Alphabet and Orthography Statement

For Fulfulde [FUB] Ajamiya

(Found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic)

By Scott Clark, MA




























SIL
B.P. 1299
Yaound, Cameroon
2007










2
Alphabet and Orthography Statement For Fulfulde [FUB] Ajamiya
By Scott Clark, M.A.

Language: Fulfulde [Ethnologue code: FUB]
(Spoken in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic)

Introduction:

The alphabet described in this document is the result of many years of research, which began in
the early 1960s by Dr. Kristian Skulberg of Norway (in Ngaoundr, Cameroon). Ron Nelson and the
Sawtu Linjiila staff (a Fulfulde media and radio organization) continued his work in the 1980s. By
1990, the orthography was well established. The orthography in the present statement has not
significantly changed since that time. In 1998, at the JCMWA/MICCAO conference in Ngaoundr,
Cameroon; over 100 representatives from 14 West African countries agreed that this orthography would
be a good standard for writing the Fulfulde language with Arabic script (called Ajamiya).
One of the first Roman script orthographies for Fulfulde was developed by F.W. Taylor in the
1930s (see his dictionary, 1932). In 1966, a unified Roman script orthography was recommended by
UNESCO at the Meeting of Experts for the Unification of Alphabets of the National Languages held at
Bamako, Mali. The orthography proposed in this paper is based on the phonology statement for
Adamawa Fulfulde [FUB] found in Stennis, 1967.
In 2002 a computer program was developed by Mark Rogalski and myself to transliterate the
Roman script Fulfulde into Ajamiya script Fulfulde. It is still not 100% accurate and needs to be
proofread for mistakes. The following Alphabet and Orthography Statement is presented in order to
make the most accurate transliteration possible while maintaining as much as possible indigenous
Ajamiya conventions of the [FUB] Fulfulde dialect (abbreviations are on page 18).

The Consonants:
(The vowels will be introduced on page 14)

Arabic alphabetical order (Abjadi) is adopted here showing the Ajamiya grapheme, Fulfulde name and
phoneme
1
: -aliifi [a:], . -bee [b], . -tee [l], . -camamlu [], , -jiimi [d], , -haa baaluul [h],
, -haa lo55ugoI |x|, . -deeli [d], -zaali [|, _ -arre [], _ -zayra [z], -siini [s],
-ciini [l]or[]or[s], -saadi [s

], -baadi [d

], . -aadI ||, -zaadi [

], ayni [],
-aganI |g|, . -fee [], -gaafu [], . -keefu [k], -laamu [I], . -miimi [m], -nuunu [n],
-hakabeere [h], , -waawu [v], -yah [j], -hamaza [] -- In addition, five Non-Arabic
phonemes are found in Fulfulde; the symbols chosen to represent these sounds are:
. -5cc mou ||, -ah mou |y

| , , -pee [p], -nya ||, and , -uunu c aganI ||. These

five characters are still under discussion. However, they have been used with good understanding for the last
twenty years in Cameroon, with the exception of the p. The p has been recently adopted after a thorough
search of the contemporary use of Ajamiya in Northern Cameroon (see Orthography Report of Special
Letters, March 2006 by myself). Several Arabic sounds and their corresponding consonants are NOT used in

1
See Appendix 1 for the chart of these letters in Abajada order (Warsh Quranic tradition). See Appendix 2 for the Summary
Chart that is in Arabic Alphabetic order (Abjadi order).

3
everyday Fulfulde. However, they are included in this list because when writing a borrowed word from
Arabic, some Fulbe will use these letters to spell them. The majority, however, spell the letters as they sound
in Fulfulde (non-Arabic letter-to-sound correspondence), except in Arabic names.

Phonc Phonc Phonc Phoncmc mc mc mc Roman Giaphcmc Roman Giaphcmc Roman Giaphcmc Roman Giaphcmc Giaphcmc (4 oims) Giaphcmc (4 oims) Giaphcmc (4 oims) Giaphcmc (4 oims) LxampIcs LxampIcs LxampIcs LxampIcs
(Beginning, middle, final and isolated)

/a:/ sccond 'a` .. naanc . picvIousIy
UnIcodc: 062 1avmIiaavo ,,.

Loid
IuIuIdc Namc: aIIII laa .. don`l.
(This letter is only used to elongate the a vowel) ndaa . hcic
Special Forms: with [laamu] in the intitial postion vaIaa ,

nolhIng
with [laamu] in the medial positon bilaa .

vIlhoul

ThIs consonanl Is nol uscd In lhc InIlIaI posIlIon cxccpl oi common boiiovcd AiabIc voids:
AImasIIhu ,, ..

ChiIsl
Aadamu .. Adam
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/b/ b . ... baavc .,..

aulhoiIly
UnIcodc: 062S dImbaago .. .

lo shakc
IuIuIdc Namc: bcc cub . .

caiIy
njaabc ! ... . ansvci! (pI)

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/l/ l . ... lcddugaI ...

gIoiy
UnIcodc: 062A naslugo ,..
lo cnlci
IuIuIdc Namc: lcc gIlc .. cycs
akal! ...

. liuc!
lo . I


4
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// lh . ... mIlhaaIu ..

cxampIc
UnIcodc:
IuIuIdc Namc: camamIu
ThIs Icllci camamIu - . Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In
IuIuIdc |IUH| AjamIya IIlcialuic. !l Is InlcicslIng lo nolc lhal lhc sIInI Is olcn uscd In lhc
pIacc o camamIu In IndIgcnous IuIuIdc AjamIya IIlcialuic. So, lhc void abovc Is
pionounccd mIsaaIu by lhc IuIbc and uscs a sIInI ialhci lhan a camamIu.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/d/ j , .. jIppaago ., . lo comc dovn
UnIcodc: 062C ycjjIlugo ,. .,
lo oigcl
IuIuIdc Namc: jIImI ndIyamjI ., .

valcis
soobaajo ,..,.
iIcnd
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/h/ h , ,.. haajugo , ...
lo cnvy
UnIcodc: 062D yahugo , .,
lo go
IuIuIdc Namc: haa baaIuuI yah! ,,

. go!
mI saahI ,..

! gavc (iccIy)

!n IuIuIdc |IUH|, lhc haa baaIuuI Is pionounccd as a voIccIcss gIollaI iIcalIvc |h|.

ThIs Is conliaiy lo Modcin Slandaid AiabIc (MSA) and In lhc Qui`an, vhcic lhc Icllci haa
baaIuuI - , Is noimaIIy pionounccd as a voIccIcss phaiyngcaI iIcalIvc ||. !l musl bc nolcd
lhal lhIs voIccIcss phaiyngcaI iIcalIvc || sound docs nol cxIsl In lhc IuIuIdc Ianguagc
|IUH|. !n MSA, lhc haa pcclcI - icpicscnls lhc voIccIcss gIollaI iIcalIvc |h| sound.
Hovcvci, In IndIgcnous IuIuIdc |IUH| usagc lhc haa baaIuuI - , Icllci icpIaccs lhc MSA and
Qui`anIc AiabIc sound o lhc haa pcclcI . PIcasc scc lhc scclIon lhal cxpIaIns lhc usc o
lhc haa pcclcI (pagc l0).



5
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/x/ kh , ,.. khabaiu .. ncvs
UnIcodc: 062L
IuIuIdc Namc: haa lo55ugoI
ThIs Icllci haa lo55ugoI - , Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In
IuIuIdc AjamIya IIlcialuic.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/d/ d . .. . duuIc ,. cIoud
UnIcodc: 062I sujIdango ,. . .
lo bov dovn
IuIuIdc Namc: dccII

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// j jamba

lo chcal
UnIcodc: 0630 junuuba

sIn lo God
IuIuIdc Namc: zaaII kaja

somclhIng

ThIs Icllci zaaII - Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In IuIuIdc
|IUH| AjamIya IIlcialuic. WhIIc lhc noimaI MSA pionuncIalIon vouId bc a |D|, In IuIuIdc
|IUH| Il Is mosl olcn pionounccd vIlh a |d| coiicspondIng lo lhc giaphcmc 'j` and
icpicscnlcd by lhc Icllci jIImI , In AjamIya. !n lhc Maioua aica Il Is somclImcs pionounccd
vIlh a |z| sound.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// i _ _ ianccic ._ vhIlc
UnIcodc: 063l loindc ..
suppIIcalIon
IuIuIdc Namc: aiic ajIiI .. moinIng
asai ..

vaslc
/i/ ii loiiaago . lo lioubIc
Thc Icllci aiic - _ Is pionounccd |R| (Iappcd i) and vIlh a shadda ovci Il _ Il icpicscnls |i|
(liIIIcd i).


6
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/z/ j _ _ 1abuuia _,._ PsaIms
UnIcodc:0632
IuIuIdc Namc: zayia
ThIs Icllci zayia - _ Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In IuIuIdc
|IUH| AjamIya IIlcialuic. WhIIc lhc noimaI MSA pionuncIalIon vouId bc a |z|, In IuIuIdc
|IUH| Il Is mosl olcn pionounccd vIlh a |dZ| and viIllcn vIlh lhc giaphcmc 'j.` !n lhc
Maioua aica Il Is olcn pionounccd vIlh a |z| sound. !l Is InlcicslIng lo nolc lhal lhc jIImI - ,
Is olcn uscd In pIacc o zayia - _ In IndIgcnous IuIuIdc AjamIya usagc. So, lhc void abovc
Is pionounccd vIlh a |d| sound (1abuuia) by lhc IuIbc and Is viIllcn vIlh a jIImI - , ialhci
lhan a zayia.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/s/ s .. scyo _.
happy
UnIcodc: 0633 kIsndam .....
saIvalIon
IuIuIdc Namc: sIInI noogas .,

lvcnly
Sa! . Wov!
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/l/oi//cvcn/s/ c .. cccdc ... moncy
UnIcodc: 0634 accugo ,..
lo Icl
IuIuIdc Namc: cIInI haccI .

smcIIs bad
Thcic aic dIcicnl phonclIc vaIucs In dIcicnl IocaI dIaIccls. mI hoocI ,.

! look
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/s

/ s .. savlu .,.

voIcc
UnIcodc: 0635 MIsia .

Lgypl
IuIuIdc Namc: saadI
ThIs Icllci saadI - , Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In
IuIuIdc |IUH| AjamIya IIlcialuic. ThIs Is a phaiyngcaIIzcd aIvcoIai iIcalIvc |s

| In MSA.
!n IuIuIdc |IUH| Il Is mosl olcn pionounccd vIlh a |s| and viIllcn vIlh lhc giaphcmc 's` In
Roman sciIpl.


7
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/ d

/ d daiuuia

mIslakc
UnIcodc: 0636
IuIuIdc Namc: baadI (daadI)
ThIs Icllci baadI - , Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In
IuIuIdc |IUH| AjamIya IIlcialuic. ThIs Is pionounccd as a phaiyngcaIIzcd aIvcoIai pIosIvc
|d

| In MSA. !n IuIuIdc |IUH| Il Is mosl olcn pionounccd vIlh a |d| and Is viIllcn vIlh lhc
giaphcmc 'd.`

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// . ... uuugo ,.,.

lo Incicasc
UnIcodc: 063 yccugo ,..,

lo IIvc
IuIuIdc Namc: aadI mI vccI .., ! opcncd
Ko kuuva? .,,. .

Whal dId you do?

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/

/ j juhia

2 o`cIock piayci
UnIcodc: 063S jaahIiI

vIsIbIc
IuIuIdc Namc: zaadI vaaju

picach

ThIs Icllci zaadI - Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is nol uscd In IuIuIdc
|IUH| AjamIya IIlcialuic. WhIIc lhc noimaI MSA pionuncIalIon vouId bc a |

| In MSA, In
IuIuIdc |IUH| Il Is mosl olcn pionounccd vIlh a |d| and viIllcn vIlh lhc giaphcmc 'j.` !n
lhc Maioua aica Il Is olcn pionounccd vIlh a |z| sound. . !l Is InlcicslIng lo nolc lhal lhc
jIImI - , Is olcn uscd In pIacc o zaadI In IndIgcnous IuIuIdc AjamIya usagc. So, lhc
voids abovc aic pionounccd vIlh a |d| sound (IIkc juhia) by lhc IuIbc and aic viIllcn vIlh a
jIImI - , ialhci lhan a zaadI .











8
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// ' ,.. cggugo ,..
lo liansci, movc
UnIcodc: 0639 yI`ugo ,., lo scc
IuIuIdc Namc: aynI mI yI`I ,,

! sav
mo``cic .
giacc
c

and
ThIs consonanl Is pIaccd al lhc bcgInnIng o voids lhal bcgIn vIlh vovcIs (as In cggugo
abovc). Ralhci lhan usIng an aIIII oi lhc a, u oi lhc I vovcI, lhc dIaciIlIc oi lhcsc
sounds vIII go ovci oi undci lhc aynI consonanl. ThIs Is a noimaI IndIgcnous convcnlIon oi
AjamIya In lhc |IUH| aica.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/g/ g ,.. goolcI .,.

onc
UnIcodc: 063A sIgaago .. .
lo kccp oi sloic
IuIuIdc Namc: aganI o soggI ,..

Hc diovc (anImaIs)
go onc, oi lhal bcoic
Thc Iisl and IsoIalcd oims aic caIIcd agIna ngaaboI, and lhc mIddIc and cndIng aic caIIcd
agIna kccbuvaI In IuIuIdc.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// . ... uI5c ...

IuIanI PcopIc
UnIcodc: 06A2 lcugo ,..
lo scaich
IuIuIdc Namc: cc (IsoIalcd; cc gudoI) mI luI .. ! piIckcd, Injcclcd
uuu .,. Iung
!n MSA, lhc cc vouId havc a dol ovci lhc chaiaclci, and nol undci. Hul, lhc mosl common
IndIgcnous convcnlIon In lhc |IUH| aica Is lo pul lhc dol undci lhc chaiaclci (as In lhc Waish
Qui`ans uscd commonIy In Wcsl and Noilh AiIca).

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// k oi g .. !sIyaku ...

!saac
UnIcodc: 0642 gaaaia ... cxcusc, soiiy
IuIuIdc Namc: aau/gaau
ThIs Icllci Is uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and Is onIy uscd In oui IIlcialuic oi

9
namcs lhal aic ound In lhc Qui`an.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/k/ k . ... kccccio ....
pagan
UnIcodc: 06A9 hakkundc ....
bclvccn
IuIuIdc Namc: kccu hakkc ..
sIn
mI vookI .,, ! ciIcd

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/I/ I . IckkI .
licc, mcdIcInc
UnIcodc: 0644 gIII ...

voims
IuIuIdc Namc: Iaamu baIIaI ..

hcIp
pooIa ,,

dovc
SpccIaI oims o |I|: InIlIaI Iaa

Iaamu .

kIngdom, iuIc
and mcdIaI Iaa sIIaavo , .

baskcl

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/m/ m . .. maayo .
iIvci
UnIcodc: 0645 mccmugo ,..
lo louch
IuIuIdc Namc: mIImI mI numI ..

! lhoughl, lhInk
nyaamc! , . . . cal! (pI.)

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/n/ n . naiiaI

cIIovshIp
UnIcodc: 0646 hunaago .. .
lo svcai oalh
IuIuIdc Namc: nuunu nano
Icl
jainc .

gaidcn
(Thc nunaia |nuunu vIlhoul a dol| Is nol uscd In lhIs oilhogiaphy, Il Is onIy ound In Waish
Qui`ans and somc IndIgcnous AjamI o Wcsl and Noilh AiIca).

10

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/h/ h . , Haiuna , Aaion
UnIcodc: 064 !biahIIma .,.

Abiaham
AIIah .

AIIah
IuIuIdc Namcs: haa pcclcI (hakabccic oi InIlIaI and mIddIc, hasckccic oi lhc
InaI and IsoIalcd oims).
!n MSA and In lhc Qui`an, lhc haa pcclcI vouId noimaIIy bc uscd lo viIlc lhc voIccIcss
gIollaI iIcalIvc |h|. Hovcvci, sIncc lhc voIccIcss phaiyngcaI iIcalIvc || docs nol cxIsl In
IuIuIdc, lhc IuIbc pcopIc`s IndIgcnous dccIsIon vas lo choosc haa baaIuuI - , (scc pagc 4
and 5) oi lhc voIccIcss gIollaI iIcalIvc |h|! Thc haa pcclcI has bccn dioppcd aImosl
compIclcIy iom usc In cvciyday IuIuIdc AjamIya. Thus, bccausc IndIgcnous convcnlIons aic
bcIng oIIovcd as much as possIbIc, lhc haa pcclcI - vIII bc uscd iaicIy In lhIs oilhogiaphy.
!l vIII bc uscd onIy oi Impoilanl namcs ound In lhc Qui`an IIkc lhosc shovn abovc.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/v/ v , ,, , voIdc .,

void
UnIcodc: 064S javdI .,.

vcaIlh
IuIuIdc Namc: vaavu mI nyavI , , ! am sIck
mI vaavI ,, ! can (abIc)

o: lhIs nccds bicvc 065H ovci picvIous consonanl.
joondc .,.
icgIon, IIvIng pIacc
mI voova ,,,
! am uscd lo...

u: lhIs nccds damma 064I ovci picvIous consonanl.
juuc ., . hands
mI vuuva ,,, ! svccp







11
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/j/ y _,, ycllooic _,.,
lhankgIvIng

UnIcodc: 064A hoynugo ,.,.
lo bc casy
nayI _

oui
muuyo , vIII (o God)
IuIuIdc Namcs: yah, and yahyaia oi lhc InaI and IsoIalcd oims.

|I:| (viIllcn as II) lhIs aIso nccds a kasia (maasI Ics) undci lhc picvIous
consonanl. yIIdc .,, Iovc
mI yIIIoyI _.,,

! vIsIlcd iom dIslancc

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/ Oi olhci/ ' !sia`IIIa , .

!siacI
UnIcodc: 062l
IuIuIdc Namc: hamaza
ThIs Icllci Is uscd In a smaIIci oim abovc lhc Icllci bcc-. and yah- lo IndIcalc lo lhc
icadci lhal lhcsc Icllcis havc sImIIai gIollaI icsliIclIvc sounds. ThIs Icllci In Ils Iaigci oim
Is noimaIIy uscd onIy oi voids boiiovcd iom AiabIc and shouId onIy bc uscd In IIlcialuic
oi namcs lhal aic ound In lhc Qui`an.







Thc oIIovIng Thc oIIovIng Thc oIIovIng Thc oIIovIng Ivc Ivc Ivc Ivc consonanls consonanls consonanls consonanls aic aic aic aic nol ound In nol ound In nol ound In nol ound In Modcin Slandaid AiabIc (MSA): Modcin Slandaid AiabIc (MSA): Modcin Slandaid AiabIc (MSA): Modcin Slandaid AiabIc (MSA):
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/y

/ _,, amoI .,

qucslIon
UnIcodc: Nol avaIIabIc ycl Iam .,,

bIood
IuIuIdc Namc: ah moI hIma _. .

vInk
5ooc ,.

kIdncys
This letter, the ah moI, always takes a vowel marker (or sukuun) and is therefore never
confused with the yah (without dots - sometimes called alif maksura) that has a hamza over it (found in
MSA).

12

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/5/ 5 . ... 5andu ... body
UnIcodc: Nol avaIIabIc ycl ha5ic ..

Ighl
IuIuIdc Namc: 5cc mou 5I55c ..
ospiIng
huuvoo5c .,,, .
voikcis

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/p/ p , ,,, pukaiaajo ,.,
sludcnl
UnIcodc: 060 jIppaago ., . lo comc dovn
IuIuIdc Namc: pcc (IsoIalcd pcc gudoI) sappo ,.
lcn
Ioopc ,,

mud

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// ny _,, nyaamdu ..,

ood
UnIcodc: cIosc lo 06 IcnyoI ,

amIIy/cIan
IuIuIdc Namc: nya sonyo . _ sound
mI loonya ,. ! pciscculc
o danyI . .

she gave birth

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
// , ,.... aioI .

bcauly
UnIcodc: combIncd 0646063A vagIngo ,..,
lo shov
IuIuIdc Namc: nuunu c agInI 5IgcI ...

chIId
mI bagI ...

! maiiIcd
O vaga ,.
.

, hc shovs
The ' - ,` is distinguished from the n in that it does not take a sukuun (hownde). Note the word

13
vagIngo above: that the first ' - ,` does not take a sukuun, but the second n does take one. The '`
is rarely found at the beginning of a word and is thus NOT confused with the prenasalized ng- , sound
(see page 13) which is normally only found at the beginning of a word.


PicnasaIIzalIons PicnasaIIzalIons PicnasaIIzalIons PicnasaIIzalIons:
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/nj/ nj .... njaaiccndI ..._.. sand
UnIcodc: combIncd 0646062C mI sanja .. ! changc
mI vaanja , ! poui oul

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/mb/ mb . ....... mbaiugo .
lo kIII
UnIcodc: combIncd 0646062S ombIna ...
soulh

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/ng/ ng , ,.... ngaynaaka ...,.

pasluic
UnIcodc: combIncd 0646063A yaynango ,..,,

lo shInc lo

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/nd/ nd . .... . ndIyam ., .

valci
UnIcodc: combIncd 0646063A scndugo ...
lo scpaialc
hcndu ... vInd
joondc .,.
pIacc














14

Thc \ Thc \ Thc \ Thc \ovcIs ovcIs ovcIs ovcIs: (IuIuIdc Namc : (IuIuIdc Namc : (IuIuIdc Namc : (IuIuIdc Namcs ss s: m : m : m : ma aa asc sc sc sc=maiks a =maiks a =maiks a =maiks abovc oi bcIov lhc consonanls. l bovc oi bcIov lhc consonanls. l bovc oi bcIov lhc consonanls. l bovc oi bcIov lhc consonanls. lo5c=dols). o5c=dols). o5c=dols). o5c=dols).

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/a/ a aIkavaI ...

piomIsc
UnIcodc: 064L kaIhaIdI .....

buII
IuIuIdc Namc: maasI dov iccla .._ haI


*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/c/ c cnam ....

mcicy
UnIcodc: 065C jcmma ..
nIghl
IuIuIdc Namc: yamaIccic dclcic ...

book
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/I/ I Illugo ,.. lo lakc oul
UnIcodc: 0650 kIikc ..

saddIc
IuIuIdc Namc: maasI Ics IckkI .
licc


*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/o/ o oppcic ,.
cvci
UnIcodc: 065H dokkaI ..

gIl
IuIuIdc Namc: luinc o (csoodc) hokkugo ,.. lo gIvc


*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/u/ u uidI ..

pciumc
UnIcodc: 064I vujaago ..,
lo iub
IuIuIdc Namc: luindc /loo luiI puccu , hoisc





15

Lcnglh o \ovcIs: AII vovcIs occui Icnglhcncd, maikcd In ioman sciIpl by a doubIc vovcI. Lcnglh o \ovcIs: AII vovcIs occui Icnglhcncd, maikcd In ioman sciIpl by a doubIc vovcI. Lcnglh o \ovcIs: AII vovcIs occui Icnglhcncd, maikcd In ioman sciIpl by a doubIc vovcI. Lcnglh o \ovcIs: AII vovcIs occui Icnglhcncd, maikcd In ioman sciIpl by a doubIc vovcI.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/a:/ aa . 5II Aadama .... _. human
UnIcodc: 064L 062 kaaahI ,...

svoid
IuIuIdc Namc: aIIII baIcvoI (bodccvoI) aI`aada .....

cuslom
haa .. lo, oi, al

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/c:/ cc . ccglugo ,.....
lo go up
UnIcodc: 065C InIlIaI oi mcdIaI 066L 060 javIcciu .,.

mcclIng ioom
UnIcodc: 065C InaI oi IsoIalcd 0649 iccdu .._ slomach
IuIuIdc Namc: yamaIccic bcc aIIII bodcvoI bcc _. and, vIlh
ThIs InaI yah vIlhoul dols has a SpccIaI IuIuIdc Namc: yahyaia (vaIaa lo5c)

Thc void bcc Is spccIaI In lhal Il Is lhc onIy void In IuIuIdc lhal cnds In /c:/. Hovcvci, lhcic
aic vcibaI consliuclIons vhcn lhIs occuis (pIuiaI ImpcialIvcs oIIovcd by pcisonaI pionouns
scc cxampIcs bcIov). Thc InIlIaI and mcdIaI cIongalIon has a supcisciIpl aIc ovci lhc loolh.
Hul lhc cIongalIon (o lhc AIc Maksuia) In Ils InaI and IsoIalcd oims lakcs lhc oim o a yah
vIlhoul dols.
UnIcodc: 0649 (AIc Maksuia) |nguilInc: mo|. _...
lakc hIm oul
|ngaddc: c| . ..
biIng lhcm


*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/I:/ II _ IInaao .,. ..

piomIscd onc
UnIcodc: 0650 064A bIiIIjI , .

pcanuls
IuIuIdc Namc: maasI Ics II 5II _. son o.
Whcn lhc yah '_` Is cIongalIng lhc /I/ sound, Il docs nol lakc a sukuun. !n lhIs vay, lhc yah
cIongalIon Is casIIy dIslInguIshcd iom lhc consonanl yah.






16
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/o:/ oo , ooiugo _,. lo giazc (covs)
UnIcodc: 065H 064S kIIloovo ,,.,. judgc
IuIuIdc Namc: luinc oo boo ,. aIso
Whcn lhc vaavu ',` Is cIongalIng lhc /o/ sound, Il docs nol lakc a sukuun. !n lhIs vay, lhc
vaavu cIongalIon Is casIIy dIslInguIshcd iom lhc consonanl vaavu.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
/u:/ uu , uuigo _,.
lo smcII good
UnIcodc: 064I 064S mI huuvI ,, . ! voikcd
IuIuIdc Namc: luinc uu uu ,. aII
Whcn lhc vaavu ',` Is cIongalIng lhc /u/ sound, Il docs nol lakc a sukuun. !n lhIs vay, lhc
vaavu cIongalIon Is casIIy dIslInguIshcd iom lhc consonanl vaavu.




SpccIaI Lcllcis, DIaciIlIcs and PunclualIon: SpccIaI Lcllcis, DIaciIlIcs and PunclualIon: SpccIaI Lcllcis, DIaciIlIcs and PunclualIon: SpccIaI Lcllcis, DIaciIlIcs and PunclualIon:

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Sukuun:


IuIuIdc Namc: hovdc/hovndc
ThIs dIaciIlIc Is uscd lo shov lhal lhcic Is no vovcI oIIovIng lhc consonanl. Thus, vhcn lvo
dIcicnl consonanls aic uscd In dIiccl scqucncc, lhc sukuun shouId bc uscd ovci lhc Iisl
consonanl.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Shadda:
IuIuIdc Namc: sIddcic
ThIs dIaciIlIc Is uscd lo shov lhc doubIIng o a consonanl. Thus, vhcn a void has lvo o lhc
samc consonanls In a iov, ialhci lhan viIlIng lhc Icllci lvIcc, lhc shadda shouId bc uscd ovci
lhc consonanl.








17
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Numbcis : lhIs Is lhc samc as In MSA.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
. .
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************

PunclualIon: ThIs Is a gicy aica In AiabIc.
2

. , ? ! :
. . .

l. Thc unclIons lo maik lhc cnd o a scnlcncc. (ThIs Is lo makc a cIcai dIslInclIon
vIlh lhc numbci 0).
2. Thc . unclIons lo maik lhc cnd o a cIausc oi lo scpaialc Ilcms In a IIsl.
3. Thc unclIons lo IndIcalc a qucslIon.
4. Thc . unclIons lo IndIcalc cxcIamalIons.
5. Thc unclIons lo maik lhc bcgInnIng o a quolalIon.
6. Thc unclIons lo maik lhc cnd o a quolalIon.
. Thc . unclIons lo Inlioducc a uilhci cIaboialIon oi picccdIng quolalIon.

LxampIc: Acls 9:4,5 -- 4 O do``I haa IcsdI, o nanI savlu on vI`a mo: "SoI, SoI! KonI
loonyolooa mI?" 5 O amI: "An a moy, 1avmIiaavo?" Savlu go jaabI: "MIn vonI !Isa mo
loonyolooa.
3

. .. . . .. . .. .. ..

. , . .,

. . ..

. . .,.,,. .

. .. . .,.

.
,,. ._ .


... .,.

. .,.,,. . _.,. ,

TiansIalIon: 4 Hc cII lo lhc giound and hcaid a voIcc say lo hIm, SauI, SauI, vhy do you pciscculc mc?
5 Who aic you, Loid? SauI askcd. ! am 1csus, vhom you aic pciscculIng, hc icpIIcd.






2
Awde, N., Samano P., The Arabic Alphabet: How to read and write it (Lyle Stuart: New Jersy, 1986). p. 34.
3
The Deftere Allah, The Bible in Fulfulde [FUB], 1994, Deftere Habaruuji Masiihinkoen, p. 140.
Roman

AjamIya
Roman

AjamIya

18
Abbreviations:
[FUB] The Ethnologue designation for the Fulfulde Dialect discussed in this document.
[FUV] The Ethnologue designation for the Fulfulde Dialect found in central Nigeria.
MSA - Modern Standard Arabic
JCMWA Joint Committee for Ministry in West Africa


Ajamiya Bibliography

Literature in Present Orthography:
n.n., ..

.. .,

IIo Majjooo, The Lost Son (Cameroun: Sawtu Linjiila, 2003) 24pp..
n.n., . .
_ . ..

Hakkc naslI dunIya, Sin has entered the world (Ngaoundr: glise vanglique
Luthrienne du Cameroun, 1988) 4pp..
n.n., ,, Nuuhu, Noah (Ngaoundr: glise vanglique Luthrienne du Cameroun, 1988) 11pp..
n.n., . ..

.. .

. .,.., ..
: Dclc Annabo`cn: AnnabI Yakuubu, Lhistoire du Prophte Jacob en
langue foulfould, criture arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun,
1993) 36pp..
n.n., . ..

.. .

. . .,, ..
: Dclc Annabo`cn: AnnabI Yuusuu, Lhistoire du Prophte Joseph en
langue foulfould, criture arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun,
1993) 46pp..
n.n., . ..

.. .

. _ ., ..
: Dclc Annabo`cn: AnnabI Muusa, Lhistoire du Prophte Mose en
langue foulfould, criture arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun,
1993) 115pp..
n.n., ., _

. . , . .. : Ruul, maama Daavuda, Rulh, Ia Giand`mc ic dc DavId cn Ianguc

ouIouIdc, criture arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun, 1993)
12pp..
n.n., ...

. . .

.,

: Asla: Dcbbo IamIIo, Esther, la Femme du Roi en langue foulfould, criture

arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun, 1993) 26pp..
n.n., .,. ,..

. ., _. ,,..

. _., ..

: LInjIIIa !Isa AImasIIhu 5II MaiIyama bana Luka
vIndIiI um, Lvangile selon Luc en Foulfould criture arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound:
Alliance Biblique du Cameroun, 1990) 150pp..
n.n., ...

. ..
. . , _ .,.

: !nnc Tcdduc: !Isa AyaluaIIahI, Les Grands Noms: Jsus, Signe de

Dieu (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun, 1993) 18pp..
n.n., . _ .,. .. ,.

: Ko maynI AnnabI !Isa?, Quest-Ce Qui a Fait Mourrir le Prophte Jsus? en
langue foulfould, criture arabe (Ajamiya) (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du Cameroun,
1993) 9pp..
nn., ..,, . .,. ,. _ ,

Wai a yaia ndIyam duumII`dam, Come and drink the eternal water,
(Ngaoundr: Sawtu Linjiila, 2001) 10 pages.
n.n., ..

,,

: LaalaanoojI, GcncsIs: Thc IIisl Hook o lhc Tavial (Yaound: Alliance Biblique du
Cameroun, 2003) 177pp.


19


Health Literature in Present Orthography:
n.n., . ...

... .

: Ianla on iccna 5IngcI mum, Fanta attend un Bb en langue fulfuld,

criture arabe (glise vanglique Luthrienne du Cameroun: Projt de Sant des Femmes,
1993) 38pp..
n.n., .,. ,, .., . . ..., . .., ..

, HIsnu yonkI ma c yI`daa`bc ma, paddolcn nyav S!DA,

Save yourself and those you love, lets drive away the sickness AIDS, (Ngaoundr: Sawtu
Linjiila, 2001), 2pp..(10,000 copies distributed).
n.n., .,. . .. ., . . _.

. Scy cn kavla cn njaIIo S!DA/A!DS,Let us come together and win
over SIDA/AIDS, (Yaounde, SIL Cameroon, 2006), 2pp.. (24,000 copies distributed).
Similar Ajamiya to that Proposed in this Orthography Statement:
n.n., ..

,,

Laataanooji, La Gense En langue Foulfould Yaound: Socits Bibliques au Cameroun,

1962. 158pp..
n.n., . ,.

.
. : Linjiila fodde Matta, Lvangile selon Matthieu en langue Foulfould Yaound:
Socits Bibliques au Cameroun, 1961. 94pp.
n.n., _,. .: Jabuura, Les Psaumes en langue foulfould, Ngaoundr: Centre de Duplication de lEELC,
1975, 201pp.

Other Literature on the Subject of Ajamiya:
Alkhuli, Muhammad Ali, A Dictionary of Islamic Terms: English-Arabic & Arabic English, (Swaileh:
Jordan, 1989). 230pp..
Amudani, Y., Koyi da Kanka Harsuna uku: Turanci da Hausa da Larabci, Teach yourself three
Languages: English, Hausa and Arabic (Kano: Ayab General Enterprises, 2001).
Amudani, Y., Teach yourself three Languages: French, Hausa and Arabic (Kano: Ayab General
Enterprises, 1996).
Awde, Nicholas & Samano, Putros, The Arabic Alphabet: How to read & write it, (New Jersey: Lyle
Stuart, 1986). 95pp..
Chtatou, M., Using Arabic script in writing the languages of the peoples of Muslim Africa (Rabat:
Institute of African Studies, 1992).
Eguchi, Paul Kazuhisa, An English-Fulfulde Dictionary, (Institute for the Study of Language and
Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo, 1986).
Eguchi, Paul Kazuhisa, The Poem of Repentance, (Institute for the Study of Language and Cultures of
Asia and Africa, Tokyo, 1976).
Malik, S.H.A., The Impact of Arabic on the Linguistic and Cultural Life of the Yoruba People (FS
Bamgboe; Ibadan: Group Publishers, 1995) 424-39.
Nelson, R.W., IuI5c CuIluiaI LIcmcnls as Conlacl PoInls oi lhc GospcI (M.th. diss. Fuller, 1981).
Nelson R. W., Ekkitinol Ajamiya, (Lessons on Fulfulde Arabic Script). Revised by Scott Clark and
Carolin Huber in 2007.
Nelson R. W., The Situation and Need for a Standardized Ajamiya Orthography for Fulfulde,
unpublished paper presented at the 1998 JCMWA meeting in Ngaoundr, Cameroon.
Noye, Dominiquel., Dictionnaire Foulfoulde-Francais: Dialect Peul du Diamare Nord Cameroun,
Librairie Orientalist Paul Geuthner, S.A. 12, ru Vavi, 75006 Paris, 1989.
Skinner, N., Hausa Readings: Selections from Edgars Tatsuniyoyi (Madison: University of Wisconsin
Press, 1968).

20
Stennes, Leslie H., A Reference Grammar of Adamawa Fulani, African Language
Monograph No. 8, African Studies Center, Michigan State University, 1967.
Taylor, F. W., A Fulani-English Dictionary, (Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1932).
Philips, J., Spurious Arabic: Hausa and Colonial Nigeria (University of Wisconsin African Studies
Center, ).
Van Gerpen, E., Ka Koya wa Kanka Ajami (SIM, n.d.) 28pp..
n.n., Koya wa Kanka Karatun Ajami (NNPC Ltd.; Wusasa: CMS; Printed Kaduna: Baraka Press &
Publishers Ltd., 1971) 30pp..
n.n., . ...

Kitab Injil (Manila: PBS, 2001). [Roman script to Arabic script].

Indigenous Ajamiya Literature for [FUB] Fulfulde
(where the beh cnd yeh cre used Ior the implosive b cnd glottcl y, clso the inverted breve Ior the 'o' vowel)
n.n., .,. . . . ,...

:Do'cc|e hcc Hcdiith, (Meiganga, Cameroun: Tidjani, Adib), 38pp., no date.

n.n., _.. _,.. , _..
:DeItere Wcnginoore Mc'ni, (Meiganga, Cameroun: Tidjani, Adib), 76pp., 2001.
n.n., ,. .. . .., .... .

:Cime: Hcdc Kctcb Ycsmcn Jcbbozde Nulccdo, (Yola, Nigeria:
Tidjani, Adib), 76pp., 2001. (However, Saad with two dots is used for the implosive b).
(where the feh with an extra dot is used for the p sound)
Doriidu, M., , . ...
:Tckccyo Jcwhcrc. (Kano, Nigeria: Northern Maktabat Press LTD.), no date.
This is one of at least 10 books written in Maroua.
Eguchi, Paul Kazuhisa, The Poem oI Repentcnce, (Institute for the Study of Language and Cultures
of Asia and Africa, Tokyo, 1976).




























21

Appendix 1 Fulfulde Ajamiya _. ....... _. ....... _. ....... _. .......


The transliteration of letters and vowels from Roman script to Ajamiya in Abajada order
Abajada Warsh Order -- _, . ..

, _,.
.. .
Aa, aa
a
.. . .
B, b

, ..
J, j
. .. .
D, d
. ,
H, h
, ,, ,
W, w
_ _
Z, z
, ,..
H, h
. ...
I,
_,,
Y, y
. ...
K, k
.
L, l

-laa

laa
. ..
M, m
.
N, n
..
S, s
,..

. ...
F, f

D, d

Gh, gh or
Qh, qh
_ _
R, r
..
S, s
. ...
T, t

Th, th
or S, s or
C, c

Kh, kh

Zh, zh

Z, z
,..
G, g
..
C, c
Sh, sh
_,,
Ny, ny
, ,,,
P, p
. ...
I, 5
_,,
,





A, a

E, e

I, i

O, o

U, u
.. .
Aa, aa
a
.


Ee, ee
_
Ii, ii
,
Oo, oo
,
Uu, uu
, ,....
],
....
Nj, nj
. .......
Mb, mb
, ,....
Ng, ng
. .... .
Nd, nd

Hownde: walaa
masde. Siddere:
sembiina
harfeere.

Letters used rarely in
Ajamiya Fulfulde:


Appendix 2
Summary Chart of the Fulfulde Alphabet For [FUB] Ajamiya
------------------------------------------Examples-------------------------------------------
Ajamiya Grapheme Roman Grapheme Phoneme Initial Medial Final Isolated
..
Second a

/a:/ only for Arabic
names: ,,..

. / ,,.
.. .
. ...
B, b

/b/
.,..

...

.. ...
. ...
T, t /t/
...

,..
.. .
, ..
J, j
/d/
.,. ,.., .,.

,..,.
, ,..
H, h /h/
,... , ,. ,,
,..

. .. .
D, d /d/
,. ,... ... .,.
_ _
R, r
//
._ ..
.. ._
..
S, s /s/
_.
.....
.,
.
..
C, c
/t/ or // or /s/
... ,.. .

,.

. ...
+ ..
,.,.

,..,

.., . . .,,

,..

//
,..
,., ,,

,..
G, g /g/
.,.

... ,..

. ...
F, f /f/
...

,.. .. .,.
. ...
K, k /k/
....
....
..
.,,
Appendix 2
.
L, l /l/
.
...

..

,,

-laa /la:/

,.

laa /la:/
.

. ..
M, m /m/
. ,.. ..

, . .

.
N, n /n/

... .

, ,, ,
W, w /w/
.,

.,.

, , ,,
_,,
Y, y /j/
_,., ,.,. _

,
_,,
+ .x

.
.,

.,,
_..

,.

. ...
+ ..
... ..

..
.,,,.

, ,,,
P, p /p/
,., .,. ,. ,,

_,,
Mx+ mx ..
..,
,

. _ . .

, ,....
+ ..
.

,.., ...

,..

....
Nj, nj /nj/
..._.. ..... .. ,
. .......
Mb, mb /mb/
. ...

, ,....
Ng, ng /ng/
...,.


,..,,


Appendix 2
. .... .
Nd, nd /nd/
.,.
... ... .,.


A, a /a/
,...

.....

.._


U, u /u/
..
.., ,


I, i /i/
,.. ..

.



O, o /o/
,.
..

,..


E, e /e/
....

..
...


.
Aa, aa /a:/
.... _. ,...

..

,
Uu, uu /u:/
_,. ,,. ,.

_
Ii, ii /i:/
.,. ..

,.

_.

,
Oo, oo /o:/
_,. ,,.,. ,.

.
Ee, ee /e:/
,..... .,.

/.._ . _

and
no-vowel sign and
double letter sign


..

/ .,. .. /,.

(This list of letters does not including Arabic letters used rarely in [FUB] Fulfulde; , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ).