Tíkhona isjKénar

Writing System
There are several digraphs (but no trigraphs) that you should know:

bh, dh, gh, kh, ph, th make the sounds /β ð ɣ x ɸ θ/ respectively. These sounds were originally aspirates /bʱ dʱ gʱ kʰ pʰ tʰ/ but have since become fricatives as shown previously.

sj and zj make the sounds /ʃ ʒ/ respectively.

tj and dj make the sounds /tʃ dʒ/ respectively.

kj and gj make the sounds /ç ɟ/ respectively, however these are new additions, uncommon, and may be removed or substituted for kh and gh respectively.

nj and lj make the sounds /ɲ ʎ/ respectively.

ts and dz, of course make the sounds /ts dz/ respectively.

Apostrophes can be used to prevent these digraphs however it is usually reserved for foreign words or phonetic spellings. All other consonant and vowel combinations form no special sounds a part from the single sounds they represent.

Vowels do not form diphthongs different vowels together are always separated by hiatuses and double vowels of the same kind create long vowels. Likewise, double consonants create geminated consonants. The semivowels /j/ and /w/ however do form vocalic diphthongs.