The Ananse Alphabet and Four Sound Families
Learn the 20 core letters as four related shapes instead of 20 unrelated signs. Learn Ananse Stroke, a West African writing system.
Twenty letters built from four heads
The Vowel family contains A, E, I, O, and U. The Bilabial family contains M, B, P, F, and W. The Alveolar family contains N, D, T, L, R, and S. The Velar family contains G, K, H, and Y.
Each family shares one head or shell shape. The position of a mark—shell, top, middle, root, or an additional root position—identifies the letter.
Letters without a separate core symbol
C, J, V, X, and Z borrow the closest sound symbol. Q is written as K plus W.