Our Algonquian language includes many long, multiple-syllable phrase/words. Precise rhythm, stress and melody are crucial to comfortably speaking Algonkian words and sentences.
Using a fairly long phrase/word from our four-directions prayer: kutápatamuyumun (we give thanks), we’ll break it into sections to demonstrate the rhythm and stress within this phrase/word.
Rhythm is the timing of letters, syllables, words and phrases. This is especially important when voicing vowels, which, in turn, determines how we voice syllables and ultimately whole words and phrases. You can find the rhythm of a word/phrase by isolating the vowels within the word/phrase.
Isolating the vowels in kutápatamuyumun, we have: u – á – a – a- u- u- u. Note that the first vowel is short, the second vowel is long then the next five are short. Voicing the vowel sequence gives you an idea of the rhythm. Listen
Stress is the emphasis of a specific syllable within a word. The main stress in a word/phrase will almost always be the second-to-last syllable. It is never the first, and rarely the last syllable. Some words contain stressed sounds besides the main stress syllable. For example, elongated vowels (introduced in the Pronunciation section) that come before or after the main stress syllable receive additional stress. Also, if two short vowels in a row appear in a word, for example nutap (I am located), the second short vowel receives additional stress. However, long or short vowels are never as emphasized as the main stress syllable unless they are included in the main stress syllable.
For example, the stress points in the phrase/word kutápatamuyumun are shown by the letters highlighted in red: kutá-pata-mu-YU-mun.
The first stress point occurs with the the long vowel [á]. The next stress point is the second short vowel [a], but these are not the main stress points. We simply sound the [á] vowel long and full like you would in the English word father and we sound the second short [a] with a slightly more emphasis. The main stress comes when sounding YU. This is because it occurs in the second-to-last syllable. This is how the phrase/word is pronounced with stress added: Listen
Melody is how we voice letters, words and phrases. By correctly voicing the sounds and syllables within words, we create a natural up-and-down rhythm that gives us the melody of the language.
Emotional context also contributes to determining the melody. For example, Kumisun ni? (you’re giving me that) could be a command: You’re giving that to me! Or, it could be a question: Are you giving that to me? In this case, the melodic phrasing determines whether the phrase is a command or a question:
You’re giving me that! (command): Listen
You’re giving me that? (question): Listen
Perhaps the best way to learn melody is by listening to experienced speakers saying words and phrases.