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a and aa (short and long):
musala
♫
(bark cloth), balaba
♫
(they see)
musaala
♫
(wage), baalaba
♫
(they saw).
The vowel quality is as in Swahili.
b and bb (short and long)
ku-ba
♫
(to be), ku-bba
♫
(to steal).
Single b is very soft, especially between vowels; double b is as in “ sub-basement.”
c and cc (short and long):
ku-caccaliza
♫
(to do prematurely).
Pronounced somewhat like the ch of “church,” though more palatal (the long sound does not occur in English).