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Home , Ca (Indic), SIL International, Writing system

first peoples’ cultural council fact sheet series | fact sheet 3, march 2018

Writing

The SENĆOŦEN is What are key terms systems? an example of writing developed by a • International Phonetic Alphabet The main way that people community member. Dave Elliott, (IPA): a system in which a communicate is through spoken a fluent speaker and represents every sound in a language. It is based on the language (or through signing for champion from the W̱JOȽEȽP First principle of one symbol = one signed ). Some languages Nation, created a sound. also have writing systems, but for SENĆOŦEN that represents • North American Phonetic many do not. In fact, according to the unique sounds found in the Alphabet (NAPA): a system developed for the transcription , only 3,866 out of 7,099 language. This writing system is of Indigenous languages of the languages have a developed writing used for the language today and Americas and for languages of system.1 As long as a language is has played an integral role in Europe. It is based on the principle of one symbol = one sound. It actively spoken by members of a SENĆOŦEN shares many with the IPA. community, it can remain strong, efforts. • Writing system standardization: whether or not it has a writing the process of choosing one system. In B.C., there are three main types writing system to represent a of writing systems. Alphabetical language. In B.C., no First Nations language systems use letters to represent had a fully developed writing system sounds. Writing systems that use until after colonization. Most writing the must use systems for First Nations languages combinations of letters to represent Each system has advantages and in B.C. were developed by priests, sounds that are not found in English, disadvantages. Alphabetical systems anthropologists or linguists who such as [lh] for the breathy ‘l’ sound. that are similar to English are visited the communities. Phonetic systems incorporate generally easier to learn, and are phonetic symbols from the simple to type on computers and International or North American phones. Systems using phonetic Phonetic to represent symbols, like the International sounds that are not covered by the Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and the English alphabet, such as the symbol North American Phonetic Alphabet ɬ to represent the breathy ‘l’ sound. (NAPA) have the advantage of using Syllabic systems use a symbol to one symbol to represent one sound. represent a whole of a rather than just a sound.

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1 Simons, G.F. & Fennig, C.D. (Eds.). 2017. Ethnologue: Languages of the world, Twentieth edition. , TX: SIL International. http://www.ethnologue.com

Copyright © 2018 by First Peoples’ Cultural Council Why do they matter? key points • Having multiple writing systems for the same language can stand in the way A lack of agreement about writing of efficient languagerevitalization. It can prevent the sharing of resources and systems is one of the biggest can be confusing for learners. challenges faced by communities • Some revitalization efforts focus mainly on and writing, but people must also learn to speak. Speaking and understanding your language will trying to revitalize their languages. keep it strong. Many First Nations languages in • People may be strongly attached to one system or another and may resist B.C. have multiple writing systems change. Remember that writing systems are fairly new additions to the long history of First Nations languages. However, choosing one system will help and there is not always consensus on your language in the long run. which one to use. Multiple writing systems for the same language You may want to survey all resources read and write. If you are a learner, can make it difficult to get work for your language and choose the value speaking over writing. done. Dictionaries, curricula and system that is already widely used. is about being other resources that use different able to have a simple everyday systems cannot be easily shared, and Although reading and writing conversation in your language! communities that share a language are valuable skills, having FPCC is often asked which kind of may be duplicating resources people actively speaking and writing system is better. There is needlessly. understanding your language will keep it strong. Developing proficient no straightforward answer to this What can do? speakers should be the focus of question. There are advantages and disadvantages to every system. If there are multiple writing language revitalization efforts. Think While we do not want to tell you systems in use for your language, about children: they learn to speak which system to use, we do strongly standardizing your writing system and understand their first language recommend that you choose one is one of the best things you can do several years before they are taught standard writing system. We to improve language revitalization to read and write. Even adults learn understand that choosing one efforts for your language. Having to read and write after the basics system will be disappointing to one writing system will ensure that of speaking and understanding those who use another system, and all resources that are created can be are mastered. These skills can be it will require a period of adjustment shared among all communities that taught simultaneously as long as oral for those who have to learn a new use the language, without the , proficiency is prioritized. system. But you can take pride in the cost and effort needed to translate If you are a teacher, ensure that fact that by choosing one system, them into another system. Bring your students learn to speak and you have made it easier for all future together Elders, teachers, learners understand the language, not just language learners! and all interested community members to come to an agreement where can i learn more? about which writing system you will Cahill, M., & Rice, K. (Eds.). (2014). Silver, S., & Miller, W.R. (1997). American use (see our fact sheet on New Developing for unwritten Indian languages: Cultural and social & Language Adaptation for examples languages. Dallas, TX: SIL. contexts. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. of community standardization International Phonetic Association | ɪntə’næʃənəl fə’nɛtɪk əsoʊsi’eɪʃn. The University of British Columbia projects). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www. Department of . (n.d.). internationalphoneticassociation.org/ eNunciate. Retrieved from http:// enunciate.arts.ubc.ca/

For more : First Peoples’ Cultural Council T (250) 652-5952 1A Boat Ramp Road info@fpcc. Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1N9 www.fpcc.ca