This is a short (one page, with 8 pages of tables) presentation about the use of glottal symbols to help learners pronounce Chavacano words correctly, as well as to differentiate Chavacano loanwords and similar words in other Philippine languages.

1. The Glottal Sounds of the Chavacáno Language
El mana sunór glotál na chavacáno
Drafted by Jaime A. Cabrera
Saigon, Vietnam, December 2014
The ease of teaching or learning a language quickly and accurately depends on the clarity of its orthography. Orthography clarifies the pronunciation system in the writing system of a language and vice versa. This document presents the symbols, uses, and articulations of glottal vowels in Chavacáno. A. The Chavacáno Glottal Sign
 The glottal sign is a pair of dots above a vowel, like an umlaut or diaeresis (See Table 1). The term is from epiglottis, the back of the tongue and top of the throat that close together to create glottal vowel sounds. B. Typing or Writing the Chavacáno Glottal Sound
Table 1 shows the Chavacáno glottal sound as typed or written with two dots above a vowel. C. Producing the Chavacáno Glottal Sound
 The glottal sound in Chavacáno is produced by using the epiglottis to “pinch” or “cut off” a vowel sound. such as in the English word naïve. Table 2 shows 16 Chavacano place names with glottal vowels.
 An upward sign above a vowel shows a stressed (slightly higher tone) vowel: á, é, í, ó, ú. On the other hand, two dots show a glottal vowel: ä, ë, ï, ö, ü. The glottal vowel is usually stressed, particularly when the preceding vowel sound is not stressed.
 The production of glottal sounds in Zamboanga, Philippines begins at childhood, often the first sounds spoken. Table 3 shows 10 examples of glottal sounds in baby talk.
 The incorrect pronunciation of names of persons – unlike mispronunciation of other words – can be serious enough to elicit immediate correction. Although glottal sounds rarely appear in formal names (such as the surnames Malicsï and Buë) they abound in nicknames. Table 4 shows 30 examples. D. Uses of the Chavacáno Glottal Sign
 Language Differentiation: Chavacano glottal sounds occur in its origin tongues1 and in its influence languages.2 However, among these languages, only Chavacáno uses the glottal sign in writing. Table 5 shows 20 examples of how the glottal sign differentiates Chavacano words from similar words in other languages.
 Chavacano Vocabulary: Table 6 shows at least 73 confusing words and how the glottal sign can clarify pronunciation of words with the same spellings but different pronunciations such as: láta (tin can) and latä (to mash or to flatten); cusí (to cook, to sew) and cusï (to pinch); bánco (bank) and báncö (chair, bench); olé (to smell) and olë (again); or cápa (cape) and capä (to grope).
 Glossary: Table 7 shows an alphabetical list of at least 139 words with glottal vowels in the Chavacano language.
 Abbreviations: Table 8 shows the abbreviations used in this document.
1 Spanish and Portuguese
2 Ilonggo, Cebuano, Tausug, English

2. Appendices: Tables Table 1: Symbols of Glottal Sounds Symbols Examples Keyboard Shortcuts
Ä
ä
gatä (n.) coconut milk
ALT+132
ALT+0228 Ë ë olë (adv.) again ALT+137 ALT+0235
Ï
ï
camalï (n.) error, mistake
ALT+139
ALT+0239 Ö ö báncö (n.) bench, stool, chair ALT+148 ALT+0246
Ü
ü
ticü (adj.) crooked, bent
ALT+129
ALT+0252 Table 2: Glottal Sounds in Place-Names
Ä
Batäán
Calarïan
Cawä-cáwä
Lawäan
Saläán
Tetuän
Ï
Mariqï
Sangálï
Vitálï
Ü
Balunü
Buüg
Curüán
Labüan
Mulümulüan
San Jose Gusü
Tetüán
Table 3: Glottal Sounds Used in Baby Talk
Ä
pápä
(v.) to eat
lólä
(n.) grandma Ë mémë (v.) to sleep dédë; tétë (v.) to suckle; (n.) milk; nipple, breast
Ï
pípï
(n.) penis
pípï
(v.) to urinate Ö lólö (n.) grandpa óö (v.) to defecate; (n.) faeces
Ü
múmü
(n.) a scary, imaginary being
púpü / úü
(v.) to defecate; (n.) faeces Table 4: Glottal Sounds in Nicknames Ä Lólä Córä Gágä Jómä Ocä Tátä
(grandma)
Corazon
(dear)
Jose Mari
Oscar
Teresa Ë Adë Chë Matë Më Nénë Térë
Adelina
Jose
Marites
Jaime
(young girl)
Teresita Ï Benjï Chúchï Dídï Mímï Nónï Vï
Benjamin
Nonito/Nonita
Vilma Ö Dádö Dégö Jójö Mö Tinö Tótö
Diosdado
Degolacion
Jose Antonio
Celestino
(boy) Ü Búbü Dúdü Lúlü Malü Marichü Pepë
Marilou
Marilou
Maria Socorro
Jose Table 5: Some Philippine Words Similar to Chavacáno Words Chavacano Words Similar Words
babä
(v.) to ride or carry on the shoulders
bába
(n.) chin [TAG]
bäbä
(n.) mouth [VIS, ILO] bágä (n.) lung, lungs baˈgä (adj.) thick [VIS] baˈga (n.) ember [VIS, ILO] pusü (n.) steamed rice in coconut leaves púsö (n.) heart, banana blossom [TAG]
ngisí
(n.) grin
ngisí
(n.) grin [TAG, VIS, ILO] ngísï (v.) grin ngisí (v.) grin [TAG, VIS, ILO]
láta
(n.) can, tin can
latä
(adj.) crushed, mashed, flattened

3. Chavacano Words Similar Words
[TAG, VIS, ILO] sanggä (v.) bar, stop, prevent sangá (n.) branch [TAG]
túlü
(v.) drip, (n.) gonorrhea
tulú
(n.) three [VIS] pasá (v.) pass, pass on, occur, happen pasä (n.) bruise [TAG] Table 6: Confusing Chavacáno Words Clarified by Glottal and Non-glottal Sounds A, a VERSUS Ä, ä
apä
(adj.) dumb, cannot speak
ápä
(n.) ice cream cone; wafer atá (v.) portions, e.g., fruits or fish for sale; atáo, tumpuk (syn); atado [ILO] átä (n.) ink (of squid); sap (of plants)?
báca
(n.) cow from vaca [SPA]
bácä
(adv.) maybe; Syn basï
bancá
(v.) to bank, as in a gambling table
báncä
(n.) canoe; bangka [TAG]. Syn: víntä báta de báño (n.) bathrobe bátä (n.) child; boy, girl; infant; toddler; (adj.) young; immature
bangä
(n.) large clay pot
banggä
(v.) collide
banqiá
(v.) to orate, ramble; talk profusely
baqiä
(n.) wooden clogs; bakya [TAG] butá (v.) throw away bútä (adj.) last; runt; butá [VIS: blind]
candelária
(n.) Feast of the Candles
candélä
(n.) candle capä (v.) grope cápa (n.) cape
cája
(n.) case; body
cajä
(adv.) maybe, perhaps, probably gajä (adv.) Donde gajä el libro?
húla
(n.) Hawaiian dance
húlä
(n.) prediction, foretelling láta (n.) tin can latä (adj.) crushed flat; squashed flat; (v.) to flatten, to soften, to mash
lisá
(v.) to sandpaper, to smoothen; See lijá
lisä
(n.) lice; Rel: kútu Lísa (n.) name of a female
mamá
(v.) to suck; to suck up to; mom
mamä
(n.) betel nut máma (n.) mother
(el) mana
(art. plural) the; mga [TAG]; manga [ILO, VIS, CEB]
mánä
(n.) inheritance; mana [TAG] manä (n.) manna, heavenly bread
nána
(n.) mother
nanä
(n.) pus
Míla
(nic.) short for Milágros
milä- milä
(n.) sore eyes mañána (adv.) tomorrow mananä (adj.) with much pus
nána
(n.) mother
nanä
(n.) pus páta (n.) upper leg patä (adj.) exhausted, without strength
pasá
(n.) happening (v.) pass
pasä
(n.) bruise; pasa [TAG] palapála (n.) narrow earthen dikes in rice fields palápä (n.) coconut, nipa, or fern frond
sála
(n.) living room
sálä
(v.) to sieve, sift, or screen sapá (v.) detach (sapa ráma); disappear, dissipate, dissolve (ya sapa el rábio); remove (açe sapa cansánçia) sapä (n.) small river; rivulet
táya
(v.) bet
tayä
(v.) rust; (n.) rust
tayä
(n.) it {as in hide and seek}
E, e VERSUS Ë, ë
olé
(v.) smell
olë
(adv.) again

4. I, i VERSUS Ï, ï
cusí
(v.) to cook; to sew, stitch
cusï
(v.) to pinch
O, o VERSUS Ö, ö
bánco
(n.) bank
báncö
(n.) bench, stool, chair
viéjo
(n.) old man
viéjö
(adj.) old man
U, u VERSUS Ü, ü
píso
(n.) floor
pisü
(n.) chick; chicken embryo
pusü
(n.) steamed rice coconut leaf sachets
púsü
(n.) banana blossom; puso, [TAG heart]
Sulú
(n.) archipelago in Southern Philippines
sulü
(n.) torch
Table 7: Examples of Glottal Pronunciation in Chavacáno Words Ä, ä IPA3 Definition
alä-úna
ɑ lä ˈʊ nɑ
(n.) one o’clock
babä
bɑ ˈbä
(v.) to carry on both shoulders
bátä
ˈbɑː tä
(n.) child
batä
ˈbɑ tä
(adj.) young, immature
bágä
ˈbɑː gä
(n.) ember; (n.) lung
batútä
bɑ ˈtʊ tä
(n.) policeman’s truncheon
bentánä
ˈbɛn tɑː nä
(n.) window báŋga ˈbɑŋ gɑ (n.) crossing, intersection baŋä bɑ ˈŋä (n.) large clay pot baŋgä bɑŋ ˈgä (v.) to collide; to bump
bíntä
ˈbiːn tä
(n.) native sailboat
bícä
ˈbiː kä
(v.) to spread the legs widely; Syn: bicácä
candélä
kɑn ˈdɜː lä
(n.) candle; kandila [TAG]
canä
kɑ ˈnä
(n) (adj.) American [SPA: americana] See canö
casä
kɑ ˈsä
(v.) to draw a gun
cáwä
ˈkɑː wä
(n.) large frying pan, wok
Cawä-cáwä
kɑ wä ˈkɑː wä
(n.) seaside boulevard in Zamboanga City
dadä
dɑ ˈdä
(n.) spoken words; babble
dalasä
dɑ lɑ ˈsä
(v.) to bump, overturn, or run over (accidentally)
gatä
gɑ ˈtä
(n.) coconut milk
halugä
hɑ lʊ ˈgä
(adj.) loose
hapä
hɑ ˈpä
(v.) to lie face down; Syn: culúb; Ant: hayáng (v.) to lie face up
hítä
ˈhiː tä
(n.) thigh
hópiä
ˈho piː ɪəä
(n.) pastry with meat or vegetable filling [CHI: hopia]
húlä
ˈhʊ lä
(v.) foresee, foretell, predict; (n.) prediction; foretelling
huyä
hʊ ˈɪä
(n.) shame, embarrassment; (v.) be ashamed, be embarrassed
ginatäán
gi nɑ tä ˈɑːn
(n.) a dish cooked with coconut milk
ilagä
iː lɑ ˈgä
(n.) rat, mouse [ILO: ilaga]
lágä
ˈlɑː gä
(v.) boil; (adj.) boiled
láwä
ˈlɑː wä
(n.) spiderweb
lísä
lɪ ˈsä
(n.) head lice; (Syn: kútu)
3 International Phonetic Alphabet (modified)

5. lúmpiä
ˈlʊm pɪ ɪä
(n.) spring roll; From lumpia [CHI]
mánä
ˈmɑː nä
(n.) inheritance; Syn. eréncia [SPA: herencia] [TAG: mana]
mahínä
mɑ ˈhiː nä
(adj.) slow; mahina; [TAG: slow]
malatä
mɑ lɑ ˈtä
(adj.) mushy, mashed; (rel: lata, crushed, mashed)
mantécä
mɑn ˈtɜː cä
(n.) oil; cooking oil
milä-milä
mɪ lä mɪ ˈlä
(n.) sore eyes
mútä
ˈmʊ tä
(n.) eye discharge; vitreous humour; solid excretion of the eyes; eye gunk; eye boogers, crusties, sleepies
nanä
nɑ ˈnä
(n.) pus; nänä [ILO, VIS, CEB]
nípä
ˈniː pä
(n.) palm leaf or palm tree
palacä
pɑ lɑ ˈcä
(n.) frog
palápä
pɑ lɑː ˈpä
(n.) coconut, nipa, or fern frond
pänus
pä ˈnʊs
(adj.) spoiled, as in food; pan-os [ILO, VIS, CEB]; panis [TAG]
patä
pɑ ˈtä
(adj.) exhausted; without strength; pata [TAG]
pugä
ˈpʊ gä
(v.) squeeze, wring; puga [VIS]
saläán
sɑ lä ˈɑːn
(n.) sieve
sálä
ˈsɑː lä
(v.) to sift; to screen
sípä
ˈsiː pä
(n.) kickball game; sepaktakraw [MAL]; sipa [ILO: to kick]
tíä
ˈtiː ɪä
(n.) aunt; tia [SPA]
tútä
ˈtʊ tä
(n.) puppy; (fig.) puppet; figurehead [TAG] Ë, ë IPA Definition
balétë
bɑ ˈlɜː të
(n.) a large tree; Ficus benjamina
galë
gɑ ˈlë
(idi: threat) is that so {Ancina galë ha? That’s the way it is, huh?}
galë
gɑ ˈlë
(idi: correction) I mean (to say) {Ay mira gale yo çine. I mean, I’ll watch a movie.}
gánë
ˈgɑː në
(adv.) even {Ya andá pa ganë yo allá. I even went there.}
gánë
ˈgɑː në
(adj.) even {Si Ána ganë, ya corré. Even Ana ran.}
nénë
ˈnɜː në
(n.) young girl
olë
o ˈlë
(adv.) again; Syn. otra vez
péqë
ˈpɜː kë
(adj.) fake
qiémë
kiː ˈɪə më
(n.) hesitation; indecision (v.) hesitate; play coy
tamémë
tɑ ˈmɜː më
(adj.) quiet, speechless, unable to speak
tétë
ˈtɜː të
(n.) breast; nipple Ï, ï IPA Definition
palï
pɑ ˈlï
(n.) scar
sulï
sʊ ˈlï
(adj.) inside out; upside down
baçï
ˈbɑ çï
(adv.) may, might; maybe, perhaps, probably
busísï
bʊ siː ˈsï
(v.) to examine thoroughly
mabusisï
mɑ bʊ ˈsi sï
(adj.) nitpicky
manï
mɑ ˈnï
(n.) peanut; clitoris
maïs
mɑ ˈïs
(n.) corn; maize [SPA]
bawï
bɑ ˈwï
(v.) to take back
butiqï
bʊ tiː ˈkï
(n.) lizard; butiki [ILO, VIS, CEB]
bulátï
bʊ ˈlɑː tï
(n.) worm
bulï
bʊ ˈlï
(n.) buttocks, gluteus maximus; buli [ILO, VIS, CEB]
bungï
bʊ ˈŋï
(n.) harelip; (adj.) gap of missing tooth; cleft palate; harelip
calachúchï
kɑ lɑ ˈʧʊ ʧï
(n.) frangipani flower; genus plumeria family Apocynaceae
calamansï
kɑ lɑ mɑn ˈsï
(n.) Citrofortunella microcarpa family Rutaceae

6. Calarïan
kɑ lɑ ˈrï ɑn
(n.) name of a town in Zamboanga
camalï
kɑ mɑ ˈlï
(n.) mistake, error; (v.) make a mistake. See malï
catï
ˈkɑ tï
(n.) outrigger of a boat
curiït
kʊ ri ˈït
(v.) to grimace dalï-dálï dɑ lï ˈdɑː lï (adv.) hurriedly, hastily (syn: apuráo) dalï dɑ ˈlï (v.) hurry, make haste; (syn: apurá)
kïkï
ˈkï ˈkï
(n.) dental plaque
malï
mɑ ˈlï
(n.) mistake, error
païn
pɑ ˈïn
(n.) bait
palï
pɑ ˈlï
(n.) scar (v.) to heal and scar over
pánä
ˈpɑː nä
(n.) arrow; (v.) shoot with an arrow
pasä
pɑ ˈsä
(n.) bruise; pasa [TAG bruise; See paˈsa [CHA pass, pass on]
pasï
pɑ ˈsï
(n.) unhusked rice grain
pukíkï
pʊ ˈkiː kï
(n.) vagina; Syn: púkï
Sangálï
sɑŋ ˈgɑː lï
(n.) name of a town in Zamboanga
sïsï
ˈsï ˈsï
(v.) to unravel; to dissect? to cut slowly?
tabï
ˈtɑ bï
(n.) excuse; (v.) to ask excuse of unseen (supernatural) beings
taïs
tɑ ˈïs
(v.) to wear out, as from heavy usage
talitï
tɑ liː ˈtï
(n.) light rain; drizzle
tarïan
tɑ rï ˈɑn
(n.) cockpit? tulï tʊ ˈlï (adj.) circumcised túlï ˈtʊ lï (v.) circumcise, remove the foreskin of the penis
Vitálï
viː ˈtɑː lï
(n.) name of a town in Zamboanga Ö, ö IPA Definition
biéjö
bi ˈɪəː hö
(adj.) old man; viejo [SPA]
canö
cɑ ˈnö
(adj.) American (n.) American; americano [SPA] See canö, canä
gochö
go ˈʧö
(n.) sperm
hálö-hálö
hɑ lo ˈhɑː lö
(n.) shaved ice with milk, sugar, and fruits
tíö
ˈtiː ɪö
(n.) uncle
Tinö
tiː ˈnö
(nic.) short for Celestino
tocö
to ˈcö
(n.) gecko Ü, ü IPA Definition
bábü
ˈbɑː bü
(n.) an elderly Muslim female; a form of address to
bübü
ˈbü ˈbü
(v.) to pour manually
buüg
bʊ ˈüg
(n.) thicket, forest
búcü
ˈbʊ ˈkü
(n.) young coconut; ˈbu kö [TAG]
bucü
bʊ ˈkü
(v.) to discover; to out; to reveal (adj.) to be found out; to be discovered; nabuko [TAG]
cascarüin
kɑs kɑ ˈrü iːn
(adj.) infected with mange? syn: Cagirín; galisin [TAG]
cücü
ˈkü ˈkü
(v.) to crouch
Curüán
kʊ rü ˈɑːn
(v.) name of a town in Zamboanga
cupü
kʊ ˈpü
(v.) crouch; embrace
cúsü
ˈkʊ sü
(v.) to wring, squeeze as in washing clothes?
dátü
ˈdɑː tü
(n.) a chieftain in a Moslem culture [MAL: datu; king, chief]
gugü
ˈgʊ gü
(n.) coconut oil-based shampoo
Gusü
gʊ ˈsü
(n.) A road in San Jose, Zamboanga City
latü
lɑ ˈtü
(n.) edible seaweed like bunches of tiny green grapes
Malü
mɑ ˈlü
(nic.) short for Marilou

7. marü
mɑ ˈrü
(adj.) sly, clever [TAG marúnong knowledgeable]
Mulümulüan
mʊ lü mʊ ˈlü ɑn
(n.) a town in southern Mindanao
ngúsü
ŋʊ ˈsü
(n.) snout (TAG ngúsö, snout)
pisü
piː ˈsü
(n.) chick; unhatched chicken embryo
pugü
ˈpʊ gü
(n.) quail (the bird)
pusü
pʊ ˈsü
(n.) rice cooked in woven coconut leaf sachets
púsü
ˈpʊ sü
(n.) banana flower [TAG puso, heart]
sirü
siː ˈrü
(v.) (n.) hiccough; Syn: sidu [ILO]
sulü
sʊ ˈlü
(n.) torch
tahü
tɑ ˈhü
(n.) soybean curd; Syn: taho [TAG]
Tetüán
tɛ tü ˈɑːn
(n.) a barrio in Zamboanga City
ticü
tiː ˈcü
(adj.) bent, crooked
túgü
ˈtʊ gü
(adj.) bald
túlü
ˈtʊ lü
(v.) drip; (n.) drop (of liquid)
útü
ʊ ˈtü
(v.) to cheat; to mislead; to fool
Table 8: List of Abbreviations Abbreviations of Word Functions
Abbreviations of Etymology
(add.)
form of address (as in Mr. or Ms.)
[CEB]
Cebuano
(adj.)
adjective
[CHA]
Chavacano
(adv.)
adverb
[CHI]
Chinese
(ant.)
antonym
[ENG]
English
(art.)
article
[ILO]
Ilonggo; Hiligaynon
(int.)
interjection
[MAL]
Malayo; Malay; Malaysian
(n.)
noun
[POR]
Portuguese
(nic.)
nickname
[SPA]
Spanish
(pn.)
person’s name
[TAG]
Tagalog
(pron.)
pronoun
[TAU]
Tausug
(rel.)
closely related
[VIS]
Visayan
(syn.)
synonym
(v.)
verb
(phr.)
phrase; expression
(fig.) (idi.)
Figurative speech; idiom

9. References
Diaeresis, Wikipedia. Online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaeresis.
International Phonetic Alphabet Transcription: http://lingorado.com/ipa/