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THE ARAMAIC / NEO-ARAMAIC

VOWELS

02-19-97

You will need to know the seven vowels of the Aramaic / Neo-Aramaic language. Placing the appropriate dots on or below a constant changes that constant to a vowel. Below are the vowels, the dots, and a few examples.

Quickview of the Vowels

There is a mnemonic that people back home use to memorize the vowels. The steps are as follows;
1) Name the atoota (letter)
2) Name the name of the vowel.
3) Pronounce the whole vowel.
4) Continue to the next atoota and repeat steps.

ZQAPA (pronounced "sqapa") - "AH" (as in "Father")
placing two dots in an angle above a letter changes it to an "AH" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , SQAPA , "AH"

BETH , SQAPA , "BAH"

GAMAL , SQAPA , "GAH"

DALAT , SQAPA , "DAH"

HEH , SQAPA , "HA"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

PTHAKHA - "UH" (as in "Verbal")
placing a dot above and below the letter changes it to an "UH" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , PTHAKHA , "UH"

BETH , PTHAKHA , "BUH"

GAMAL , PTHAKHA , "GUH"

DALAT , PTHAKHA , "DUH"

HEH , PTHAKHA , "HU"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

ZLAMA PSHEEQA - "IH" (as in "sit"
placing two dots horizontaly below the letter changes it to an "IH" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , PSHEEQA , "IH"

BETH , PSHEEQA , "BIH"

GAMAL , PSHEEQA , "GIH"

DALAT , PSHEEQA , "DIH"

HEH , PSHEEQA , "HIH"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

ZLAMA QASHYA - "EH" (as in "Bear")
placing two dots underneath a letter changes it to and "EH" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , QASHYA , "EH"

BETH , QASHYA , "BEH"

GAMAL , QASHYA , "GEH"

DALAT , QASHYA , "DEH"

HEH , QASHYA , "HEH"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

RWAKHA ("OH" (as is "Phone")
placing a dot above the Waw letter changes it to an "OH" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , RWAKHA , "OH"

BETH , RWAKHA , "BOH"

GAMAL , RWAKHA , "GOH"

DALAT , RWAKHA , "DOH"

HEH , RWAKHA , "HOH"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

RWASA ("OO" (as in "Moon")
placing a dot below the Waw letter changes it to the "OO" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , RWASA , "OOH"

BETH , RWASA , "BOOH"

GAMAL , RWASA , "GOOH"

DALAT , RWASA , "DOOH"

HEH , RWASA , "HOO"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

KHWASA ("EE" as in "Bee)
placing a dot below the Yodh letter changes it to the "EE" sound.

THE MNEMONIC

ALAP , KHWASA , "AHEE"

BETH , KHWASA , "BEE"

GAMAL , KHWASA , "GEE"

DALAT , KHWASA , "DEE"

HEH , KHWASA , "HEE"

**Continue with the rest of the atwat'e (letters).**

NOTE: If a word ends (or sounds like it ends) in Allap ("AH"), that is if it ends in Zqapa, you will need to put an Allap at the end of the word. This Allap is indicitive and silent (just like the letter "E" at the end of words like "pine" and "smile"). You must have it ther for proper spelling.
Examples;
ALAHAA - God
NORRAA - Mirror

NOTE: Also, if the word is plural and ends in the Zlama Qashya ("EH) vowel, you must have an Allap at the end of the word. Again, this Allap is indicitive and is silent. You must have it for proper spelling.
Examples;
DERSAT'E - homework (plural)
EESAAQT'E - rings

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