Lakota o and u

[elban91]

Háu mitákuyepi,

Back to basics here! How is the Lakota letter u pronounced?!! I have always heard it as /u/ (as in American English "boot" but without w-glide), but I've seen it described in some sources as /ʊ/ (as in American English "put")...

Also, does the Lakota sound /o/ exist in American English? Any examples? We have it in Cockney English

[John Vander Veer]

Elliot

Check this out:

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=447

John

[elban91]

Hi John,

Thanks - I saw that, and "sue" (minus w-glide) makes sense to me as an analogy for Lakota u. I was just kinda surprised to see it described as /ʊ/ elsewhere.

Also, as an American English speaker, which of these English sounds closest to Lakota o as in tópa?:

1. hot
2. below (ignore the w-glide)
3. more (ignore r-thingy)

Basically, I'm trying to see if I can come up with an English mneumonic that helps English speakers remember the sounds of the Lakota vowels. Something like "father went into..." (and that's where I got stuck).

[John Vander Veer]

That would be #2.

[elban91]

Oháŋ, philámayaye ló.

[elban91]

While we're on the subject... In American English, which of the following vowels sounds closest to Lakota aŋ?:

1. Swamp
2. Hunt

[Jana]

I would say:
1. #2
2. sometimes #1 when followed by b or p (waŋblí, háŋpa), probably also depending on the speaker

[John Vander Veer]

I'd say #1 but it is not even close.

[Jana]

I am afraid you have to use a French word. Was just checking for French words used in English - how about the fencing term "en guarde"? I have no idea though how it is pronounced in American English.
There is also "avant-garde", "Champs-Élysées" or "croissant"...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_E ... nch_origin

[John Vander Veer]

Perhaps -- aunt ?