Writing System
Traditionally, Tsakonian used the standard Greek alphabet, along with digraphs to represent certain sounds which either do not occur in Demotic Greek, or which do not commonly occur in combination with the same sounds as they do in Tsakonian. For example, the sound, which does not occur in standard Greek, does in Tsakonian, and is spelled σχ (much like German sch). Another sound recalls Czech ř. Prof. Thanasis Costakis invented an orthography using dots, spiritus asper, and caron for use in his works, which has been used in his grammar and several other works. This is more like the Czech usage of hačeks (such as š). Lastly, unpalatalized n and l before a front vowel can be written double, to contrast with a palatalised single letter. (e.g. in Southern Tsakonian ένι "he is", έννι "I am" -- the latter corresponding to Northern Tsakonian έμι and Standard Greek είμαι .)
| Transcribing Tsakonian | ||
|---|---|---|
| Digraphs | Costakis | IPA |
| σχ | σ̌ | ʃ |
| τσχ | σ̓ | tʃ |
| ρζ | ρζ | rʒ |
| τθ | τ̒ | tʰ |
| κχ | κ̒ | kʰ |
| πφ | π̒ | pʰ |
| τζ | (Κ) τζ ̌ – τζ & τρζ ̌ — τρζ (Λ) τζ ̌ – τζ |
(K) tɕ, trʒ (L) tɕ d͡ʒ |
| νν | ν̇ | n (not ɲ) |
| λλ | λ̣ | l (not ʎ) |
- Note: (K) is for the northern dialect of Kastanitsa and Sitaina, (Λ) and (L) for the southern which is spoken around Leonidio and Tyros.
Read more about this topic: Tsakonian Language
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