Orthography of Mesq’an (Ethio-Semitic Language of Ethiopia)

Abstract

Abstract

In this project the phonology of Mesqan is thoroughly described to create an appropriate orthography as it lacks a writing system of its own. Thus, this project is considered as part of the language development endeavor. The data for the phonological description is collected using 1700 African Languages word list and three different Mesqan short stories as narrated by the native speaker and recorded using digital audio recorder. The field recorded Mesqan short stories are transcribed using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and word lists are sorted out for the phonological analysis. The field collected data are processed and analyzed using the software known as Flex Language explorer and phonology assistant version 3.3.4. The designing of the alphabet will be done in both the Ethiopic and Latin-based scripts for selection. The Mesqan people have the constitutional right to select the suitable alphabet for their own language. However, before the selection of a script, proper orientation will be provided to the speech community about both scripts to help them have conscious selection. 

Key words: phonological description, over differentiation, under differentiation, symbol (alphabet), script and International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).