How to Reduce an Unwritten Language to Writing: I

Abstract

This is the first of several Short Takes articles that will deal with the reduction of previously unwritten languages or dialects to writing. This series will culminate in one or more articles on how to learn a field language. Obviously, before starting to learn a field language, it becomes necessary to systematically write down and organize words, phrases, and texts in order to aid one's memory and facilitate ethnographic analysis. This article introduces the reader to vowel sounds and their transcription in human languages.