๐ค๐ป๐ฏ ๐๐ฑ๐๐พ๐ฏWeโre now beginning the final set of pairs, which means weโre just two lessons away from mastering every non-compound Shavian character. Keep up the great work, and soon youโll have a complete understanding of the Shavian alphabet!
In this lesson we'll cover:
- ๐-(s)ure
- ๐-(ch)urch
- ๐ต-(oo)ze
- ๐ฌ-(ou)t
- ๐ท-(aw)e
Exploring the Shavian alphabet introduces us to an important soundโthe 'sh' sound that starts the name 'Shavian.' This sound is as distinct in English as 'th.' The word 'Shavian' is spelled '๐๐ฑ๐๐พ๐ฏ,' with the first character ๐ called 'sure.' It's easy to remember this character because Shavian, the name of the alphabet, starts with 'sh.'
Next, let's look at the 'ch' sound in the character ๐ ('church'). While it might not be as instantly recognizable as other characters, it has its own special role. If you're familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), you'll know that ๐ is pronounced /สง/, which combines the /t/ sound from ๐ ('tot') and the /ส/ sound from ๐ ('sure'). In Shavian, the visual merging of ๐ and ๐ reflects how the sounds blend to create ๐ ('church').
Note: In my regional accent, combining /t/ and /ส/ doesn't result in a 'ch' sound, so you might notice a similar difference in your own accent.
*The IPA, used by linguists to document the sounds of spoken languages, differs from Shavian, which was developed later with a focus on practical writing rather than linguistic analysis."
Now we move on to the long 'oo' sound, represented by the character ๐ต ('ooze'). This stretched-out vowel is heard in words like 'move,' 'boot,' and 'mood.' To help you remember, think of someone with a coldโwhat might come from their nose? Thatโs right: ooze.
Next, we explore the character ๐ฌ ('out'), found in words like 'out' and 'about.' It's easy to remember by imagining its shape as an open mouth ready to shout 'out.'
Finally, our lesson wraps up with ๐ท ('awe'), representing the 'aw' sound in words like 'awe' or 'law.' This character is a bit more detailed than the others, resembling a face with its jaw dropped in surpriseโan ideal way to capture the feeling of 'awe.'
- ๐-(s)ure
- ๐-(ch)urch
- ๐ต-(oo)ze
- ๐ฌ-(ou)t
- ๐ท-(aw)e
