Spelling East Cree (Northern) – Syllabic symbols not to forget to write

Short ᐃ or ᐊ at the beginning

In many words the short ᐃ or ᐊ at the beginning is not pronounced in ordinary fast speech. However, you can hear it clearly when a prefix is added to the beginning of a word. Make sure to write the ᐃ or ᐊ, even when it is not audible or pronounced.

ᐎ and ᐅ

It is often difficult to hear the difference between ᐎ and ᐅ. In order to decide which one to write, it is best to check with the dictionary.

ᐎ, ᐐ and ᐅ

Words beginning with ᐎ, ᐐ and ᐅ can sound alike before ᔩ, ᔮ and ᔫ.

Note the irregular possessed forms:

Do not confuse ᐎᔮᔅ ‘meat’ with ᐅᔮᔅ ‘flesh of the body’, which is a dependent noun:

ᐎᓐ at the end of a word

A noun can be made from a verb by adding ᐎᓐ.

ᓂ at the beginning of a word

In many words that begin with ᓂ, there is a tendency to write this syllabic symbol as a small ᓐ. This symbol is used only at the end of words.

Some numbers are pronounced two ways, with or without ᓂ at the beginning.

ᒋ at the beginning

Often words that are written with ᒋ at the beginning are pronounced with ᔥ or ᔅ. The big ᒋ should still be written before ᑎ, ᑐ, ᑖ.

Also before ᒌ…

ᒋ in the middle of a word…

See also: Spelling East Cree – Southern Dialect – Syllabic symbols not to forget to write