date: 2007-01-10
Also published as: GB0503702D0

Abstract

The Acoli language has 4 types of tones called voices and 3 combinations of tones. These voices and combinations fall under two categories, group A and group B. With group A the vowels are pronounced from the throat. With group B the vowels are pronounced from the chest and they are louder than group A vowels. An orthography is defined combining vowels of the Latin alphabet with diacritical marks to indicate the appropriate pronunciation.

Description

1 24279 Acoli Accented Orthography This invention is relating to Acoli

language. Like many African languages, Acoli language is largely distinguished by intonations rather than by spellings. This is in contrast say to English language, which is very much differentiated by spellings of the In Acoli language, you would have words or sentences constructed and spelt in exactly the same way, but with dual meanings. For example the word "oloko" can mean someone spoke or someone changed something. The word "laworo" can be used to describe someone who is stingy, or it can also be used to describe someone who is respectful. Therefore, when a statement is written down with no demarcations, it is difficult to work out what is being said. There is no accented orthography to help people with writing Acoli language. It has always been a matter of guessing what the writer is saying.

To over come this problem, the present invention has devised a writing system, which shows signs of the intonations, thus making it easier to read and write the language.

How the writing system works, is fully explained in nine booklets, called the Acoli Accented Orthography.

This invention believes that, whether spoken, written or signed, a language must communicate the exact infonnation with little or no ambiguity. It is hoped that exploring languages will add value to our multicultural society, and will promote better understanding in our community.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings of the intonations' signs:- a) Figure 1A and lB show the tones spoken from first voice of Acoli language.

b) Figure 2A and 2B show the tones spoken from second voice.

c) Figure 3A and 3B show the tones spoken from third voice.

d) Figure 4A and 4B show the tones spoken from fourth voice.

e) Figure 5A and 5B show the combination of first and second voice.

f) Figure 6A and 6B show the combination of second and first voice.

g) Figure 7A and 7B show the combination of fourth and second voice.

Description

In Acoli language, there are 4 types of tones which the invention calls them 4 voices; and there are 3 combinations of tones. All these voices and combinations fall under two categories; group A and group B. With group A, the vowels are pronounced from the throat. They are shown by single dots underneath the vowels.

With group B, the vowels are pronounced from the chest. They are louder than group A vowels, therefore they are shown with double dots underneath the vowels.

Figure lÀ and lB show the First voice. It is represented with a bar above the vowels with either a single dot or double dots underneath the vowels. It means that the vowels have flat sounding, the voice does not go up or down. For instance, nam, pji, two. Some of these tones can be found in the English language, in the words such as: are, to, is, the, for. So, the vowel A' in Figure 1A, would be pronounced like a' in the word are' since it is sounding from the throat. The vowel in Figure lB would be pronounced like e' in the word the' since it is sounding from the chest, etc. Figure 2A and 2B show the Second voice. It is represented with the accent sign pointing up, above the vowels. It means that the sound of the vowels go upwards. For instance, dn, en, wü, gin; etc. When you practice saying these, you would find that the sound goes towards the middle of your brain. This tone also exists in the English language, although not very common. It is like the sound of Big-Ben/bell. The nearest English word to that tone, would be the word many,' like when I say, There were too many people in the train. In this case the word many, would be spelt as mènj, in the new invention. This is the most powerful tone in Acoli language, and is responsible for creating combinations of tones.

Figure 3A and 3B show the Third voice. It is represented with the accent sign pointing towards the right hand side above the vowels. For instance, t4I, (; etc. When you practice saying this tone, the direction of the tone sounds as though it is going towards your right ear, this is why the accent sign is placed to that accord above the vowels. When spoken it sounds like the words spoken in present simple tense in the English language. For example, 4' in Figure 3A would be pronounced like the sound of a' in the word comes'. And (J' in Figure 3B would be pronounced like the sound of u' in the word do,' as it is said, "do me a favour." Figure 4A and 4B show the Fourth voice. This tone does not exist as a word on its own, in Acoli language. It is mainly accompanied by tones of the Second voice. For instance: ayènyé, amjzri, agàmé, etc. The nearest example would be when you play a keyboard say from C major, and you play from the highest note coming downwards, eg. d-t-l-s-f-m-r. The tone of voice four would be on the note of m, and the tone of voice two would be on the note r. The reason why it is placed pointing left above the vowels, is to show that the tone is slightly sounding left when you practice saying it together with the tone of the Second voice. When you practice saying the Fourth voice on its own, there is almost no distinction between it and Second voice. However when you practice saying the two together, then you will find that the tone of the Second voice is upright, but the Fourth voice is slightly left -sounding.

Figure 5A and 5B show the combination of First voice and Second voice on one vowel. It means that the tone started from the First voice, and went to the Second voice, on the same vowel. For instance, dôk bid, tim; etc. For this reason, the sign of the combination is indicated with a down start going up, above the vowels. Words bearing a combined tone of this nature, do not exist in the English language.

However, if you play the keyboard from the lowest note going up, eg. d-rm-f-s-l-t-d.

You would find the nearest to this tone combination, on the notes d-r sound.

Figure 6A and 6B show the combination of Second voice and First voice on one vowel. It means that the tone started from the Second voice and came down to first voice, on the same vowel. For example, aâ, waye, anôuo, etc. In the English language you would find this kind of tone-combination in the words such as: way, five, twice, talk, now; etc. Figure 7A and 7B show the combination of Fourth voice and Second voice on one vowel. The tone is very similar to what is described on the Fourth voice. Except that with this one, the sound of m and the sound of r are combined on one vowel. For example, ayènyé, can be spoken in other contexts as, ayiny en, imrj, can be spoken as, amr jn, agàmé, can be spoken as, gum 4n, etc.

Claims

Claims 1-There is no accented orthography to help people with writing

Acoli language, so to over come this problem, the present invention has devised a writing system, which shows signs of the intonations, thus making it easier to read and write Acoli language.

2-Acoli language has four voices/tones and three combinations of voices.

3-All these voices or combinations of voices according to claim 2, fall under two categories, a) tones which are pronounced from the throat, and b) tones which are pronounced from the chest.

4-The First voice has words with vowels sounding flat, regardless of whether they are pronounced from the throat or from the chest, this tone constitutes most words in Acoli language.

5- The Second voice has words with vowels sounding upright, regardless of whether they are pronounced from the throat or from the chest, this is the most powerful tone, and is responsible for causing combinations of tones in Acoli language.

6- The Third voice has words with vowels sounding towards the right, regardless of whether they are pronounced from the throat or from the chest, this voice is unique in its characteristics, there is no combination of tone comprising voice three.

7- The Fourth voice do not have words existing as a solo tone, but have words existing in collaboration with other tones, mainly together with the tone of the Second voice.

8- When vowels of voice four in claim 7 are pronounced on their own, it is difficult to differentiate them from the sound of voice two vowels.

9- However, when voice four vowels are pronounced together with vowels of voice two, then the difference occurs that vowels of voice four sounds left, whilst vowels of voice two sounds upright as said in claim 4.

10- Combination of First and Second voice on one vowel, it is a tone that started from down and went up, this tone is mainly found in commanding, or instructing words in Acoli language, it tells the subject what to do, the tone carries characteristics of the Second voice.

11- Combination of Second and First voice on one vowel, it is a tone that went up and came down, this tone is mainly used in reported speech in Acoli language, it reports what has occurred to the subject, the tone carries characteristics of the First voice.

12- Combination of Fourth and Second voice on one vowel, it is a tone that started from voice four and came to voice two.

13- The tone in claim 12 is mainly used with a connotation of what should be done, it is mainly used as an instructive tone in Acoli language, the tone carries characteristics of the Second voice.