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