Introduction

FirstVoices hosts custom, interactive alphabets with many useful and interesting features. Custom alphabets provide features such as:

• Custom alphabetization and search in your Dictionary for words and phrases

• “Listen to each letter” page for learners to hear the sounds of your language

• Alphabet-related games, such as Word Search, Parachute, Wordle

With a custom alphabet set up on your site, visitors will be more easily able to find what they are looking for – just like flipping quickly to the B or F sections of a printed dictionary.

Initial setup

When setting up the alphabet on your language site for the first time, you will need to submit your alphabet in the form of a spreadsheet (.csv), which will then be uploaded by FirstVoices staff.

Read more about preparing and submitting your alphabet in the following articles:

• Preparing a batch spreadsheet

• setup page

Manage your alphabet from the Dashboard

Once your alphabet letters are uploaded to FirstVoices, the Language Administrator can fill out further information and details from the Dashboard, such as:

• Audio or video recordings of a speaker pronouncing the letter

• Links to word entries on your site that use the letter

• Images or videos that capture the letter

• Notes with pronunciation help or background information

These details can be updated or customized at any time. It is recommended that each letter have an attached sound file and/or sample word.

Steps to manage your alphabet

1. Log in as a Language Administrator and go to your Dashboard

2. Click “Edit” in the left sidebar

3. Click “Edit your Alphabet”
   

   

4. Choose the letter you wish to edit and click “Edit” (pencil icon)
   

   

5. Add any linked words/phrases, media files (audio, image, video), or text notes

6. Press “Save Changes”

Request changes to your alphabet

FirstVoices alphabets are designed to be set up all at once and left in place. However, there may be situations where the writing system accepted in your community shifts in some way. Or, you may notice an error in the letters that were originally uploaded.

In these situations, you will need to contact FirstVoices staff to request an update to some aspect of your alphabet letters.

Minor updates to your alphabet

A minor update is one that affects just a few letters or expands your existing writing system. It generally does not change how most of your words look.

Examples:

• Change a few letters into a different symbol (e.g. ɫ → ł)

• Add a missing letter (e.g. forgot ' )

• Add uppercase forms to your alphabet, so that uppercase sorts correctly (e.g. add W as a version of w)

Major changes (converting to a new alphabet)

A major update would be one that changes how most words look. An example of major changes could include changing from an alphabet-based writing system to a syllabic writing system (or vice versa), or changing from an English-like practical writing system to an IPA-like system (or vice versa).