Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Oops, I'm neglecting you again...Umtìpohìs lessons

I've been tres busy with being ill, going to a sleepover, and then catching a cold. I suppose I could use today to explain to you the wonderful art of Umtìpohìs. First things first, to learn how to use this language, it's going to take some time, if you want to memorize it. Remember not to get frustrated if you make lots of mistakes...that's how we learn things.
Umtìpohìs (which translates into English) is a speakable language that involves trading letters and adding "ì". In order to make the language as easily spoken as possible, you trade vowels for vowels, and consonants for consonants. Basically, the translation is as follows:

Vowel Group:
A = Y (and Y = A)
E = U (and U = E...it goes on like this)
I = O

Consonant Group:
B = Z
C = X
D = W
F = V
G = T
H = S
J = R
K = Q
L = P
M = N

Here are a few words to translate to give you practice:
Dog
Sea
Pig
Moose
Candy
Biology

Did you figure it out? Your answers should look something like this:
Wot
Huy
Lot
Niihu
Xymwa
Zoipita

Sometimes a word isn't entirely speakable when translated. For example, the word "school" according to the rules given so far turns into "hxsiip". Isn't that a tongue twister! This is where the concept of adding "ì" comes into the mix. I insert this symbol between letters in order to make the word flow easier off of the tongue. It also aids in confusing someone who is attempting to crack a code (this language is very easy to use if you feel the need to tell somebody something but don't want others to understand). When writing the language on paper, I just write a normal "i" and then underline it. This next part is to help you understand where to place the "ì" to fix a word. Be aware that there is no specific rule to where to place the symbol, it's purpose is to simplify the word.
School (hxsiip) becomes "hìxìsiip"
Frost (vjohg) becomes "vìjohìg"
Phone (lsimu) becomes "lìsimu"
Whether you write your symbol as ì , i or (i), it is extremely important to stress the difference between this symbol and a normal "i". For example, if I was to write "Iilih, o vijtig na sinudijiq! O'n higelow!" without stressing the symbol, it would translate to "Oopos, i forgot my homeworok! I'm sotupid!" That does make you sound "sotupid", indeed! The proper way to fix this sentence would be "Iil(i)h, o vijtig na sinuwij(i)q! O'n h(i)gelow!"
Numbers, punctuation, and things of the like are exactly the same as English.
I hope you understand this lesson I've given you, and that perhaps you understand my method of madness. Have a nice day!

1 comment:

  1. **Dog is "wit" not "wot". Also, I am a loser.

    ReplyDelete