Unified Sámi Orthography (USO)

The Unified Sámi Orthography (USO) was devised by Malcolm Lutz as a way to write Sámi languages with a single spelling system. He was inspired to create it when he realized that there is a lot of variation between different Sámi languages in the way they are written. He hopes that this orthography will help make communication easier between people who speak different Sámi languages, and he will add more languages in the future.

Notable features

Unified Sámi Orthography

Download an alphabet chart for Unified Sámi Orthography (Excel)

Sample text in Northern Sámi (davvisámegiella)

Buot olbmot leât riegádan friĵan ja olmmšárvvu ja olmmošvuoigatvuođaid dáfus. Sij leât jierbmalaš olbmot geâin leâ oamedovdu ja sij gálggaše leât dego vieljačagat.

Standard orthography

Buot olbmot leat riegádan friddjan ja olmmošárvvu ja olmmošvuoigatvuođaid dáfus . Sii leat jierbmalaš olbmot geain lea oamedovdu ja sii gálggaše leat dego vieljačagat.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample text in Southern Sámi (Åarjelsaemien gïele)

Vuelie hov aalka buerkiestidh gommebem, Aanna, jɨh fierhten beâjječe guvviem dej gʉaktaj jielemisnie leâ. lemie deâhpadimmieh, čelmiej uvte guvvieh boâtieh, guktie govlteléjja vʉajna guktie Aanna leâ goâtesne nosseminie, dollem nastehtminie.

Standard orthography

Vuelie hov aalka buerkiestidh gåmmebem, Aanna, jïh fierhten beajjetje guvviem dej guaktaj jielemisnie lea. Iemie deahpadimmieh, tjelmiej uvte guvvieh båetieh, guktie govltelæjja vuajna guktie Aanna lea gåetesne nosseminie, dållem nastehteminie.

Sample text in Skolt Sámi (Sääˊmǩiõll / Nuõrttsää’m)

Mon leám Erkki Lumisalmi šõddäm Aanar kóó’dd Njeállem siidäst. Leám nuõrttsámlaʒ. Peácc, peáccmsámlaʒ. Puárräs lee puáttäm Peáccmest mäŋŋa váinn ko Peáccm ǧoouti e pet Ruõššnjännma, nu’tt ko tõt liǧ leámmoški áái ǧeb.

Standard orthography

Mon leäm Erkki Lumisalmi šõddâm Aanar kåå'dd Njeällem siidâst. Leäm nuõrttsämlaž. Peäcc, peäccmsämlaž. Puärrâs lee puättâm Peäccmest mâŋŋa väinn ko Peäccam joouti e pet Ruõššnjânnma, nu'tt ko tõt lij leämmoški ääi jeb.

Sample text in Lule Sámi (julevsámegiella)

Dán lágan li biéjadusá dárogiéla, rijkalaš unnéplógogiélaj ja dáro siéjvvémgiéla birra. Lágan li aj biéjadusá sébrudagá óvdósvásstádusá birra vaj máhhtélisvüóhta vatteduvvá aktugatčaj giélav ávkkit, ja giéllaávkkima birra almulaš dójman ja rijkajgasskasaš bálij.

Standard orthography

Dán lágan li biejadusá dárogiela, rijkalasj unneplågogielaj ja dáro siejvvemgiela birra. Lágan li aj biejadusá sebrudagá åvdåsvásstádusá birra vaj máhttelisvuohta vatteduvvá aktugattjaj gielav ávkkit, ja giellaávkkima birra almulasj dåjman ja rijkajgasskasasj bálij.

Information about Northern Sámi | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Information about Southern Sámi | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Information about Skolt Sámi | Numbers

Information about Lule Sámi | Phrases | Numbers

Scripts by Malcolm Lutz

CAS for Greenlandic, Graeca, Judulertak, Kiriru, Palapala Kepanī, Unified Sámi Orthography

Constructed scripts for: Ainu | Arabic | Chinese languages | Dutch | English | Hawaiian | Hungarian | Japanese | Korean | Lingala | Malay & Indonesian | Persian | Tagalog / Filipino | Russian | Sanskrit | Spanish | Taino | Turkish | Vietnamese | Welsh | Other natural languages | Colour-based scripts | Tactile scripts | Phonetic/universal scripts | Constructed scripts for constructed languages | Adaptations of existing alphabets | Fictional alphabets | Magical alphabets | A-Z index | How to submit a constructed script

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