Disappearing glottal stop (ˀ)
The pronunciation of odd-numbered syllables ending with a glottal stop (ˀ) can be quite different from the spelling. The first vowel can sound 'swallowed', or even disappear, to the point where two syllables sound like one. Here are some examples to illustrate:
JI̲ˀÉ sounds like CH'E: deyoji̲ˀéhta: a stampede
GE̲ˀA sounds like Kʸ'A: agége̲ˀaji:h I have dark hair
GÉˀA: hogéˀaji:h he has dark hair
DE̲ˀǪ sounds different: sayę́de̲ˀǫh you are really good at something
DÉˀǪ: ęsayędéˀǫhǫ:k you will be really good at it
GA̲ˀÁ sounds like K'Á: ga̲ˀáhdraˀ a basket
GÁˀA: agáˀahdraˀ my basket
Sometimes there is no difference between the pronunciation of odd-numbered and even-numbered syllables ending with a glottal stop. Here are some more examples:
Odd numbered Ęˀ in DRĘˀÍ: hodidręˀí:ga:ˀ painted turtles
Even-numbered Ęˀ in DRĘˀÍ: odręˀí:ga:ˀ* painted turtle
Odd numbered Ǫˀ in STǪˀĘ́: hotgǫhstǫˀę́htaˀ he is shaving
Even numbered Ǫˀ in STǪ́ˀĘ: ahotgǫ̲hstǫ́ˀęht he shaved