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I'm not an expert in syllables, though I'd love to see that video! I imagine that the extra <a> at the end is the same reason it is written using the Latin script with it--in linguistics, we call it reference tracking, and it contrasts with -(y)I. For example, if you were talking about 'money' inaan, it would be inaana, but 'my father's money' would be ninna inaani. So, the final vowel, even if not normally pronounced, is important.

I'll also add, if you were talking about iinán 'banana', it would be iináni rather than iinána because 'banana' is an inanimate noun.

@@JWW_Woodworks Hello?

@@RoyalKnightVIII oki

@@JWW_Woodworks wanted to know if you wanted to exchange info on Syllabics via eemail

Sameeee

That's right. This varies a little bit between the dialects with some areas pronouncing -wa and -yi more frequently than others, but in a lot of cases, they do (mostly) get dropped.

That would be one way to indicate long vowels, for sure. The Blackfoot writing system doesn't have a macron in it, and the accents are used to indicate pitch accent rather than length. When the writing system was invented in the 1980s, Don Frantz decided to use double letters to indicate length instead of diacritics, because he believed it would be the simplest way to code length, thus, hopefully, making it easier for people to learn and use.

@@JWW_Woodworks Hmmm ok that makes sense. Also I know blackfeet has it's own script from latin and I was wondering how I can learn more?

@@makaibey8146 I don't know a whole lot on the Blackfeet in Montana, so I don't want to give you incorrect information on that variety specifically. This paper is from a researcher at the University of Montana and references the original work by Donald Frantz in the 70s on creating the standardized writing system: lingpapers.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2018/02/2009_Miyashita_Chatsis.pdf

@@JWW_Woodworks ooh Ok thanks also with the plural endings do you think you can do a in depth guide on the pronunciation. Like ists I can't really get that down verbally

@@makaibey8146 great idea for a future video! Think of it this way: say the word 'beasts' slowly making sure you get that good pronunciation of the <sts> at the end. Drop the <b> and you get the Blackfoot inanimate plural ending. The same goes for the animate plural ending, it's the same as 'beaks' if you drop the initial <b>. It takes some practice to put that onto the end of Blackfoot words, and it seems strange from an English-speaking point of view, but we do have those sound combinations in English too, or at least pretty close to them.

There are a few pronunciation differences. If memory serves, in Montana Blackfeet pronunciation 'potato' is pátaaki whereas in Kainai, it's mátaaki. The Blackfeet might also have slightly different vowel sounds. But, overall, speakers of the different dialects can understand each other quite well.

@@JWW_Woodworks Thanks. I live on the Blackfeet Rez here in Montana so I'm interested in learning the language.

@@traceyvivar8617 I don't know a lot about the Montana Blackfeet language specifically, but a lot of what is found in Donald Frantz' grammar should be applicable. Between that and speaking with local Elders will be your best shot, most likely.

@@JWW_Woodworks Thanks. Will do.

Very helpful! My Grammy was very proud of her heritage but only knew she was of Blackfoot decent., she did not speak the language. I want to learn as much as I can in her honour and keep the culture alive. I have been learning as much as I can about Blackfoot. I find this very helpful, I also have the learn Blackfoot app.

Oki--hope the video was helpful in some way!

@Дмитрий С I don't know a whole lot about how the Amskapi Piikani dialect (which, I believe, is where Schulz did research) diverges from the others here in Canada, but having a -yi ending on 'hello' makes a certain amount of sense. In modern Blackfoot though (among the dialects I'm familiar with), everyone just says Oki.

@Дмитрий С That's exactly right, or Schultz analyzed an opaque form, either is possible.

@@JWW_Woodworks i am canadian by the way

@@lilchugjug3470 as am I. The Blackfoot in this video is from the Kainai dialect, which is largely spoken near Lethbridge, in Southern Alberta.

There is only one sound involving the "lips" in the language, which I envision more as using the mandibles than any fleshy substance: ɸ. Other than that, every other sound is dental or further back with lots of clicks and a distinction in breathy and nasal vowels. Of course, there's only so much a human voice actor can do to get around some of the physical differences :) (Aside: This was the first full language sketch I've done for an RPG race, I have lots of my own critiques about it as well!)

I put my thumb and index into a bull horn shape and then spread my cheeks allowing only my teeth and tongue to form the sounds which come out and then make typical throaty abyssal noises. Luckily the Xill do not talk an awful lot between stabbing player characters so it's really just a one off thing to give them an impression about what it is they are fighting with.

I think that's why I used a lot of clicks in the language - it makes it sound a little less humanoid. You're right though, there only needs to be very limited personal interaction with the PCs. I invented the language primarily to have some written clues laying around that the PCs could try to interpret. One of my favourites was the idiom: qa͓n͋u͂qsiffi’u͂n͋a͓s͓u͂’ n͋u͊’tsitsq͓i͓’jatsiq͓uq͓u which was translated as 'find the positive in every negative' but literally meant 'ones who intrude will quickly become incubators!' :)