Problem:IOL/2013/i3/en(A)

IOL 2013 Problem #3 Pirahā

Here are some words and phrases in Pirahã and simplified transcriptions of their pronunciation in normal speech:

bagiai baabi ba.gia.1baa.bi bad thief bahoigatoi ba.hoi.ga.1toi pig bahoigatoi baihiigi ba.2hoi.ga.to.bai.1hii.gi slow pig giopai gio.1pai dog giopai hoigi gio.pa.1hoi.gi dirty dog giopai sabi gio.pa.1sa.bi angry dog giopai xaibogi 2gio.pa.1ai.bo.gi fast dog hixi hi.1ʔi rat hixi xitaixi hi.ʔii.1tai.ʔi heavy rat kagahoaogii toio ka.ga.ho.ao.gi.to.1io old papaya kagaihiai ka.1gai.hi.ai jaguar kagaihiai baagiso ka.gai.2hia.1baa.gi.so many jaguars kagaihiai xaibogi ka.gai.2hia.1ai.bo.gi fast jaguar kagihi ka.gi.1hi wasp kahai baihiigi ka.2ha.bai.1hii.gi slow arrow kaibai xogiai kai.1bao.gi.ai big monkey kaoaibogi kao.1ai.bo.gi jungle spirit kaoaibogi sabi kao.ai.bo.gi.1sa.bi angry jungle spirit koxopa ko.ʔo.1pa stomach piahaogixisoaipi pia.hao.gi.ʔi.so.1ai.pi banana for cooking poogaihiai poo.1gai.hi.ai banana tagasaga ta.ga.1sa.ga machete xabagi 1ʔa.ba.gi toucan xabagi giisai ʔa.ba.gi.gii.1sai this toucan xagai ʔa.1gai crooked xaogii 1ʔao.gii foreign woman xibogi 1ʔi.bo.gi milk xiga 1ʔi.ga hard xiiaapisi ʔii.1aa.pi.si sleeve xisipoai ʔi.si.po.1ai wing xisitai xagai ʔi.si.1taa.gai crooked feather xisoobai ʔi.1soo.bai otter xogiai ʔo.gi.1ai big

Write down how the following words and phrases are pronounced:

xaaibi thin xaapisi arm xitiixisi fish

bigi ground kagahoaogii papaya kaibai monkey kapiigaiitoii pencil

poogaihiai toio old banana xabagi kapioxio another toucan xabagi xogiai big toucan

⚠ Pirahã is the indigenous language of the isolated Pirahã people of Amazonas, Brazil. It is the only surviving member of the Mura language family. [ʔ] is a consonant (known as the glottal stop). [h] = h in English hat. The mark . shows syllable boundaries. The mark ¹ before a syllable indicates primary stress. The mark ₂ before a syllable indicates secondary stress (if there is one).

—Artürs Semeņuks