Editing Luganda (section)

== Orthography ==

Luganda [[orthography|spelling]], which has been standardized since 1947, uses a [[Latin alphabet]], augmented with one new letter {{lang|lg|[[Eng (letter)|ŋ]]}} and a [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{lang|lg|[[ny (digraph)|ny]]}}, which is treated as a single letter. It has a very high sound-to-letter correspondence: one letter usually represents one sound and vice versa.

The distinction between simple and [[geminate consonant|geminate]] consonants is always represented explicitly: simple consonants are written single, and geminates are written double. The distinction between [[vowel length|long and short vowels]] is always made clear from the spelling but not always explicitly: short vowels are always written single; long vowels are written double only if their length cannot be inferred from the context. [[Stress (linguistics)|Stress]] and [[tone (linguistics)|tones]] are not represented in the spelling.

The following [[phonemes]] are always represented with the same letter or combination of letters:
* Short vowels (always spelt {{lang|lg|a}}, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|i}}, {{lang|lg|o}}, {{lang|lg|u}})
* All consonants apart from {{IPA|/l~r/}}, {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}}
* The [[palatal consonant|palatals]] {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}}, when followed by a short vowel (always spelt {{lang|lg|c}}, {{lang|lg|j}}), except when the short vowel is itself followed by a geminate consonant, or when the vowel is {{IPA|/i/}}

The following phonemes can be represented with two letters or combinations of letters, with the alternation predictable from the context:
* Long vowels (spelt {{lang|lg|a}}, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|i}}, {{lang|lg|o}}, {{lang|lg|u}} where short vowels are impossible; {{lang|lg|aa}}, {{lang|lg|ee}}, {{lang|lg|ii}}, {{lang|lg|oo}}, {{lang|lg|uu}} elsewhere)
* The [[liquid consonant|liquid]] {{IPA|/l~r/}} (spelt {{lang|lg|r}} after {{lang|lg|e}} or {{lang|lg|i}}; {{lang|lg|l}} elsewhere)

The following phonemes can be represented with two letters or combinations of letters, with unpredictable alternation between the two:
* The palatals {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}}, when followed by a long vowel, or by a short vowel and a geminate consonant, or by an {{lang|lg|i}} sound ({{IPA|/i/}} or {{IPA|/iː/}}) (spelt with {{lang|lg|c}}, {{lang|lg|j}}, with {{lang|lg|ky}}, {{lang|lg|gy}}, or, before {{lang|lg|i}}, with {{lang|lg|k}}, {{lang|lg|g}}).

It is therefore possible to predict the pronunciation of any word (with the exception of stress and tones) from the spelling. It is also usually possible to predict the spelling of a word from the pronunciation. The only words where this is not possible are those that include one of the affricate–vowel combinations discussed above.

Note, however, that some proper names are not spelled as they are pronounced. For example, {{lang|lg|Uganda}} is pronounced as though written {{lang|lg|Yuganda}} and {{lang|lg|Teso}} is pronounced {{lang|lg|Tteeso}}.<ref name="Luganda Basic Course, p.20">''Luganda Basic Course'', p.20.</ref>

=== Vowels ===

The five [[vowel]]s in Luganda are spelt with the same letters as in many other languages (for example [[Spanish language|Spanish]]):

* {{lang|lg|a}} {{IPA|/a/}}
* {{lang|lg|e}} {{IPA|/e/}}
* {{lang|lg|i}} {{IPA|/i/}}
* {{lang|lg|o}} {{IPA|/o/}}
* {{lang|lg|u}} {{IPA|/u/}}

As mentioned above, the distinction between [[long vowel|long]] and [[short vowel|short]] vowels is [[phoneme|phonemic]] and is therefore represented in the alphabet. Long vowels are written as double (when length cannot be inferred from the context) and short vowels are written single. For example:

* {{lang|lg|bana}} {{IPA|/bana/}} 'four (''e.g.'' people)' vs {{lang|lg|baana}} {{IPA|/baːna/}} 'children'
* {{lang|lg|sera}} {{IPA|/sela/}} 'dance' vs {{lang|lg|seera}} {{IPA|/seːla/}} 'overcharge'
* {{lang|lg|sira}} {{IPA|/sila/}} 'mingle' vs {{lang|lg|siira}} {{IPA|/siːla/}} 'walk slowly'
* {{lang|lg|kola}} {{IPA|/kola/}} 'do' vs {{lang|lg|koola}} {{IPA|/koːla/}} '(to) weed'
* {{lang|lg|tuma}} {{IPA|/tuma/}} 'send' vs {{lang|lg|tuuma}} {{IPA|/tuːma/}} '(to) name'

In certain contexts, [[phonotactics|phonotactic]] constraints mean that a vowel must be long, and in these cases it is not written double:
* A vowel followed by a [[prenasalised consonant]]
* A vowel that comes after a consonant–semivowel combination—apart from {{lang|lg|ggw}} which can be thought of as a geminated ''w'', and {{lang|lg|ggy}} which can be thought of as a geminated ''y'' (although the latter is less common as this combination is more often spelt ''jj'')

For example:
* {{lang|lg|ekyuma}} {{IPA|/ecúːma/}} 'metal'
* {{lang|lg|ŋŋenda}} {{IPA|/ŋ̍ŋéːnda/}} 'I go'
But
* {{lang|lg|eggwolezo}} {{IPA|/eɡːwólezo/}} 'court house'
* {{lang|lg|eggwoolezo}} {{IPA|/eɡːwóːlezo/}} 'customs office'

Vowels at the start or end of the word are not written double, even if they are long. The only exception to this (apart from all-vowel interjections such as {{lang|lg|eee}} and {{lang|lg|uu}}) is {{lang|lg|yee}} 'yes'.

=== Consonants ===
With the exception of {{lang|lg|ny}} {{IPA|[ɲ]}}, each [[consonant]] sound in Luganda corresponds to a single letter. The {{lang|lg|ny}} combination is treated as a single letter and therefore does not have any effect on vowel length (see the previous subsection).

The following letters are pronounced approximately as in [[English language|English]]:
* {{lang|lg|b}} {{IPA|/b/}} (sometimes softened to {{IPA|/β/}})<ref name="Luganda Basic Course, p.20"/>
* ''d'' {{IPA|/d/}}
* {{lang|lg|f}} {{IPA|/f/}} ("'{{lang|lg|f|italic=unset}}' and '{{lang|lg|v|italic=unset}}' are pronounced with the lips slightly pouted")<ref name=Crabtree>Crabtree, William A. (1902) ''Elements of Luganda Grammar'', p.13.</ref>
* {{lang|lg|l}} {{IPA|/l/}}
* {{lang|lg|m}} {{IPA|/m/}}
* {{lang|lg|n}} {{IPA|/n/}}
* {{lang|lg|p}} {{IPA|/p/}}
* {{lang|lg|s}} {{IPA|/s/}}
* {{lang|lg|t}} {{IPA|/t/}}
* {{lang|lg|v}} {{IPA|/v/}}
* {{lang|lg|w}} {{IPA|/w/}} ("'{{lang|lg|w|italic=unset}}' differs from the English 'w' being much softer")<ref name=Crabtree />
* {{lang|lg|y}} {{IPA|/j/}}
* {{lang|lg|z}} {{IPA|/z/}}

A few letters have unusual values:
* {{lang|lg|c}} {{IPA|/c/}}
* {{lang|lg|j}} {{IPA|/ɟ/}}
* {{lang|lg|ny}} {{IPA|/ɲ/}}
* {{lang|lg|ŋ}} {{IPA|/ŋ/}}

The letters {{lang|lg|l}} and {{lang|lg|r}} represent the same sound in Luganda—{{IPA|/l/}}—but the orthography requires {{lang|lg|r}} after {{lang|lg|e}} or {{lang|lg|i}}, and {{lang|lg|l}} elsewhere:
* {{lang|lg|alinda}} {{IPA|/alíːnda/}} 'she's waiting'
* {{lang|lg|akirinda}} {{IPA|/acilíːnda/}} (or {{IPA|[aciríːnda]}}) 'she's waiting for it'

There are also two letters whose pronunciation depends on the following letter:
* {{lang|lg|k}} is pronounced {{IPA|[c]}} (or {{IPA|[tʃ]}}) before {{lang|lg|i}} or {{lang|lg|y}}, {{IPA|[k]}} elsewhere
* {{lang|lg|g}} is pronounced {{IPA|[ɟ]}} (or {{IPA|[dʒ]}}) before {{lang|lg|i}} or {{lang|lg|y}}, {{IPA|[ɡ]}} elsewhere
Compare this to the pronunciation of {{lang|roa|c}} and {{lang|roa|g}} in many [[Romance language]]s. As in the Romance languages the 'softening letter' (in [[Italian language|Italian]] {{lang|it|i}}, in [[French language|French]] {{lang|fr|e}}, in Luganda {{lang|lg|y}}) is not itself pronounced, although in Luganda it does have the effect of lengthening the following vowel (see the previous subsection).

Finally the sounds {{IPA|/ɲ/}} and {{IPA|/ŋ/}} are spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before another consonant with the same [[place of articulation]] (in other words, before other [[palatal consonant|palatals]] and [[velar consonant|velars]] respectively) rather than {{lang|lg|ny}} and {{lang|lg|ŋ}}:
* The combinations {{IPA|/ɲ̩ɲ/}} and {{IPA|/ɲː/}} are spelt {{lang|lg|nny}}
* The combination {{IPA|/ɲj/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|nÿ}} (the [[Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]] shows that the {{lang|lg|y}} is a separate letter rather than part of the {{lang|lg|ny}} digraph, and the {{IPA|/ɲ/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before {{lang|lg|y}} as in the above rule; in practice this combination is very rare)
* {{IPA|/ŋ/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before {{lang|lg|k}} or {{lang|lg|g}} (but not before another {{lang|lg|ŋ}})
* {{IPA|/ɲ/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before {{lang|lg|c}} or {{lang|lg|j}}, or before a soft {{lang|lg|k}} or {{lang|lg|g}}

=== Alphabet ===

The standard Luganda alphabet is composed of twenty-four letters:
* 18 consonants: {{lang|lg|b}}, {{lang|lg|p}}, {{lang|lg|v}}, {{lang|lg|f}}, {{lang|lg|m}}, {{lang|lg|d}}, {{lang|lg|t}}, {{lang|lg|l}}, {{lang|lg|r}}, {{lang|lg|n}}, {{lang|lg|z}}, {{lang|lg|s}}, {{lang|lg|j}}, {{lang|lg|c}}, {{lang|lg|g}}, {{lang|lg|k}}, {{lang|lg|ny}}, {{lang|lg|ŋ}}
* 5 vowels: {{lang|lg|a}}, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|i}}, {{lang|lg|o}}, {{lang|lg|u}}
* 2 semi-vowels: {{lang|lg|w}}, {{lang|lg|y}}

Since the last consonant {{lang|lg|ŋ}} does not appear on standard typewriters or computer keyboards, it is often replaced by the combination {{lang|lg|ng}}' (including the apostrophe). In some non-standard orthographies, the apostrophe is not used, which can lead to confusion with the letter combination {{lang|lg|ng}}, which is different from {{lang|lg|ŋ}}.

In addition, the letter combination {{lang|lg|ny}} is treated as a unique consonant. When the letters {{lang|lg|n}} and {{lang|lg|y}} appear next to each other, they are written as {{lang|lg|nÿ}}, with the [[Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]] mark to distinguish this combination from {{lang|lg|ny}}.

Other letters ({{lang|lg|h}}, {{lang|lg|q}}, {{lang|lg|x}}) are not used in the alphabet, but are often used to write [[loanword]]s from other languages. Most such loanwords have standardised spellings consistent with Luganda orthography (and therefore not using these letters), but these spelling are not often used, particularly for [[English language|English]] words.

The full alphabet, including both standard Luganda letters and those used only for loanwords, is as follows:
* Aa, {{lang|lg|a}}
* Bb, {{lang|lg|bba}}
* Cc, {{lang|lg|cca}}
* Dd, {{lang|lg|dda}}
* Ee, {{lang|lg|e}}
* Ff, {{lang|lg|ffa}}
* Gg, {{lang|lg|gga}}
* (Hh, {{lang|lg|ha}} {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}})
* Ii, {{lang|lg|yi}}
* Jj, {{lang|lg|jja}}
* Kk, {{lang|lg|kka}}
* Ll, {{lang|lg|la}}
* Mm, {{lang|lg|mma}}
* Nn, {{lang|lg|nna}}
* (NY Ny ny, {{lang|lg|nnya}} or {{lang|lg|nna-ya}}) {{r|footnote2|group=decimal}}
* Ŋŋ, {{lang|lg|ŋŋa}}
* Oo, {{lang|lg|o}}
* Pp, {{lang|lg|ppa}}
* (Qq {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}})
* Rr, {{lang|lg|eri}}
* Ss, {{lang|lg|ssa}}
* Tt, {{lang|lg|tta}}
* Uu, {{lang|lg|wu}}
* Vv, {{lang|lg|vva}}
* Ww, {{lang|lg|wa}}
* (Xx {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}})
* Yy, {{lang|lg|ya}}
* Zz, {{lang|lg|zza}}

{{reflist |group=decimal |refs=
<ref name=footnote1>The letters {{lang|lg|h}}, {{lang|lg|q}} and {{lang|lg|x}} are included when reciting the alphabet and are usually given their English names (apart from {{lang|lg|ha}}).</ref>
<ref name=footnote2>The [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{lang|lg|ny}}, although considered a separate letter for orthographic purposes, is generally treated as a combination of {{lang|lg|n}} and {{lang|lg|y}} for other purposes. It is not included when reciting the alphabet.</ref>
}}