Editing Nauruan language (section)

== Writing system ==
In the original writing system for Nauruan, 17 letters were used:
* The five [[vowel]]s: a, e, i, o, u
* Twelve [[consonant]]s: b, d, g, j, k, m, n, p, q, r, t, w

The letters c, f, h, l, s, v, x, y, and z were not included. With the growing influence of foreign languages, in particular [[German language|German]], [[English language|English]], [[Gilbertese language|Gilbertese]], and part of the [[Pama–Nyungan languages|Pama-Nyungan family]], more letters were incorporated into the Nauruan alphabet. In addition, phonetic differences of a few vowels arose, so that [[I-mutation|umlaut]]s and other similar sounds were indicated with a [[tilde]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}

=== Attempt at language reform of 1938 ===
In 1938, there was an attempt by the Nauruan language committee and [[Timothy Detudamo]] to make the language easier to read for Europeans and Americans. It was intended to introduce as many [[diacritic]]al symbols as possible for the different vowel sounds to state the variety of the Nauruan language{{clarify|date=June 2017}} in writing. It was decided to introduce only a circumflex accent in the place of the former [[tilde]], so that the characters "õ" and "ũ" were replaced by "ô" and "û". The "ã" was replaced with "e".

Also, "y" was introduced in order to differentiate words with the English "j" ({{Lang|na|puji}}). Thus, words like {{Lang|na|ijeiji}} were changed to {{Lang|na|iyeyi}}. In addition, "ñ" (which represented the [[velar nasal]]) was replaced with "ng", to avoid confusion with the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] [[Ñ]]. "bu" and "qu" were replaced with "bw" and "kw", respectively. "ts" was replaced with "j" (since it represented a sound similar to the English "j"); and the "w" written at the end of words was dropped.

These reforms were only partly carried out: the symbols "õ" and "ũ" are still written as such, with tildes. However, the letters "ã" and "ñ" are now only seldom used, being replaced with "e" and "ng", as prescribed by the reform. Likewise, use of the digraphs "bw" and "kw" has been implemented. Although "j" took the place of "ts", certain spellings still use "ts": e.g., the districts [[Baiti]] and [[Ijuw District|Ijuw]] (according to the reform {{Lang|na|Beiji}} and {{Lang|na|Iyu}}) are still written with the old writing conventions. The "y" has become generally accepted.

Today the following 30 Latin letters are used.
* [[Vowel]]s: a, ã, e, i, o, õ, u, ũ
* [[Consonant]]s: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, ñ, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z

The relationship of the above letters and phonemes is:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://omniglot.com/writing/nauruan.htm | title=Nauruan language and alphabet }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2023}} a [ɑ/a], ã [ɛ], e [e/e̞/ɛ], i [i/ɪ/ɨ], o [o/ɔ], õ [ø], u [ʊ/ʉ], ũ [y], b [b], bw [b͡w], c [k/s], d [d], di [ʤi], f [f], g [g], gw [g͡w], h [h], j [ʤ̊], k [k], kw [k͡w], nng [ŋː], l [l], m [m], n [n], ñ [ŋ], p [p], qu [k͡w], r [ɾ/r], s [s], t [t], ti [ʧi], ts [ʤ̊], v [f/v], w [w/ɣ], x [k͡s], y [j/ʝ], z [z].