The Potawatomi language consists of the following vowels: A – E – I – O. These vowels are used in every part of the Potawatomi word or sentence to create the needed sounds. Each of these vowels has only one sound and thus are used with any letter or a combination of letters to produce any sound in the Potawatomi language.
It is important to remember the one vowel- one sound concept when reading the old Potawatomi writings. Although the English alphabet is used, the sounds of each letter are totally different. The four vowels themselves are used with certain letters of the English alphabet to form the Potawatomi alphabet. Before we get into the Potawatomi alphabet we must first learn the sounds of the four vowels.
Introduction
A
is pronounced ah as in awning
E
is pronounced eh as in elm
I
is pronounced ee as in easel
O
is pronounced oh as in open