Nko Alphabet ߒߞߏ ߛߓߍߛߎ߲

Objective

learn how to read and write in Nko (Bamana/Maninka/Jula/Mandingo). ߣߌ߲߬ ߓߍ߫ ߡߐ߬ߞߐ ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߲߬ ߛߓߍߟߌ ߣߌ߫ ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߲߬ ߞߍߗߞߏ ߟߊ߫ ߒߞߏ ߙߐ߫(ߓߊߡߊߣߊ߲/ ߡߊ߬ߣߌ߲߬ߞߊ/ ߖߎ߬ߟߊ/ ߡߊ߲߬ߘߋ߲߬ߞߏ)

Introduction

VeThis lesson is to introduce students to the Nko alphabet. It is important to master the alphabet before any reading or writing. Following are the Nko alphbet: Nko has 7 vowels: ߊ ߋ ߌ ߍ ߎ ߏ ߐ. It has 19 consonants: ߓ ߔ ߕ ߖ ߗ ߘ ߙ ߚ ߛ ߜ ߝ ߞ ߟ ߡ ߢ ߣ ߤ ߥ ߦ. And 1 neuter: ߒ. In additiont to the vowels, consonants and a neuter, Nko has 3 basic tones: ߊ ߊ߫ ߊ߬. It also has 1 contour tone: ߊ߭. Nko writing is from right to left and from to up to down.

ߒߞߏ

Lesson Vocabulary

ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߕߊ	_7685.mp3	Consonant
ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߟߊ߲	_7684.mp3	Vowel
ߞߊ߲ߡߊߛߙߋ	_7686.mp3	Tone

Lesson Conversation:

ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	؟ߒߞߏ ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߟߊ߲ ߦߋ߫ ߖߏ߬ߟߌ߬ ߦߋ߫	How many vowels are there in Nko?	utterance_1829_v.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߒߞߏ ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߟߊ߲ ߦߋ߫ ߥߐߙߐ߲ߝߌ߬ߟߊ߬ ߦߋ߫	Nko has seven vowels	utterance_7647_v7.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߖߎ߬ߡߍ߲ ߎ߬ ߦߋ߫؟	What are they?	utterance_7648_w.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߝߌߟߍ߫ ߣߌ߲߬: ߊ ، ߋ، ߌ، ߍ، ߎ، ߏ، ߐ	They are: a, e, i, ɛ, u, o, ɔ	utterance_7649_7vs.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	ߒߞߏ ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߕߊ ߎ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߖߏ߬ߟߌ߬ ߦߋ߫؟	How many consonants are there in Nko?	utterance_7650_c.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߕߊ ߕߊ߲߫ -ߣߌ߫-ߞߐ߬ߣߐ߲߬ߕߐ߫ ߘߋ߬ ߓߍ߫ ߒߞߏ ߟߊ߫	There are 19 consonants in Nko	utterance_7651_c19.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߖߎ߬ߡߍ߲ ߎ߬ ߦߋ߫؟	What are they?	utterance_7652_w.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߝߌߟߍ߫ ߣߌ߲߬: ߓ ، ߔ، ߕ، ߖ، ߗ، ߘ، ߙ، ߚ، ߛ، ߜ، ߝ، ߞ، ߟ، ߡ، ߢ، ߣ، ߤ، ߥ، ߦ	They are: b, p, t, j, c, d, r, s, gw/gb, f, k, l, m, ɲ, n, h, w, y.	utterance_7653_c19.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	ߞߊ߲ߡߊߛߙߋ ߖߏ߬ߟߌ߬ ߘߋ߬ ߓߍ߫ ߒߞߏ ߟߊ߫؟	How many tones are there in Nko	utterance_7654_kanm.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߒߞߏ ߞߊ߲ߡߊߛߙߋ ߓߊߖߎ ߦߋ߫ ߛߓߊ߬ ߘߋ߬ ߦߋ߫	Nko has 3 basic tones	utterance_7655_basictones.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	؟ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߖߎ߬ߡߍ߲߬ ߎ߬ ߦߋ߫	What are those?	utterance_7656_w.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߝߌߟߍ߫ ߣߌ߲߬ : ߊ ، ߊ߫، ߊ߬· ߞߊ߬ ߝߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߡߊ "ߊ߭" ߞߍ߫ ߏ߬ ߟߎ߬ ߞߊ߲߬ ߟߊ ߦߋ߫:	They are: mid tone, high tone and low tone. There is also a contour tone, e mixture of mid and low tones	utterance_7657_basic3tone.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	؟ߝߍ߲߫ ߜ߭ߙߍ ߓߍ߫ ߞߐ߫ ߥߊ߬	Is there anything else?	utterance_7658_n.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߊ߬ߥߐ߫، ߊ߬ ߕߐ߭ ߦߋ߫ ߕߍߘߐ ߦߋ߫	Yes, there is a neuter.	utterance_7659_n.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	ߏ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߖߎ߬ߡߍ߲߬ ߦߋ߫؟	What is that?	utterance_7660_n.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	ߏ߬ ߦߋ߫ "ߒ" ߦߋ߫	That is 'N'	utterance_7661_n.mp3
ߓߎ߬ߓߎ߫	ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߗߋ߫߹	Thank you	utterance_7662_thanks.mp3
ߓߊ߬ߓߊ߫	߹ߏ߬ ߡߊ߫ ߗߋ߫ ߓߐ߫	You are welcome!	utterance_7663_urewelcome.mp3

Lesson Monologue

How to recite the alphabet

alp.mp3

ߒߞߏ ߛߓߍߛߎ߲ ߓߍ߫ ߞߊ߬ߙߊ߲߬ ߢߊ߫ ߘߡߊߘߐ߫ ߘߋ߬ ߞߊ߲߬· ߞߊ߬ ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߟߊ߲ ߝߐ߫ ߊ߬ ߘߊ߲߬ߡߊ߬· ߞߊ߬ ߛߞߌ߬ߙߊ߬ߕߊ ߣߌ߫ ߕߍߘߐ ߝߐ߫ ߢߐߞߐ߲ ߝߍ߬

The alphabet is divided into two sets, the vowels and the consonants. The vowels are recited together. The consonants and the neuter letter are recited together.

Lesson Note

Student Notes

Nko Alphabet

Make sure you pay attention the sounds that are not familiar to you. For most English speaker, they need to pay closer attention to the difference between the following sounds: ߋ، ߍ، ߏ، ߐ ߏ ߜ، and ߚ

Teacher Notes

Tone of the vowels

Make sure to teach the vowels with the mid-tone and the students pronounce them the same way, as this will help the students make the difference between the high and the low tones. Most English speakers use a higher pitch than the Nko mid-tone.

Lesson Exercise

Read the questions in English and listen to the same questions in nko and then respond to the questions in English

lesson_1804_exercise_7672_qs.mp3

ߢߌ߬ߣߌ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߟߌ߬ ߣߊ߬ߕߐ ߣߌ߲߬ ߠߎ߬ ߖߊ߯ߓߌ߫: ߁) ߛߓߍߘߋ߲߫ ߖߏ߬ߟߌ߬ ߘߋ߬ ߓߍ߫ ߒߞߏ ߟߊ߫؟ ߂) ߛߓߍߘߋ߲߫ ߖߎ߬ߡߍ߲߫ ߎ߬ ߓߍ߫ ߒߞߏ ߟߊ߫ ߣߌ߫ ߎ߬ ߢߐߞߐ߲߫ ߕߍ߫ ߛߐ߬ߙߐ߲߬ ߊ߲߬ߜ߭ߌ߬ߟߍ߬ ߟߊ߫؟ ߃) ߡߎ߲߬ ߘߋ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߌ ߡߊߞߓߊ߫ ߒߞߏ߫ ߛߓߍߟߌ ߟߊ߫؟ ߄) ߌ ߓߍ߫ ߞߊ߲߫ ߘߐ߲߫ ߡߌ߲ ߡߣߎߡߊ߲߫ ߒߞߏ ߟߊ߫ ߛߓߍߟߌߟߊ߫؟ ߖߎ߬ߡߍ߲ (ߎ߬)؟ Answer the following questions:

1) How many letters does Nko alphabet contain?

2) What are the letters in Nko alphabet that you cannot find in the English alphabet?

3) Were you surprised by anything in writing Nko?

4) Do you know of any language that is similar to Nko in writing? which one(s)?