An Orthography and Spelling Guide for Kupsapiiny

This brief spelling guide gives rules for how to write Kupsapiiny as well as describing the key features of the revised orthography or writing system. This writing system is based on modern principles for making alphabets in contrast to the existing alphabets of some languages that have been in writing for centuries (e.g. English). It has benefitted from lessons learnt in the development of the Sabaot writing system since 1981. Kupsapiiny has a vowel and tone system that is very different from both Luganda and English, but similar to Sabaot. Any good writing system needs to be developed with the specific needs of the language in mind. Since Kupsapiiny is very different from English and Bantu languages, people need more time to learn to correctly read and write Kupsapiiny, but it will be much easier than Luganda and English once one has become used to it. Much thanks goes to all the Sapiiny people who have contributed to the production of this booklet. It was prepared by Chemitai Joyce, Chebet Francis and Twoyem Kenneth Chemonges with technical assistance from Iver Larsen and Patrick Mangʼesoy. The orthography and the rules were approved at a meeting of the Kupsapiiny Language Board (KLB) and the Kupsapiiny Language Development and Preservation Foundation (KULADEPF) in Kapchorwa on August 31, 2011. May this booklet serve all the Sapiiny people for the development of the Kupsapiiny language and community.