This page: Vowels (Zow'ei)
Before
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Before we start with the vowels, please note that any language is created, spoken and developed in a different way by different cultures. We cannot compare them with each other or find exact interpretation for words, terms and rules that will be positively accurate between them. The rules, examples and comparisons between the two languages that occasionally are mentioned here, are given for that particular situation and may not include exceptions.
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The Vowels (zow'ei)
The vowels are the means or tools that give the letters sound.
As we mentioned earlier, all the Assyrian letters are consonent, that means they cannot be pronouced on their own; they need vowels to make them sound. To make it more clear, I will use this example, if we didn't use vowels in English, the word "wtr" could not be read. But when we add vowels "a" and "e", then we can read it as "water". Much as in the Assyrian language, if we put two "beet"s together without the vowels, it would be hard to figure out how they read, so we add two vowels—zqapa's in this case, so the word can read "baba".
In English, the vowels are: a, e, i, o, u and y.
In Assyrian, there are two kinds of vowels (zow'ei),
1. one or two dots on top and/or at the bottom of the letters,
a. zqapa
b. ptakha
c. zlama yareekha
d. zlama kirya
2. the letters waow and yoot with a dot
a. waow rwakha, the letter waow with a dot on top it, sounding like "o"
b. waow rwasa, the letter waow with a dot at the bottom of it, sounding like "oo"
c. yoot khwasa, the letter yoot with a dot at the bottom of it, sounding like "ee"
As a general rule*, when the word ends with the sound of "a", "ä" or "e", the letter "Allap" will be added to the end. You will never see a word ending with zqapa, ptakha or zlama, and no Allap at the end.
As we mentioned earlier, all the Assyrian letters are consonent, that means they cannot be pronouced on their own; they need vowels to make them sound. To make it more clear, I will use this example, if we didn't use vowels in English, the word "wtr" could not be read. But when we add vowels "a" and "e", then we can read it as "water". Much as in the Assyrian language, if we put two "beet"s together without the vowels, it would be hard to figure out how they read, so we add two vowels—zqapa's in this case, so the word can read "baba".
In English, the vowels are: a, e, i, o, u and y.
In Assyrian, there are two kinds of vowels (zow'ei),
1. one or two dots on top and/or at the bottom of the letters,
a. zqapa
b. ptakha
c. zlama yareekha
d. zlama kirya
2. the letters waow and yoot with a dot
a. waow rwakha, the letter waow with a dot on top it, sounding like "o"
b. waow rwasa, the letter waow with a dot at the bottom of it, sounding like "oo"
c. yoot khwasa, the letter yoot with a dot at the bottom of it, sounding like "ee"
As a general rule*, when the word ends with the sound of "a", "ä" or "e", the letter "Allap" will be added to the end. You will never see a word ending with zqapa, ptakha or zlama, and no Allap at the end.
The end Allap has no effect on the pronunciation of the word. It is there for kind of decoration; it makes the word look good; let's say, it's a lid on the pot.
* There are situations where the letter "He" or "Yoot" will substitute the "end Allap" which will be discussed in time.
Abgad Zqapa | Hawwaz Zqapa | Khattay Zqapa | Kalman Zqapa | Sa'pas Zqapa | Qarshat Zqapa | Zqapa/Ptakha
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