Colorado University Lakhota Project Pronunciation Guide

The Lakȟóta language uses sounds that are unlike those found in the English language.  It also does not have certain sounds that are found in English, like "r" or "v."  If you wish to learn the language on your own, you can rely on an international standard like the International Phonetic Alphabet.

It doesn't cost a thing and it's available to you at your convenience.  The site of the IPA includes sound files that you can listen to and download.

The most difficult sound is the "voiceless uvular fricative."  The sound is found in the pronunciation of Lakȟóta.  In this case, the sound is preceded by an aspirated "-k-."  The sound is also found preceded by an aspirated "-t-" for example or sometimes at the beginning of a word, too.

The CULP method for writing the Lakȟóta language is based upon a modified form of the Americanist Phonetic Notation. The APN can be found on Wikipedia, as are references to Unicode and the International Phonetic Alphabet. These resources provide free and available information to anyone who wishes to use them.

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