Practical Orthographies for Dani Dialects

Abstract

The construction of a practical orthographic system or alphabet involves significant factors outside the phonemic structure to be represented; particularly is this true in the case of lower Grand Valley Dani, with its skewed pattern of sound contrasts. For the convenience both of future local readers and of outside investigators, an alphabet that is useful over a wide area is preferable to one of restricted applicability. To devise such an alphabet in this case, the phonemic systems of other dialects must be considered. Such external factors as orthographic tradition in trade and school languages in the area of New Guinea and the availability of symbols on typewriters and in type fonts are also relevant; these will be discussed first.