Alphabets, Syllables and Stress

ALPHABETS

Vowels:

A, I and U

E and O

During the pre-colonial and Spanish period, Cebuano had three vowel phonemes: /a/, /i/ and /u/. This was later expanded to five vowels with the introduction of Spanish words. The vowels o and u are still mostly allophones, however, with u always being used when it is the beginning of a syllable and o always used when it ends a syllable. But there are some exceptions, like kamatuoran (truth) and hangtúd (until). E originally appeared only in a few words such as "babaye" (girl/woman), "dayeg" (praise, compliment), "parayeg" (loving), and "pangadye" (prayer) and only in last syllables as E was mostly an allophone of I in final syllables. Under the influence of Spanish, more words with e have been added with the introduction of loanwords. (ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebuano_language)

However the vowels are spelt, they are pronounced in the same way.

Consonants:

B, K, D, G, H, L, M, N, NG, P, R, S, T, W and Y

C, F, J, Q, V and X

Cebuano doesn't usually have the C, F, J, Q, V and X. We only use these letters to facilitate the writing of new words and terms borrowed from other languages, although before, C is used  instead of K. 

The pronunciation of NG is very difficult for foreigners particularly when it appears at the beginning of the word. A good practice would be ang . Say ang. Then prolong it. aaaaaaaang..........  Now you have the idea of how NG sounds.  

Another consonant that may pose difficulty for foreigners is R. Unlike English, the R is rather strong and somewhat trilled.

Diphthongs:

AY, OY, AW and IW 

These diphthongs appear mostly in the middle or at the end of the word..

  

 SYLLABLES

Cebuano is syllabic. It is pronounced just as it is spelled. But sometimes it could be confusing for learners. Like the word basa.

Ba-sa    = (read, v.)

Ba-sá    = (wet, adj.)

Bas-á    = (to wet, v.)

There are four kinds of syllables in Cebuano.

1. (V) = only one vowel.

Bas-á    = (to wet, v.)

Tun-i    = (study, v. imperative)

U-ling  = (charcaol, n.)

2. (CV) = consonant + vowel.

Ba-sa    = (read, v.)

Ba-sá    = (wet, adj.)

Pu-ni-ta = (pick, v. imperative)

3. (VC) = vowel + consonant.

Ut-ro    = (again, adv.)

Pan-os  = (rancid, adj.)

Ok-ok    = (cockroach, n.)

4. (CVC) = consonant + vowel + consonant.

Das-mag = (trip/fall, v.)

Dug-mok = (crushed, adj./ v.)

A-li-bang-bang = (butterfly, n.)

It's not so hard, is it? As we go on with the next posts, you will start to understand the types of syllables that exist and the possible combinations of the vowels and consonants. This will help you learn pronounce any words correctly.

STRESS

In Cebuano, like Tagalog, the use of stress on a particular syllable in a word can make a difference in the meaning. 

1.    oO. The last syllable of the word has the strongest emphasis.

si-lá     = (they, pn.)

ku-sog  = (strength, n. / strong/loud, adj.)

sa-log   = (floor, n.)

2.    (o)Oo. The middle or first syllable has the strongest emphasis.

am-po  = (pray, wish, n./v.)

la-me-sa  = (table, n.)

ba-ba-ye = (woman/girl, n.)

3. Glottal Catch. The glottal catch is often mistaken as that of k sound. This is produced by an abrupt closing of the throat to block the air stream in both the mouth and voice box.

a.(o)Oo with glottal catch. It is pronounced with a stress and a glottal catch at the end. The mark (`) is used above the vowel of the last syllable to indicate a strong emphasis.

a-kò     = (mine, pn.)

ba-tà   =  (child, n.)

kan-di-là  =  (candle, n.)

b. End Glottal Catch. It is pronounced without any stress but with a glottal catch at the end. The mark (^) is used above the vowel of the last syllable when it is pronounced with a glottal catch but no stress.

pu-nô = (full, adj.)

pu-sô  = (hanging rice, n.) (click here for image)

mu-bô = (short, adj.)

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• (ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebuano_language)
• (ref. Aspillera, Paraluman E. Basic Tagalog for Foreigners and Non-Tagalogs. HK: Tuttle Publishing, 2007.)