# Writing Bärndütsch

Rules for `gsw.json` (and any other Bernese text), taken from a native
speaker's corrections. Read this before writing a single word; it wins over
anything that looks like a rule elsewhere. The general translator rules and
terms are in [GLOSSARY.md](GLOSSARY.md).

Swiss German has no fixed spelling: write it the way it sounds, as one
person from Bern would type it in a chat. When unsure, pick the spelling that
reads closest to the spoken words, and stay consistent within the file.

Examples: ✓ is the native speaker's version, ✗ what was written before.

## Spelling

1. **i, not y or ii.** Write a plain `i`, also for long i sounds. `y` is only
   seen now and then, and then means a long i; `ii` and `y` read as
   old-fashioned here.
   - ✓ Zit, gli, Gliche, Site, Triber, ichoufe, mim, sis, sig
   - ✗ Zyt, gly, Glyche, Siite, Triiber, ychoufe, mym, sys, syg
   - Keep `ii` only where it is two sounds: Freii, nöii (frei + i, nöi + i),
     and for the separable *ein-* standing alone, which would otherwise read
     as `i` (*ich*, *in*): Steck dis ii, stöu das ii, Stumm ii/us. Joined to
     its verb it is one `i`: ichoufe, isteckt, igstellt, Istellige.
   - `sy` survives as the verb *sein* (I las la sy); *sind* is `si`.
2. **st, not scht,** where German writes st: the reader says it "scht"
   anyway. ✓ Herbst ✗ Herbscht. Words that are clearly said and written with
   sch stay: geschter, Luscht, Samschti, Donnschti, ersch, glöscht.
3. **l becomes u** before a consonant and at the end of a word, everywhere:
   Waud, Miuch, aut, chaut, Gäut, viu, Kanau, Profiu, schnäu, Viertu,
   häufe, Doppuklick, and imperatives too: ✓ Steu dr Ton ab ✗ Stell.
4. **nd between vowels becomes ng:** Ching, Hung, unger, hinger, Hüngli.
5. **No apostrophes.** Joined words are written as one:
   ✓ mers, gibes, sägs, has, hets, öbs, geits ✗ mer's, gibe's, säg's, ha's.
6. Final d/t follows the sound; both are fine (Gäut/Gäud).

## Words that join

7. **Pronouns after a verb or `wo` fuse with it,** because nobody says them
   apart. Writing them apart tells a Bernese reader they're spoken apart.
   - ✓ chumeni, bini, chämi, woni, mitere, ufe Chnopf
   - ✗ chumen i, bin i, chäm i, won i, mit ere, uf e Chnopf
8. **wenn / we, und / u:** keep the full word before a vowel sound (it links
   better, like French liaison), shorten it before a consonant:
   - wenn er, wenn i, Wenn e App · we d App, we me, we sech
   - und es schneit · u lueg
   - *wenn du* → `wed` (or `we de`), *wenn es* → `wes`, *wo du* → `wod`.
     Only for *du*: before the article `d` (*die*) the words stay apart,
     ✓ O we d App wider startet ✗ O wed App.
9. **Indefinite article `e`,** also before vowels (no `en` or `ne`):
   ✓ e Ofe, e Öpfu, scho e Szene ✗ en Ofe, en Öpfu, scho ne Szene.
   (`ne` stays as the pronoun *ihn/ihm*: beweg ne.) `ä` is a spelling of the
   same word some people use (Ä Momänt).

## Grammar

10. **Dative objects take `am` / `ar`:** ✓ I gibes am Vatter, I gibes ar
    Mueter ✗ em Vatter, dr Mueter. After a preposition `em` is fine
    (uf em Tisch, mit em Soundserver), and plural `de` (mit de Ching).
11. **Possession:** «mim Brüetsch sis Outo» (dative owner + sis/ihre).
12. **Verbs:**
    - si (sind), mir si, dir syt, si hei
    - I ga (and `I gah ga ichoufe`), du geisch, är geit
    - I würd (not wür), är sig (*sei*)
    - ligt (not lit)
    - *lassen* doubles: I las la sy, är lat ds Outo la flicke
    - Prefer `mache` over `tue` for doing something: I mache das nid.
      The imperative of *tun* is `Due`: Due d Tür zue.
13. **Adjectives in the plural end in -i:** di aktuelli Lutsterchi (plural),
    but dr aktuelle Lutsterchi (singular, feminine dative).
14. **Pronouns:** im (*ihm*), dr (unstressed *dir*: Wie geits dr?),
    sech (*sich*), allei (*allein*).

## Words

| German | Bärndütsch | Not |
|---|---|---|
| fünf, zehn | füf, zä | föif, zäh |
| zwei (all genders) | zwöi (zwe Manne also fine) | zwo Froue |
| Montag … Sonntag | Mänti, Zischti, Mittwuch, Donnschti, Friti, Samschti, Sunnti | Mäntig, Zischtig … |
| immer | geng | gäng |
| später | später | speter |
| zu Hause | dehei (daheim also heard) | deheim |
| schau mal | lueg mau | lueg emau |
| tschüss, bis bald | Tschüss, bis gli | Ciao, bis gly |
| ungefähr | öppe | |
| Bruder | Brüetsch | Brueder |
| Kätzchen | Büsi, Chätzli | |
| einen Moment | Ä Momänt | Es Momäntli (correct, but nobody says it here) |
| alle 2 Sekunden | au 2 Sekunde | aui 2 Sekunde |
| komm her | Chumm da häre | Chumm häre |
| sei, sind | sig, si | syg, sy |
| wieder | wider (wieder also fine) | |

## App terms

Decided earlier with the same speaker; keep them:

- Ducking stays English (as in German UIs): Ducking, duckt.
- Pick up (soft takeover): Übernäh; a fader *übernimmt ersch, wenn er d
  Lutsterchi erreicht*.
- Rename: umbenenne (not umtoufe, which comes from *taufen*).
- Learn: aalehre. Strip: Kanau. Volume: Lutsterchi.