The Baatonum alphabet
The alphabetical order used to classify Baatonum words is the same as for French except for specific characters added for Baatonum:
| a | b | gb | d | e | ɛ | f | g | h | i | k | l | m | n | o | ɔ | p | kp | r | s | t |
| u | w | y |
The consonants /gb/ and /kp/, written as digraphs, are common to African languages. These digraphs are part of a set which exists in Baatɔnum that also include bw, dw, tw, sw, four labialized consonants which are used less frequently and not included in the alphabetical list.
Diacritical symbols
The TONES are indicated according to the usual convention:
your superior: /´/
your top: or nothing
your average: /-/
your bottom: /`/
your descendant: /^/
your amount: /`´/
It goes without saying that the tones noted are not necessarily exact. Depending on the region, they may (sometimes) vary.
Let us not forget also that some tones, especially the MIDDLE TONES, change according to their context.
For this, not all tones are noted in the Baatɔnum spelling. Only low tone is marked / ̀ / because it has a grammatical and lexical function.
The syllabic nasals /n/ and /m/ carry tones like vowels. They are therefore variables.
Nasalization
Nasalization is marked by the presence of a / ̃ / above the vowel. With long vowels and vowel groups, nasalization is indicated in writing the / ̃ / on the first vowel. Note that the vowels /o/ and /e/ do not carry nasalization.
