Editing Marshallese language (section)

==Orthography==
[[File:Book of Mormon - Marshallese.jpg|thumb|Marshallese version of the ''[[Book of Mormon]]'']]
[[File:Alphabet marshallais.jpg|thumb|Marshallese alphabet in a library]]
Marshallese is written in the [[Latin alphabet]]. There are two competing orthographies.<ref name="mx">{{harvp|Miller|2010|p=x}}</ref> The "old" orthography was introduced by missionaries.<ref name="mx" /> This system is not highly consistent or faithful in representing the sounds of Marshallese, but until recently, it had no competing orthography.<ref name="r6">{{harvp|Rudiak-Gould|2004|p=6}}</ref> It is currently widely used, including in newspapers and signs.<ref name="r6" /> The "new" orthography is gaining popularity especially in schools and among young adults and children.<ref name="mx" /> The "new" orthography represents the sounds of the Marshallese language more faithfully and is the system used in the Marshallese–English dictionary by Abo et al., currently the only complete published Marshallese dictionary.<ref name="mx" /><ref name="r6" />

The current [[alphabet]], as promoted by the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]], consists of 24 letters.

{| border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center"
| {{lang|mh|A}} || {{lang|mh|Ā}} || {{lang|mh|B}} || {{lang|mh|D}}
| {{lang|mh|E}} || {{lang|mh|I}} || {{lang|mh|J}} || {{lang|mh|K}}
| {{lang|mh|L}} || {{lang|mh|L‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|M}} || {{lang|mh|M̧}}
| {{lang|mh|N}} || {{lang|mh|N‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|N̄}} || {{lang|mh|O}}
| {{lang|mh|O̧}} || {{lang|mh|Ō}} || {{lang|mh|P}} || {{lang|mh|R}}
| {{lang|mh|T}} || {{lang|mh|U}} || {{lang|mh|Ū}} || {{lang|mh|W}}
|-
| {{lang|mh|a}} || {{lang|mh|ā}} || {{lang|mh|b}} || {{lang|mh|d}}
| {{lang|mh|e}} || {{lang|mh|i}} || {{lang|mh|j}} || {{lang|mh|k}}
| {{lang|mh|l}} || {{lang|mh|l‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|m}} || {{lang|mh|m̧}}
| {{lang|mh|n}} || {{lang|mh|n‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|n̄}} || {{lang|mh|o}}
| {{lang|mh|o̧}} || {{lang|mh|ō}} || {{lang|mh|p}} || {{lang|mh|r}}
| {{lang|mh|t}} || {{lang|mh|u}} || {{lang|mh|ū}} || {{lang|mh|w}}
|}

{|
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Orthographic consonants of Marshallese<ref name="alph">{{harvp|Rudiak-Gould|2004|pp=7–8}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" | 
! colspan="2" | [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! colspan="3" | [[Coronal consonant|Coronal]]
! colspan="2" | [[Dorsal consonant|Dorsal]]
|-
! <small>Light</small>!! <small>Heavy</small>!! <small>Light</small>!! colspan="2" | <small>Heavy</small>!! colspan="2" | <small>Heavy</small>
|-
!
!{{small|[[Palatalization (phonetics)|Palatalised]]}}
!{{small|[[Velarization|Velarised]]}}
!{{small|[[Palatalization (phonetics)|Palatalised]]}}
!{{small|[[Velarization|Velarised]]}}
!{{small|[[Labialization|Labialised]]}}
!{{small|(Velar)}}
!{{small|[[Labialization|Labialised]]}}
|-
! [[Stop consonant|Stop]]
| {{lang|mh|p}} || {{lang|mh|b(w)}} || {{lang|mh|j}} || {{lang|mh|t}} || || {{lang|mh|k}} || {{lang|mh|k(w)}}
|-
! [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| {{lang|mh|m}} || {{lang|mh|ṃ(w)}} || {{lang|mh|n}} || {{lang|mh|ṇ}} || {{lang|mh|ṇ(w)}} || {{lang|mh|ñ}} || {{lang|mh|ñ(w)}}
|-
! [[Rhotic consonant|Rhotic]]
| || || {{lang|mh|d}}|| {{lang|mh|r}}|| {{lang|mh|r(w)}}|| ||
|-
![[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
|
|
|{{lang|mh|l}}
|{{lang|mh|ḷ}}
|{{lang|mh|ḷ(w)}}
|
|
|-
! [[Glide consonant|Glide]]
| || || {{lang|mh|e/i/-}} || || || {{lang|mh|-}} || {{lang|mh|w/-}}
|}
| valign="top" | 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Orthographic vowels of Marshallese<ref name="alph" />
! rowspan="2" | 
! colspan="2" | <small>Unrounded</small>
! <small>Rounded</small>
|-
! <small>Front</small>
! colspan="2"| <small>Back</small>
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{lang|mh|i}} || {{lang|mh|ū}} || {{lang|mh|u}}
|-
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{lang|mh|e}} || {{lang|mh|ō}} || {{lang|mh|o}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| {{lang|mh|ā}} || {{lang|mh|a}} || {{lang|mh|ọ}}
|}
|}
Marshallese spelling is based on pronunciation rather than a phonemic analysis. Therefore, backness is marked in vowels despite being allophonic (it does not change the meaning), and many instances of the glides {{IPA|/j ɰ w/}} proposed on the phonemic level are unwritten, because they do not surface as consonants phonetically. In particular, the glide {{IPA|/ɰ/}}, which never surfaces as a consonant phonetically, is always unwritten.

The letter {{lang|mh|w}} is generally used only in three situations:
#To mark a rounded consonant (one of {{lang|mh|kw ḷw ṇw ñw rw}}) or approximant phoneme ({{lang|mh|w}}) before a vowel that precedes an unrounded consonant phoneme ({{lang|mh|a ā e i ō ū}}). Even then, if the consonant phoneme comes after a back rounded vowel {{lang|mh|ọ o u}} and before another vowel, it is common to write one of {{lang|mh|ḷ ṇ r}} instead of {{lang|mh|ḷw ṇw rw}}, but the rounded dorsal consonants {{lang|mh|kw ñw}} are still written with {{lang|mh|w}} in these circumstances.
#To mark a velarized bilabial consonant (either {{lang|mh|bw}} or {{lang|mh|ṃw}}) before a vowel that precedes a palatalized consonant phoneme ({{lang|mh|ā e i}}).
#To indicate a {{IPAblink|w}} glide phonetically surfacing either word-initially or between two vowels.
{{lang|mh|w}} is never written out word-finally or before another consonant.

*{{lang|mh|Kuwajleen / Kuajleen}} {{IPA|[kʷuwɑzʲɛ̆lʲɛːnʲ]}} "[[Kwajalein]]".<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/LocK.htm#Kuwajleen MED: {{lang|mh|Kuwajleen}}]; [http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/ConcordK.htm#Kuajleen MED: {{lang|mh|Kuajleen}}]</ref>

The palatal glide phoneme {{IPA|/j/}} may also be written out but only as {{lang|mh|e}} before one of {{lang|mh|a o ō ọ}}, or as {{lang|mh|i}} before one of either {{lang|mh|u ū}}. The approximant is never written before any of {{lang|mh|ā e i}}. A stronger raised palatal glide {{IPAblink|i̯}}, phonemically analyzed as the exotic un-syllabic consonant-vowel-consonant sequence {{IPA|/ji̯j/}} rather than plain {{IPA|/j/}}, may occur word-initially before any vowel and is written {{lang|mh|i}}. For historical reasons, certain words like {{lang|mh|iọkwe}} may be written as {{lang|mh|yokwe}}<ref name="medYokwe" /> with a {{lang|mh|y}}, which does not otherwise exist in the Marshallese alphabet.

One source of orthographic variation is in the representation of vowels. Pure [[monophthong]]s are written consistently based on vowel quality. However, short [[diphthong]]s may often be written with one of the two vowel sounds that they contain. (Alternate phonetic realizations for the same phonemic sequences are provided purely for illustrative purposes.)
*{{lang|mh|wōtōm / otem}} {{IPA|[wɤdˠɤmʲ ~ o͜ɤdˠɤ͜emʲ ~ odˠemʲ]}} "all; every".<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2W.htm#wōtōm MED: {{lang|mh|wōtōm}}]</ref>
Modern orthography has a bias in certain spelling choices in which both possibilities are equally clear between two non-approximant consonants.
* {{lang|mh|a}} is preferred over {{lang|mh|ā}}.
*: {{lang|mh|ḷap}} {{IPA|[lˠɑpʲ ~ lˠɑ͜æpʲ ~ lˠæpʲ]}} "big", not {{lang|mh|*ḷāp}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2L.htm#ḷap MED: {{lang|mh|ḷap}}]</ref>
* {{lang|mh|i}} is preferred over {{lang|mh|ū}}.
*: {{lang|mh|dik}} {{IPA|[rʲik ~ rʲi͜ɯk ~ rʲɯk]}} "small", not {{lang|mh|*dūk}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2D.htm#dik MED: {{lang|mh|dik}}]</ref>
* Historically, both {{lang|mh|ō}} and {{lang|mh|e}} have been common and sometimes interchangeable. It is still true today with some words. In the new orthography, {{lang|mh|ō}} is generally preferred over {{lang|mh|e}} in most such situations.
*: {{lang|mh|aelōñ}} {{IPA|[ɑelʲɤŋ ~ ɑelʲe͜ɤŋ ~ ɑelʲeŋ]}} "atoll; island; land", not {{lang|mh|*aeleñ}}<ref name="MEDaelon" />
*: {{lang|mh|Epatōn}} {{IPA|[ɛbʲɑdˠʌnʲ ~ ɛbʲæ͜ɑdˠʌ͜ɛnʲ]}} "[[Ebadon Island|Ebadon]]", not {{lang|mh|*Epaten}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/LocK.htm#Kuwajleen MED: {{lang|mh|Epatōn}}]</ref>
*: {{lang|mh|Kūrijṃōj}} {{IPA|[kɯrˠizʲĭmˠɤtʲ ~ kɯrˠɯ͜izʲĭ͜ɯ̆mˠɤ͜etʲ]}} "Christmas", not {{lang|mh|*Kūrijṃej}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2K.htm#Kūrijṃōj MED: {{lang|mh|Kūrijṃōj}}]</ref>
*: {{lang|mh|Nōḷ}} {{IPA|[nʲʌlˠ ~ nʲɛ͜ʌlˠ ~ nʲɛlˠ]}} "[[Nell Island|Nell]]", not {{lang|mh|*Neḷ}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/LocK.htm#Kuwajleen MED: {{lang|mh|Nōḷ}}]</ref>
* However, after one of {{lang|mh|d j m p}} and before one of unrounded {{lang|mh|b k ḷ ṃ ṇ ñ r t}}, the spelling {{lang|mh|e}} is preferred over {{lang|mh|ō}}.
*: {{lang|mh|pinjeḷ}} {{IPA|[pʲinzʲɛlˠ ~ pʲinzʲɛ͜ʌlˠ ~ pʲinzʲʌlˠ]}} "pencil", not {{lang|mh|*pinjōḷ}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2P.htm#pinjeḷ MED: {{lang|mh|pinjeḷ}}]</ref>
* For the name of the Marshall Islands, the new orthography prefers {{lang|mh|e}}, but the spelling with {{lang|mh|ō}} is still found.
*: {{lang|mh|Ṃajeḷ}} or {{lang|mh|Ṃajōḷ}} {{IPA|[mˠɑːzʲɛlˠ ~ mˠɑːzʲɛ͜ʌlˠ ~ mˠɑːzʲʌlˠ]}}, "Marshall Islands"<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2M.htm#Ṃajeḷ MED: {{lang|mh|Ṃajeḷ}}]</ref><ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/ConcordM.htm#Ṃajōḷ MED: {{lang|mh|Ṃajōḷ}}]</ref>

In a syllable whose first consonant is rounded and whose second consonant is palatalized, it is common to see the vowel between them written as one of {{lang|mh|a ō ū}}, usually associated with a neighboring velarized consonant:
* {{lang|mh|Ọkwōj}} {{IPA|[ɒɡʷʌtʲ ~ ɒɡʷɔ͜ɛtʲ]}} "August".<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2O.htm#Ọkwōj MED: {{lang|mh|Ọkwōj}}]</ref>
* {{lang|mh|Wūjlañ}} {{IPA|[wɯzʲĭlʲɑŋ ~ u͜izʲĭlʲæ͜ɑŋ ~ uzʲĭlʲɑŋ]}} "[[Ujelang]]".<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/LocW.htm#Wūjlañ MED: {{lang|mh|Wūjlañ}}]</ref>
The exception is long vowels and long diphthongs made up of two mora units, which are written with the vowel quality closer to the phonetic nucleus of the long syllable:
* {{lang|mh|jouj}} {{IPA|[tʲoutʲ]}} "kindness".<ref name="trussel2.com">[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2T.htm#tāākji MED: {{lang|mh|tāākji}}]</ref>
* {{lang|mh|naaj}} {{IPA|[nʲɑːtʲ]}} "will be".<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2N.htm#naaj MED: {{lang|mh|naaj}}]</ref>
* {{lang|mh|tāākji}} {{IPA|[tˠæːɡĭzʲi]}} "taxicab".<ref name="trussel2.com"/>
If the syllable is phonetically open, the vowel written is usually the second vowel in the diphthong: the word {{lang|mh|bwe}} {{IPA|[pˠɛ]}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2B.htm MED: {{lang|mh|bwe}}]</ref> is usually not written any other way, but exceptions exist such as {{lang|mh|aelōñ}} ({{IPA|/ɰajɘlʲɘŋ/ [ɑelʲɤŋ]}} "land; country; island; atoll"<ref name="MEDaelon">[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2A.htm#aelōñ MED: {{lang|mh|aelōñ}}]</ref>), which is preferred over {{lang|mh|*āelōñ}} because the {{lang|mh|a}} spelling emphasizes that the first (unwritten) glide phoneme is dorsal rather than palatal.

The spelling of grammatical [[affix]]es, such as {{lang|mh|ri-}} ({{IPA|/rˠi-/}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2R.htm#ri- MED: {{lang|mh|ri-}}]</ref>) and {{lang|mh|-in}} ({{IPA|/-inʲ/}}) is less variable despite the fact that their vowels become diphthongs with second member dependent on the preceding/following consonant: the prefix {{lang|mh|ri-}} may be pronounced as any of {{IPA|[rˠɯ͜i, rˠɯ, rˠɯ͜u]}} depending on the stem. The term {{lang|mh|Ri-Ṃajeḷ}} ("[[Marshallese people]]") is actually pronounced {{IPA|[rˠɯmˠɑːzʲɛlˠ]}} as if it were {{lang|mh|Rūṃajeḷ}}.<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/MED2R.htm#Ri-Ṃajeḷ MED: {{lang|mh|Ri-Ṃajeḷ}}]</ref>

===Display issues===
In the most [[copy editing|polished]] printed text, the letters {{lang|mh|L‌̧ l‌̧ M̧ m̧ N‌̧ n‌̧ O̧ o̧}} always appear with unaltered [[cedilla]]s directly beneath, and the letters {{lang|mh|Ā ā N̄ n̄ Ō ō Ū ū}} always appear with unaltered [[Macron (diacritic)|macron]]s directly above. Regardless, the diacritics are often replaced by ad hoc spellings using more common or more easily displayable characters. In particular, the ''[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/ Marshallese-English Online Dictionary]'' (but not the print version), or MOD, uses the following characters:<ref name="MED" />

{| border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center"
! colspan="5" | Standard
! rowspan="3" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
! colspan="5" | MOD
|-
| {{lang|mh|L‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|M̧}} || {{lang|mh|N‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|N̄}} || {{lang|mh|O̧}}
| {{lang|mh|Ḷ}} || {{lang|mh|Ṃ}} || {{lang|mh|Ṇ}} || {{lang|mh|Ñ}} || {{lang|mh|Ọ}}
|-
| {{lang|mh|l‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|m̧}} || {{lang|mh|n‌̧}} || {{lang|mh|n̄}} || {{lang|mh|o̧}}
| {{lang|mh|ḷ}} || {{lang|mh|ṃ}} || {{lang|mh|ṇ}} || {{lang|mh|ñ}} || {{lang|mh|ọ}}
|}

As of 2019, there are no dedicated [[precomposed character]]s in [[Unicode]] for the letters {{lang|mh|M̧ m̧ N̄ n̄ O̧ o̧}}; they must be displayed as plain Latin letters with [[combining character|combining]] [[diacritic]]s, and even many Unicode [[font]]s will not display the combinations properly and neatly. Although {{lang|mh|L‌̧ l‌̧ N‌̧ n‌̧}} exist as precomposed characters in Unicode, these letters ''also'' do not display properly as Marshallese letters in most Unicode fonts. Unicode defines the letters as having a [[cedilla]], but fonts usually display them with a [[comma below]] because of rendering expectations of the [[Latvian alphabet]]. For many fonts, a workaround is to encode these letters as the base letter {{lang|mh|L l N n}} followed by a [[zero-width non-joiner]] and then a combining cedilla, producing {{lang|mh|L‌̧ l‌̧ N‌̧ n‌̧}}.

Both systems already require fonts that display [[ISO basic Latin alphabet|Basic Latin]] (with {{lang|mh|A a B b D d E e I i J j K k L l M m N n O o P p R r T t U u W w}}) and [[Latin Extended-A]] (with {{lang|mh|Ā ā Ō ō Ū ū}}). The standard orthography also requires [[Combining Diacritical Marks]] for the combining diacritics. The MOD's alternative letters have the advantage of being neatly displayable as all-precomposed characters in any Unicode fonts that support Basic Latin, Latin Extended-A along with [[Latin-1 Supplement]] (with {{lang|mh|Ñ ñ}}) and [[Latin Extended Additional]] (with {{lang|mh|Ḷ ḷ Ṃ ṃ Ṇ ṇ Ọ ọ}}). If a font comfortably displays both the [[International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration]] and the [[Vietnamese alphabet]], it can also display MOD Marshallese.

This chart highlights the display issues in common web fonts and common free Unicode fonts that are known to support standard or MOD Marshallese lettering. Distinct typefaces appear only if the operating environment supports them. Some fonts have combining diacritic alignment issues, and the vast majority of the fonts have the Latvian diacritic issue; of the fonts shown below, only the [[Noto]] series displays Marshallese correctly.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw"
|+ class="nowrap" | Marshallese letters in various typefaces
|- style="border-collapse: collapse;"
! Typeface
! colspan="16" | Standard letters
! colspan="4" | With<br/>[[ISO 639-1|"mh"]]<br/>code
! colspan="4" | With<br/>[[zero-width non-joiner|zero-width<br/>non-joiner]]
! colspan="10" | MOD alternates
|- style="font-family: 'Arial';"
| [[Arial]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"
| [[Arial Unicode MS]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Calibri';"
| [[Calibri]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Cambria';"
| [[Cambria (typeface)|Cambria]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Candara';"
| [[Candara]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Charis SIL';"
| [[Charis SIL]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Code2000';"
| [[Code2000]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Consolas';"
| [[Consolas]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Constantia';"
| [[Constantia (typeface)|Constantia]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Corbel';"
| [[Corbel (typeface)|Corbel]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Cormorant';"
| [[Garamond#Cormorant|Cormorant]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Courier New';"
| [[Courier New]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'DejaVu Sans';"
| [[DejaVu fonts|DejaVu]] Sans|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'DejaVu Sans Mono';"
| [[DejaVu fonts|DejaVu]] Sans Mono|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'DejaVu Serif';"
| [[DejaVu fonts|DejaVu]] Serif|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Gentium';"
| [[Gentium]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Gentium Basic';"
| [[Gentium]] Basic|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Gentium Book Basic';"
| [[Gentium]] Book Basic|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Gentium Plus';"
| [[Gentium]] Plus|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Inconsolata';"
| [[Inconsolata]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Junicode';"
| [[Junicode]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Linux Libertine';"
| [[Linux Libertine]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"
| [[Lucida Sans Unicode]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Noto Sans';"
| [[Noto fonts|Noto]] Sans|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Noto Sans Mono';"
| [[Noto fonts|Noto]] Sans Mono|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Noto Serif';"
| [[Noto fonts|Noto]] Serif|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Open Sans';"
| [[Open Sans]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';"
| [[Segoe UI]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Source Code Pro';"
| [[Source Code Pro]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Source Sans Pro';"
| [[Source Sans Pro]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Source Serif Pro';"
| [[Source Serif Pro]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Tahoma';"
| [[Tahoma (typeface)|Tahoma]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|- style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"
| [[Times New Roman]]|| Ā || ā || Ļ || ļ || M̧ || m̧ || Ņ || ņ || N̄ || n̄ || O̧ || o̧ || Ō || ō || Ū || ū|| lang="mh" | Ļ || lang="mh" | ļ || lang="mh" | Ņ || lang="mh" | ņ|| L‌̧ || l‌̧ || N‌̧ || n‌̧|| Ḷ || ḷ || Ṃ || ṃ || Ṇ || ṇ || Ñ || ñ || Ọ || ọ
|}

===Differences in orthography===
The old orthography was still very similar to the new orthography but made fewer phonological distinctions in spelling than the new orthography does. The new orthography attempts phonological consistency while adhering to most of the spelling patterns of the old orthography, especially in regard to vowels and {{lang|mh|w}}. It has made the new orthography relatively easy for old orthography users to learn. The phonology of Marshallese was documented by Bender (1969) with written examples using the old orthography. Here are some differences between the new and old orthographies:
* The new orthography uses the [[cedilla]]ed letters {{lang|mh|ḷ ṃ ṇ ọ}}. The old orthography did not use cedillas and ambiguously wrote them {{lang|mh|l m n o}}.
* The new orthography uses {{lang|mh|p}} for "light" {{IPA|/pʲ/}} and {{lang|mh|b}} for "heavy" {{IPA|/pˠ/}}. The old orthography used {{lang|mh|b}} for both.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|binjel}} vs. new {{lang|mh|pinjeḷ}} {{IPA|[pʲinzʲɛlˠ]}}, 'pencil'.
* The new orthography consistently uses {{lang|mh|d}} for "light" {{IPA|/rʲ/}} in all positions. The old orthography often wrote {{lang|mh|dr}} before vowels, and {{lang|mh|r}} after vowels.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|Amerka}} vs. new {{lang|mh|Amedka}} {{IPA|[ɑmʲɛrʲɛ̆ɡɑ]}}, '[[United States]]'.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|indreo}} or {{lang|mh|indrio}} vs. new {{lang|mh|indeeo}} {{IPA|[inrʲeːɔ]}}, 'forever'.
* Except in certain affixes like {{lang|mh|-an}} whose spelling may be fixed, the new orthography spells the vowel monophthong allophone {{IPAblink|æ}} as {{lang|mh|ā}} in all positions. The old orthography had {{lang|mh|ā}}, but it was relatively less common, and {{IPAblink|æ}} was sometimes written {{lang|mh|e}} instead.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|Ebeje}} vs. new {{lang|mh|Epjā}} {{IPA|[ɛbʲɛ̆zʲæ]}}, '[[Ebeye Island|Ebeye]]'.
* Except in certain affixes like {{lang|mh|ri-}} whose the spelling of the vowels may be fixed, the new orthography spells the vowel monophthong allophone {{IPAblink|ɯ}} as {{lang|mh|ū}} in all positions. The old orthography spelled {{IPAblink|ɯ}} as {{lang|mh|i}} between consonants.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|Kirijmōj}} vs. new {{lang|mh|Kūrijṃōj}} {{IPA|[kɯrˠizʲĭmˠɤtʲ]}}, 'Christmas'.
* The new orthography uses only {{lang|mh|e o ō}} for allophones of the vowel phoneme {{IPA|/e/}}. In the old orthography, some words used {{lang|mh|e o ō}}, but other words used {{lang|mh|i u (ū)}} instead.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|ailiñ}} vs. new {{lang|mh|aelōñ}} {{IPA|[ɑelʲɤŋ ~ ɑelʲeŋ]}}, 'land'.
* The new orthography uses the letter {{lang|mh|ọ}} for the vowel monophthong allophone {{IPAblink|ɒ}} along with many of its related diphthong allophones. The old orthography spelt {{IPAblink|ɒ}} as {{lang|mh|a}} between consonants but {{lang|mh|o}} at the ends of words.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|iakwe}} vs. new {{lang|mh|iọkwe}} {{IPA|[i̯ɒɡʷɛ]}}, 'hello; good bye; love'.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|mo}} vs. new {{lang|mh|mọ}} {{IPA|[mʲɒ]}}, 'taboo'.
* The new orthography tries to consistently write long vowels and geminated consonants with double letters. The old orthography habitually wrote these as single letters.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|ekatak}} vs. new {{lang|mh|ekkatak}} {{IPA|[ɛkːɑdˠɑk]}}, 'study'.
*: Compare old {{lang|mh|jab}} vs. new {{lang|mh|jaab}} {{IPA|[tʲɑːpˠ]}}, 'no'.
* The word {{lang|mh|iọkwe}} {{IPA|[i̯ɒɡʷɛ]}} ('hello; goodbye; love') and the phrase {{lang|mh|iọkwe eok}} {{IPA|[i̯ɒɡʷɛe̯okʷ]}} ('hello [to you]') are a special case. The new orthography's rules use {{lang|mh|iọkwe eok}}, while the old orthography's rules used {{lang|mh|iakwe iuk}}. However, {{lang|mh|yokwe yuk}} has been historically more entrenched in both orthographies, but the letter {{lang|mh|y}} does not exist in the normal spelling rules of either orthography. That spelling has multilingual significance as well; {{lang|mh|yokwe (yuk)}} {{IPA|/ˈjɒkweɪ (ˈjʊk)/}} is also the established spelling for the greeting when used in Marshallese-influenced [[English language|English]] and by [[English language|anglophone]]s in the Marshall Islands.