Part 3 Pronounciation of vowels (2)

Zhuang vowels are divided into vowels that are pronounced long and vowels that are pronounced short. Just like in other languages pronounciation of vowels either long or short will end up being different words with entirely different meanings. Therefore, it is necessary to get the pronounciations correct.

How to pronunciate open syllable diphthongs:

ai – drawn out pronunciation as in the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of [ai]. In English /eye/
ae – pronounced short, as in the English /I/
ei – pronounced short, as in the Mandarin Chinese [ei] and as in the English /eh/
oi – pronounced long, as in the English /oy/ in boy
ui – pronounced long don’t forget to protrude the lips. Resembles the English /we/
wi – pronounced long. Different from the above /ui/ as the lips are not protruded when pronounced.
au – pronounced long. Similar to the Mandarin Chinese [ao]. In English, /ou/ in ouch but drawn out.
aeu – pronounced short, as in the English /ou/ in out.
eu – pronounced long, (at the moment I can’t think of an English equivalent).
iu – pronounced long, as in the Mandarin Chinese [iao], as in English abbreviation for European Union: E.U. with the E drawn out.
ou – pronounced short, as in the Mandarin Chinese [ou], as in the English /owe/
aw – pronounced short, different from the above mentioned /aeu/ such that the lips are not protruded.

How to pronounciate voiced (nasal) diphthongs:

am – pronounced long, /a-m/. The lips should be kept closed at the end of the syllable. This one and the following should not be pronounced /a:mu/
aem – pronounced short, /am/
em – pronounced long, /e-m/
iem – pronounced long, /i-m/. Be sure not to get this one mistaken for /iem/ or /im/
im – pronounced short, /im/
om – pronounced long, /o-m/
oem – pronounced short, /om/
uem – pronounced long, /u-m/ the /u/ is like the English /oo/ as in the word boot. Be careful not to get this one confused with /uem/ and /um/ the /u/ here is pronounced like the English /oo/ in boot.
um – pronounced short, /um/
an – pronounced long, /a-n/ The tip of your tongue should touch the top of your mouth behind the teeth at the end of this syllable. Not to be pronounced /a:nu/ (including the ones below). Similar to the Mandarin Chinese [an]
aen – pronounced short, /an/, as in the [en] in Mandarin Chinese.
en – pronounced long, /e-n/ as in the [ian] in Mandarin Chinese.
ien – pronounced long, /i-n/ as in the [in] in Mandarin Chinese.
in – pronounced short, /in/
on – pronounced long, /o-n/ as in the [uan] in Mandarin Chinese.
oen – pronounced short, /on/
uen – pronounced long, /u-n/. Don’t forget to protrude the lips.
un – pronounced short, /un/
wen – pronounced long, /u-n/, do not protrude the lips. Like the [uen] in Mandarin Chinese.
wn – pronounced short, /un/ as in the [en] in Mandarin Chinese.
ang – pronounced long, /a-ng/. (velar) Closing the soft palate at the end of the syllable. Not to be pronounced /a:ngu/, including those below. Similar to the [ang] in Mandarin Chinese.
aeng – pronounced short, /ang/
eng – pronouced long, /e-ng/
ieng – pronounced long, /i-ng/, as in the [iang] in Mandarin Chinese.
ing – pronounced short, /ing/, as in the [ing] in Mandarin Chinese.
ong – pronounced long, /o-ng/
oeng – pronounced short, /ong/
ueng – pronounced long, /u-ng/
ung – pronounced short, /ung/ as in the [ong] in Mandarin Chinese.
wng – pronounced short, /ung/. As in the [eng] in Madarin Chinese.

It is really hard to write the /u/ sound here in writing so if anyone who speaks Mandarin Chinese can let me know who to write an equivalent please let me know.

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