A standardized writing system for the Nruanghmei language
1. The Alphabet
A) Consonants (17 Letters)
Included:Bb, Cc, Dd, Gg, Hh, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Zz
Excluded:Ff, Qq, Vv, Xx (Not part of Ruanglat’s native sounds)
B) Vowels (7 Letters)
a, e, i, o, u, w, y
2. Pronunciation Rules
A) Short Sounds
Single
a= Extreme short sound (e.g., Lat, Nang).Diphthongs = Normal short sounds:
au, ai, ei, ia, iu, ou, ua, uiExamples:
Bag = Khau
House = Kai
Mother = Pui
B) Long Sounds
Diphthongs:
aa, ae, ee, ii(e.g., Take = Laa, Will = Nii).Triphthongs:
iau, uai(e.g., Cat = Miauna).
C) Semi-Vowels (w, y)
Used for heavy/long sounds:
Short = Dwi Kahiang
Head = Py A py
3. Nasal Sounds
m, n modify vowels:
m= Bury → Mbeih (Bury the dead = Theihmei ta mbeih tho).n= Ant → Ntiang (The ant bites = Ntiang kay e).
4. Tone Marks (h, c, v)
| Mark | Tone | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
h | Low/Glottal | limh (to pinch) | Do not pinch me = Ata limh rio |
c | Rising | Limc (to dive) | The stone dives = Tauthing dui limc e |
v | Falling | Limv (ambush) | Making ambush = Adou khang limv bam the |
Note: Tones may shift contextually (e.g., guangh → guangc).
5. Homonyms & Word Division
A) Same Spelling, Different Meanings
lim = peel (Peel the fruit = Tingthai tei lim tho)
lim = shadow (He sits under the shadow = Thingbang lim khou dungbam e)
B) Compound Words
My home = a kai (not atuang kai)
Upon = rukhou (not ru khou)
6. Spelling Consistency
Suggestion 1:
Stick to original spellings despite tone shifts:
Read = Pah (not Pac)
King = Guangh (not Guangc)
Suggestion 2:
Use tone marks flexibly for homonyms:
lai = pot, pour, follow, intercourse
lang = depart, thread, hire, boil
7. Practical Examples
Sentence Structure:
"Chamcna chaam chamhloumei bam khou cham nchamc bammei nunchamv tei rui chamvdin sw the."
Vocabulary Highlights:
Love = Jian (light sound)
Wine = Zouh (heavy sound)