GUILD OF LINGUISTS - LESSON 1

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Lesson Subject: First letters and some words.

The D'ni alphabet has 35 letters, 11 vowels and 24 consonants. There are some
differences to our language, they have no 'x', for example, and they have some
letters like 'eh', 'oy', 'oo' we use two letters for. Some letters are difficult to
distinguish because the only difference is a round or a sharp corner. These critical
points are marked in red in the images.
Note: You will probably not find the letters as clear as I have made them.
I want to show what makes the 's' be a 's', for example. But with some experience
it is not difficult to identify the letters corectly, though.

Here are the first 14 letters you will learn (critical points marked with red color), each with a
little comment to tell you what is typical for the character.

eh
The 'eh', most used vowel, is quite distinctive.

r
The 'r' is the 'eh' with a straight line up.

s
The 's' shape is also used in some other letters.

sh
A 's' with a little dash that is often used to alter letters.

t
The round top is the main difference to the 'v'.

v
It has a sharp top (<> t).

k
The 'k' has a straight short line at its left side.

l
The first of a series with a curve at the left (unlike 'k'). The 'l' has a straight line.

n
Like the 'l', but with a curve to the right at the top.

a
A 'l' with a curve to the left.

o
The 'o' (round bottom) is the basis for some other letters, 'u', 'oy' and 'oo'.

u
'o' with a curve to the right, like the one at the 'n'.

g
The 'g' has a dash again. The sharp corner at the left is important.

ah
The 'ah' introduces a new basic shape.


Now we can start with some words. I have decided to type all D'ni words in light gray.
I won't normally use the D'ni script yet, but in the following list only those letters you already know are used so that you can write them in D'ni if you want to practise.

Verbs.
kehn = to be
glo = to start
lon = to discover
sehk = to have
sehl = to write
tahg = to give

Nouns.
kor = book
lehnah = journey
nahvah = master
tehl = guild
sehv = Age

Adjective.
gahro = great

If you feel sure now with your letters and words you are ready to enter the 2nd lesson.
Note. Future lessons will have a summary at their end, but this isn't necessary yet.


The Guild Masters, Josef & Simon
August 1998