RULE:
We don't write the final "e" because it's silent. Examples: tasse TAS, passe PAS, casse KAS, sorte SORT, porte PORT, croûte KROUT, crise KRIZ.
The -S is also read R (IPA ʁ) to form the sound "tre" (like in the word "être").
No rule.
Vowel: the E designates the sound "é" (IPA e)
RULE:
The W key designates the initial V sound (IPA v)
The F key designates the final V soun (IPA v)
Vowel: Keys OE designate the "long O" sound (IPA o) (sauve SOEF, sauce SOES, taupe TOEP)
RULE:
The star in a chord is used to distinguish verbs and nouns that are homophones. Starred chords are verbs. (TODO: Verify that. Is it always the case? The examples in this particular lesson aren't very telling.)
The K key designates the initial K sound (IPA k) for words beginning with a hard C, QU or K.
The L key designates the final L (IPA l).
Vowel: Keys EU designate the "i" sound (IPA i) (il, pile, rive, type, quitte).
RULE:
The *UT code is used in the interrogative form ("Parles-tu", "fais-tu", etc)
The H key designates the hard H/aspirated H (TODO: are those actually the same?).
The B key designates the final B (IPA b) and the final open "ne" sound (IPA n) ("panne", "sonne", "van")
Vowel: Keys AO designate the "eu" sound (IPA ø and IPA œ) ("eux", "ceux", "heure", "seul", "creux", "veulent")
The G key designates the "gue" sound (IPA ɡ)
The D key designates the "de" sound (IPA d)
RULE:
The star is used for capitalised nouns ("Rose" vs "rose", "Fleur" vs "fleur"...).
Vowel: Keys AEU designate the sound "è" (IPA ɛ) (raie, trait, caisse, selle, quête, est-ce)
The Z key designates the "ze" sound (IPA z) (rose, vase, prise, Rose, cerise)
RULE:
The -Z, when hit alone, means "est" ("il est")
The bar atop consonants is used to write digits.
Depending on the number of times the bar is hit together with the star, the same number of spaces are inserted (TODO: what?).
When the bar is hit combined with a letter, we get the corresponding digit.
Here are the combinations:
S- + bar = 1 T- + bar = 2 P- + bar = 3 H- + bar = 4 A + bar = 5 -F + bar = 6 -P + bar = 7 -L + bar = 8 -T + bar = 9 G + bar = 0
Keys HR designate the initial L (IPA l)
Keys BG designate the final K (IPA k)
Vowel: Keys OU designate the sound "ou" (IPA u) (loupe, tout, sous, tour, clou)
Keys TK designate the initial D (IPA d)
Keys -FL designate the final L (IPA l)
Vowel: Keys AU designate the "ui" sound (IPA ɥi) (puis, cuit, celui, pluie), and the "long a" (IPA ɑ) (pâte, râpe)
RULE:
The star is used to cancel the last chord in case of a mistake
Keys PW designate the initial B (IPA b)
Keys -PL designate the final M (IPA m)
RULE:
Chord A*EM designates the ending of words in "ième" (huitième AUT/A*EM, seizième SAIZ/A*EM)
Vowel: Keys AOEU designate the sound "ieu" (IPA jø) (vieux, yeux, lieu, curieux, Dieu)
RULES:
The -R key is used in a separate chord to indicate an infinitive form of a first group verb (parler PARL/-R, suer SU/-R)
The -D key is used in a separate chord to indicate the final é of a "passé composé" (past tense) (parlé PARL/-D, sué SU/-D)
Keys TP- designate the initial F (IPA f)
Keys -PB designate the final N (IPA n)
RULES:
The R- chord designates the "re" prefix that will be attached to the following word: flux FLU, reflux R-/FLU
The middle "i" can be omitted in several words (édifice DWIS, rapide RAPD, formidable FORM/DABL)
Vowels:
Keys AE designate the sound "ié" (IPA je) (pied)
Keys AE followed by a consonant designate the sound "iè" (IPA jɛ) (tiers TAER, hier HAER, pierre PAER, Pierre PA*ER)
RULES:
Keys AER designate the suffix "ier" (financier FINS/AER, voilier VOIL/AER, caissier K-S/AER)
Keys A*ER designate the suffix "ière" (financière FINS/A*ER, théière TE/A*ER, caissière K-S/A*ER)
INVERSION:
To speed things up, it is possible to do groupings while inverting -Z (sa), OZ (son), EZ (ses), ESZ (ces).
RULES:
The R- key can also be read "i" (IPA i) in front of "a" or "o".
The H- key can be used for "il" when there are groupings.
RULES:
The -S key in a separate chord designates the "ait" ending (past tense).
The -RS keys in a separate chord designate the "rait" ending (conditional).
RULE:
The AI keys in a separate chord are used to distinguish between first group verbs in the past tense and homophones (tirait TIR/S, tiret TIR/AI, filait FIL/-S, filet FIL/AI)
RULE:
The -G key in a separate chord designates the "ant" ending (orthographic, but IPA ɑ̃) (present participle) (courant KOUR/-G, riant RI/-G)
RULE:
Keys -BLG designate the word "quel" (laquelle LABLG, de quel TK-BLG, lequel L-BLG, séquelle SEBLG)
RULE:
Keys -RP designate the "peur" ending (trappeur, torpeur, rappeur)
Keys -RL designate the "leur" ending (voleur, malheur)
Keys PH- designate the initial M (IPA m)
RULE:
The *LG chord designates the "-là" particle (cette table-là, celui-là)
Vowels:
The OEU keys designate the "oi" sound (IPA wa)(roi ROI, bois BOI, loi LOI, boîte BOIT)
The OEUN keys designate the "oin" sound (IPA wɛ̃)(soin SOIN, coin KOIN, poindre POINDZ)
RULE:
We don't write the "e" in the body of a word (relevé R-L/VE, degré D-G/R*E)
When "ré" is a suffix, we add a star
RULE:
Keys *N are used for the "on" ending (IPA ɔ̃) (Caron KAR/*N, melon M-L/*N)
INVERSION:
"s'est" is written *Z in groupings (elle s'est L*Z)
RULE:
The *S chord designates the "ste" sound (IPA st) (piste P*IS, poste PO*S, liste L*IS, kyste K*IS, pour cette PR*ES)
Keys TPH designate the initial N (IPA n)
Keys -BGS designate the final X (IPA ks)
RULE:
Key H designates the "n" in a negation (ne H-, n'est pas HEPS, ni HI, ne le H-L, n'est plus HEP)
INVERSIONS:
en sont NOS, ne sont HOS
Vowel: Keys AOU designate the "oui" sound (IPA wi) (oui AOU, Louis LAO*U)
RULE:
Keys *EZ are used for verbs ending in "ez" (trouverez TROUF/R*EZ, parlerez PARL/R*EZ)
Keys KWR designate the initial "y" sound (IPA j) (yacht YAT, hiatus YAT/US)
Key -G designates the soft j sound (IPA ʒ)(âge AUG, rage RAG, liège LAEG)
RULE:
The Y is used to represent the pronoun "il" (il a YA, il est Y-Z, il a les YALS, il a été YAET)
RULE:
Keys -PBLG (J) designate the middle "dj" (IPA dʒ) and "bj" (IPA bʒ) sounds (objet OJ, objectait OJ/-S, adjoindre AJ/OINDZ)
Keys SKWR designate the initial J (IPA ʒ)
Keys SWR designate the initial Z (IPA z)
RULES:
When a proper noun is ended with the letter "Y", write AO*E in a separate chord.
When a word ends in "ette", write *T in a separate chord.
Keys TKPW designate the initial "gue" (IPA ɡ).
Keys KW designate the "qwe" (IPA kw) sound.
RULE:
When a consonant is doubled, it is possible to skip a stroke (TODO: What?)
RULES:
Keys AIB designate the "aine" sound (IPA ɛn)
The A*IB chord designates suffix "aine" (orthographic).
Keys KP- designate the letter X in the "egz" sound (IPA ɡz)
Key W designates the initial "we" sound (IPA ɥ) (very rare in French).
RULES:
The *EB chord designates the "ène" suffix.
The W*E chord designates the "ué" and "oué" suffixes.
The W*EL chord designates the "uel" suffix.
RULE:
Keys KP (X) also designate "que ce". (Briefs)
RULE:
The *Z chord, hit separately, designates words that end with the sound "a" (IPA a)
RULE:
To avoid moving hands to get to the numbers bar, numbers can all be written phonetically.
When "100" isn't multiplied, write SUN. Otherwise, write S-N for when you hear "cent" (IPA sɑ̃)(100).
When "mille" (1000) isn't multiplied, write PHRIL. When "mille" is multiplied and followed by three zeros, write WR-RB.
TODO: Fingerspelling and punctuation is different than it is in Plover theory, and explained here. Maybe see if we can't use Plover theory for those?
Keys SH designate the initial "che" sound (IPA ʃ).
Keys -FP designate the final "che" sound (IPA ʃ).
RULE:
The *EL chord designates words ending in "el" (IPA ɛl).
The *RT or RT and *RTS or RTS chords designate words ending in "teur" and "trice".
Key B designates the final "ne" (IPA n).
RULES:
The OIB chord designates the "oine" sound (IPA wan).
The O*IB chord designates the "oine" orthographic suffix.
RULES:
Keys AEN designate the "ien" sound (IPA jɛ̃).
Keys AEB designate the "ienne" sound (IPA jɛn).
For the orthographic suffix, the * is added.
RULES:
Keys AOUB designate the sound "ouine" (IPA win).
Keys -GZ designate the sound "sion" (IPA zjɔ̃) and the sound "zon" (IPA zɔ̃)
Examples/list of "natural consonant combinations".
The -FRBGS chord is used to remove spaces before and after a comma.
The -RPBGS chord is used to remove spaces before and after a period.
Keys KH- designate the "mne" sound (this is a weird one, basically anything with an M and N sound, with a vowel inbetween).
RULE:
Keys AE designate words beginning with "a" (IPA a).
RULES:
Keys KWA designate "il y a"
Keys SWA designate "s'il a"
Keys SKWA designate "s'il y a"
Keys SKWHR designate "je le"
Vowel: Keys AEN designate the sound "ian" (IPA jɑ̃).
RULES:
Key -G is used for the "en" preposition in groupings.
Keys -NS designate words ending in "ance" or "ence" (IPA ɑ̃s).
Keys -ND designate words ending in "ande" (IPA ɑ̃d)
Keys -KT designate words ending in "cte" (IPA kt)
Keys KOEN designate the "con" prefix
RULE:
Keys STK (SD) designate words beginning with "dés" and "déc" when followed with a vowel.
Keys DAOE designate words starting with "dé" (see lesson 56)
Keys -TS designate the "tre" (IPA tʁ) sound.
Keys -NTS designate the "ntre" sound (IPA ~tʁ) (TODO: IPA?).
Keys -RTS designate the «rtre» sound (IPA ʁtʁ).
Keys -DZ designate the «dre» sound (IPA dʁ).
Keys -NDZ designate the «ndre» sound (IPA ~dʁ).
Keys -RDZ designate the «rdre» sound (IPA ʁdʁ).
Keys -BS designate the «bre» sound (IPA bʁ).
Keys -RBS designate the «rbre» sound (IPA ʁbʁ).
Keys -PS designate the «pre» sound (IPA pʁ).
Keys -RPS designate the «rpre» sound (IPA ʁpʁ).
It is possible to eliminate an S when it's immediately followed by a consonant.
RULES:
The K* chord designates the "com" prefix.
The KM- chord designates the "comm" prefix.
Keys -FBG designate the "fic" and "fec" sounds (IPA fik and fɛk)
RULES:
Keys STK (SD) designate the word "des".
Keys STPH (SN) designate the sound "sne" (TODO: Isn't that just normal though? Does this need to be a rule?)
RULE:
Keys -GS are used for words ending in "ssion", "tion", "cial", "tial", "ciel" and "tiel"
Keys -GS/*B or -GZ designate sounds "tionne" (IPA sjɔn) and "zionne" (IPA zjɔn)
Keys -GZ designate the sound "zion" (IPA sjɔ̃)
Keys -GS designate words ending in "cien" and -GZ words ending in "cienne".
Keys -BGS (X) designate words ending in "cation".
Keys AO designate the "io" diphtong (IPA jo, jɔ, jɔ̃).
Keys SPW designate prefixes "ent", "int", "end" and "ind".
Keys SP-R designate the prefix "super".
Keys MULT designate the prefix "multi".
Keys INTS designate the prefix "inter".
Keys W- is used to designate the initial F, to remove one stroke. (TODO: Only in certain cases? See examples)
Keys -FT designate words ending in "vité" and "cité".
Keys -RD designate words ending in "deur".
Keys -RG designate words ending in "gueur".
Keys -RN designate words ending in "neur".
Keys AO*R designate words ending in "eur".
RULE:
The W- key (V-) designates the F sound (IPA f) after SD
RULE:
Keys WHR- designate the sound "vle" (IPA vl).
RULES:
Keys -FRB designate the "mbe" sound. (TODO: This is weird, "mbe" isn't the same sound if it's preceded by an A or an O, this seems to do both.)
Keys -FRBL designate the "mble" sound.
Keys -FRBS designate the "mbre" sound.
Keys -FRPS designate the "mpre" sound.
RULES:
The keys *IFL designate the "if" suffix.
The keys *IF designate the "ive" suffix.
RULES:
Keys -PBGS designate sounds "ntion" and "nction"
Keys *BGS designate the "ction" sound
Keys -PBGS/*B or -GZ designate sounds "ntionne" and "nctionne"
Keys -PBGS/-R designate the "ctionner" sound
Keys IGZ designate the "itionne" sound
TODO: Those might rather be orthographic suffixes, but they're written as sounds in the book
RULES:
Keys -TS designate sounds "tre" (IPA tʁ), "taire" (IPA tɛʁ) and "ture" (IPA tyʁ)
Keys *T designate the sound "ette" (IPA ɛt)
Keys A*IR designate words ending in "aire".
Keys EBS designate the sound "éner" (TODO: Not sure either if that's orthographic or phonetic)
Keys -RGS designate words ending in "rtion" or "ration"
Keys SW designate the "swe" sound (IPA sw)
Keys TW designate the "twe" sound (IPA tw)
Keys STW designate the "stwe" sound (IPA stw)
Keys DW designate the "dwe" and "dve" sounds (IPA dw and dv) TODO: Skipping a vowel too? (divorce DVORS)
Keys -FPL designate the "sme" sound (IPA sm)
RULES:
Keys *-S designate final sound "ste" (IPA st)
Keys *-BGS designate final sound "xte" (IPA kst)
Vowel: Keys RA designate the "ia" diphtong (IPA ja)
RULES:
Keys -FRP designate the "mpe" sound (IPA ~p) TODO: This is how I do IPA for those. Ask me if confused.
Keys -FRPL designate the "mple" sound (IPA ~pl)
Keys -FRPT designate the "mpte" sound (IPA ~pt)
Keys -PL designate the "pl" sound (IPA pl)
No rule.
In groupings, "la" is written -LG
In groupings, "l'a" is written *LG
RULE:
Keys *LG in a separate stroke designate the particle "-là".
RULE:
Keys -TD designate the sound "tude" (IPA tyd)
RULE:
Keys -LGTS designate "-t-elle".
The *L chord designates suffix "elle".
RULE:
Keys -RB designate words ending in "cis" and "-ci"
Keys -RB also designate words ending in "rbe"
Keys -RB also designate words ending in "rne"
RULE:
Keys KOEN designate words starting with "con".
Keys KOENS designate words starting with "cons".
Keys STPH- designate words starting with "conn".
RULE:
When a word starts with "co" followed by two "r" or two "l", omit the "o" and write KR- or KL-
RULE:
Keys -FL designate sounds "val" (IPA val), "vail" (IPA vaj) and "vel" (IPA vɛl)
Vowel: Keys EU designate the "éu" diphtong (IPA ey)
RULE:
Keys -PLT designate the sound "ment" (IPA mɑ̃).
Keys -FPLT designate the sound "vement" (IPA vmɑ̃).
RULE:
When two consonnants ending a word are in the reverse order relative to the keyboard, we either reverse the order of those letters, or we write the last consonant on the right hand.
RULES:
Keys -RK designate the sound "cre" (IPA kʁ)
Keys -FRKS designate the sound "cre" (IPA ~kʁ)
Note: The -FR chord in front of -BGS (X) becomes an "n".
RULES:
Keys -FRBG designate the "nqu" sound (IPA ~k)
Keys -FRBLG designate the "nqu" sound (IPA ~kl)
Keys -FRLG designate the "ngl" sound (IPA ~gl)
RULE:
The word "ça" can be written in two ways: SHA and -SZ TODO: Used in groupings like "c'est ça" S-SZ or "ça va" SHAFZ
Keys -NG designate the "ngue" (IPA ~g) sound.
Keys -PBLG designate the "nge" (IPA ~j) sound.
Keys -PG designate the "gne" (IPA ɲ) sound.
RULES:
Keys -FR designate the "fre" and "vre" (IPA fʁ and vʁ) sounds.
Keys -FRB designate the "fer", "vaire" and "erve" (IPA fɛʁ, vɛʁ and ɛʁv) sounds.
RULE:
Keys TRANS designate words beginning with "trans"
RULE:
Keys -FRPB designate the "rche" sound (IPA ʁʃ)
Keys -FRPBLG designate the "nche" sound (IPA ~ʃ)
Keys SRAGS designate the "ciation" sound (IPA sjasjɔ̃)
Keys ITD designate words ending in "ité"
Keys -LT designate words ending in "ilité"
Keys -BT designate words ending in "bité"
Keys -BLT designate words ending in "bilité"
RULE:
The -D key/chord designates past participles. TODO: This might be a hard one, those take different forms.
Vowel: Keys WA designate the sound "ua" (IPA ɥa)
RULE:
Keys -RL designate words ending in "ral"
Keys -BL designate words ending in "bal" and "ble"
Keys -RBL designate words ending in "rbal" and "rible"
Keys -RT designate words ending in "rité"
RULE:
Keys -GS within the body of a word designate the sound "gr" (IPA gʁ)
Keys -BS within the body of a word designate the sound "bre" (IPA bʁ)
RULE:
Keys -FRS designate words ending in "voir"
RULE:
Keys DAOEZ designate words starting with "dés" when they're not immediately followed by a vowel on the keyboard.
Keys KWR- (Y) designate the sound "i" (IPA j) followed by a vowel in the body of a word.
Keys -GT at the end of a word designate "th" TODO: As an orthographic ending I guess, to differentiate from -T ending words. "maintenant" MIT or "mythe" MIGT.
Keys LO*EG designate words ending in "logue".
Keys LO*IG designate words ending in "logie".
Keys LO*IS designate words ending in "logiste".
Keys LO*IK designate words ending in "logique".
Keys -LGS designate words ending in "lation".
Keys -LZ designate the sound "ille" (IPA ij)
Keys -RLZ designate the sound "reille" (IPA ʁɛj)
Keys -NL designate the "nl" and "nal" (IPA ~l and nal) sounds.
Keys -RBL designate the "rnl" sound (IPA ʁn*l) TODO: Star as a wildcard in the IPA because this rule assumes skipping a vowel : journal JOURBL (IPA ʒuʁnal), fournil FOURBL (IPA fuʁnil))
Keys O*EX designate plurals in "aux".
Keys ST*E designate words ending in "sité"
Keys WH- designate words starting with "fin" and "fen".
Keys -PGS designate sound "ption" (IPA psjɔ̃)
Keys -LGTS designate "-t-elle", "-t-elles" and sound "tel" (IPA tɛl)
Key S- designates the "ps" sound (IPA ps)
Key N- also designates the "pn" sound (IPA pn)
Keys TH- designate the sounds "ten", "tén" (IPA tən, ten) TODO: Maybe tɛn or even t*n as well?
Keys VH- (WH-) designate the sounds "ven", "vén" (IPA vən, ven) TODO: Maybe vɛn or even v*n as well?
Keys KP- (X) designate sounds "exce" and "exci" (IPA ksɛ, kse, ksə, ksi)
The -BGS (-X) chord designates words that start with "ex" followed by a consonant.
The AIBGS (AIX) chord designates the "ex-" prefix.
The "s" in front of a "c" or a "p" can be omitted.
Keys STK- designate words beginning with "dé".
Keys EG designate words ending with "igé"
Keys *EG designate words ending with "iger"
Keys -LZ designate words ending in "lise"
Keys -BLZ designate words ending in "bilise"
Keys -RLZ designate words ending in "ralise"
Keys KPW- designate words beginning with a vowel followed by "mp" or "mb"
Keys SK- designate words starting with sounds "ch" and "sh" (IPA ʃ, tʃ)
Keys -SZ designate words ending in "ce" (to distinguish homonyms)
Key -G designates the word "en" (in groupings like "on en" OG, "t'en" T-G, "elle en" L-G)
Keys TPH- designates words starting with "in" followed by a vowel.
Keys STPH- designate words beginning with "ins" and "ens" followed by vowel.
Key * is used to distinguish endings in "ou" ("mate ou" MAT/OU, "matou" MAT/O*U, "cour ou" KOUR/OU, "courroux" KOUR/O*U)
Keys -FK designate words ending in "sque".
Key * is used to distinguish nouns from names (or common nouns from proper nouns)
Keys -TS designate words ending in "ture"
Keys HO*N designate words ending in "gnon"