oówaptaya

oówaptaya (Alphabet)

Source: Omniglot.com

The Lakota vowel inventory can be broken down into three types:

1. The basic vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 
1. [a] as in cat
2. [ɛ] as in bed
3. [i] as in kit
4. [o] as in boat, but a little shorter (I imagine a German accent for some reason)
5. [u] as in food
2. The long vowels (á, é, í, ó, ú)
1. These vowels are not like the long English vowels, but simply a held vowel sound. If you imagine the basic vowel lasting 1/2 a second, then the long vowel would last a full second. The sound of the vowel is sustained twice as long as normal. 
2. Here the [ó] would sound the same as boat in English. [o] is half that length in time.
3. The nasal vowels (ã, ĩ, ũ)
1. These sounds are made by blocking the back part of the mouth so that the air goes up to the nose instead of straight out of the mouth.
2. Those familiar with Spanish know the nasal ã in words like manãna (tomorrow).

The Lakota consonant inventory also has multiple types, as follows:

1. The basic consonants are:
1. [b] as in boy
2. [tʃ] as in watch
3. [g] as in girl
4. [h] as in horse
5. [k] as in keep
6. [l] as in laugh
7. [m] as in man
8. [n] as in nose
9. [p] as in pat
10. [s] as in song
11. [ʃ] as in shirt
12. [t] as in tin
13. [w] as in wish
14. [j] as in yellow
15. [z] as in whiz
16. [ʒ] as in judge
17. [ʔ] as in bu_tter
2. Aspirated Consonants
1. These consonants have a breathe of air that follows the consonant.
2. [tʃʰ] as in "achoo"
3. [pʰ] as in pool
4. [tʰ] as in toy
5.  [k^x] has a slight transformation. The [k] sound is lengthed to an almost hiss-like quality.
3. Uvular Consonants
1. These consonants are aspirated or pronounced from very far back in the mouth where the throat begins.
2. [ʀ] is not aspirated, but it is similar to a [g] except further back. This reminds me of the French "r" sound that falls back in the throat; however, it is harder like the [g] sound.
3. [x] this sound is very similar to a [k], but instead of stopping the air and releasing it with the vowel, you push the air through while making the [k] sound. There my be some difficulting differenciating between the [x] and the [k^x].
4. [q^X] might also be challenging, but the [k] itself is farther back.
5. [p^X]
6. [t^X]
4. Ejective Consonants
1. These consonants are followed by a glottal stop [ʔ], which means that you cut off the air coming out to separate the sound from the rest of the word. 
2. [tʃ'] 
3. [k']
4. [p']
5. [t']

There are many sounds that will cause challenges for English speakers, like me. This is especially true among the Uvular Consonants because these sounds do not exist in English. However, listening to words that share these differences will aid in pronunciation. I remember having to learn the difference between "sh" and "x" in Chinese Mandarin--the difference being that there was a slight breath before the "x". Nowadays, these are very clear to my ear, but I have had a lot of practice.