BOAS] HANDBOOK OF AMEEICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES 289 



The vocalic system of Tsimshian is similar to that of other North- 

 west Coast languages, with which it has in common the strong tend- 

 ency to a weakening of vowels. The Tsimshian dialect has no clear 

 a, but all its a's are intermediate between a and a. Onl}^ after to does 

 this vowel assume a purer a tinge. A peculiarity of the language is 

 the doubling of almost every long vowel b}^ the addition of a parasitic 

 vowel of the same timbre as the principal vowel, but pronounced with 

 relaxation of all muscles. 



Following is a tabular statement of the sounds observed in the Nass 

 dialect. 



The series of vowels may be rendered as follows:^ 



E 



Short ....,.,. w o 6 a 



Long - a a 



With parasitic vowel ... - ou do cm 



This series begins with the w-vowel with rounded lips and open 

 posterior part of mouth-opening, and proceeds with less protrusion of 

 lips and wider opening of the anterior portion of the mouth to a; then, 

 with gradual flattening of the middle part of the mouth-opening, 

 through e to i. 



The system of consonants is contained in the following table: 



It is doubtful whether c (English sh) occurs as a separate sound; 

 s seems rather to be pronounced with somewhat open teeth. The 

 sounds (J and k take very often a u-tinge. The semi-vowel lo is 

 almost always aspirated. 



1 Notwithstanding its defects, I have adhered for the Nass dialect to the spelling used in previous 

 publications. 



44877— Bull. 40, pt 1—10 19 §2 



