Appendix:Kinuk'aaz pronunciation: Difference between revisions

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This appendix provides an overview of the phonology and romanization of the [[Kinuk'aaz language|Kinuk’aaz language]] spoken by the Omec. The language has undergone changes to its original form, with adjustments made to the phonetic inventory to make it more distinctive.  
{{LangBar|Kinuk'aaz|Defiance|Zaduusel}}
 
This appendix provides an overview of the phonology, phonotactics and romanization of the [[Kinuk'aaz language|Kinuk’aaz language]] spoken by the Omec. The language has undergone changes to its original form, with adjustments made to the phonetic inventory to make it more distinctive from the other Votan languages. The Kinuk'aaz language has 19 consonants, 16 vowels, and no glides.
 
==Standard Romanization==
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="5"
|-
! Letter
! IPA
! English example
! Notes
|-
| '''’'''
| ʔ
| —
| The sound in the middle of "uh-oh".
|-
| '''a'''
| a
| f'''a'''ther
|
|-
| '''b'''
| b
| '''b'''other
|
|-
| '''d'''
| d
| '''d'''og
|
|-
| '''dz'''
| dz
| a'''dz'''e
|
|-
| '''e'''
| e
| b'''ai'''t
|
|-
| '''g'''
| ɡ
| '''g'''ood
|
|-
| '''h'''
| h
| '''h'''am
|
|-
| '''i'''
| i, ɨ
| mach'''i'''ne, chick'''e'''n
|
|-
| '''k'''
| k
| s'''k'''ill
|
|-
| '''k’'''
| k’
| —
| Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.  
|-
| '''l'''
| l
| '''l'''eft
|
|-
| '''m'''
| m
| '''m'''an
|
|-
| '''n'''
| n
| '''n'''o
| Assimilates to a following velar or uvular consonant.
|-
| '''o'''
| o
| m'''oa'''t
|
|-
| '''ö'''
| ø
| —
| Like the '''ai''' in b'''ai'''t pronounced with rounded lips.
|-
| '''p'''
| p
| s'''p'''an
|
|-
| '''q'''
| q
| —
| Like a '''k''', but pronounced further back in the throat, with the back of the tongue contacting the uvula.
|-
| '''q’'''
| q’
| —
| Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
|-
| '''r'''
| ʀ
| —
| Pronounced roughly like the '''r''' in French '''rouge'''.
|-
| '''s'''
| s
| '''s'''ee
|
|-
| '''t'''
| t
| s'''t'''op
|
|-
| '''t’'''
| t’
| —
| Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
|-
| '''ts'''
| ts
| pi'''ts'''
|
|-
| '''ts’'''
| ts’
| —
| Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
|-
| '''u'''
| u
| r'''u'''de
|
|-
| '''ü'''
| y
| —
| Like the '''i''' in mach'''i'''ne pronounced with rounded lips.
|-
| '''v'''
| v
| '''v'''oice
|
|-
| '''z'''
| z
| '''z'''oo
|
|}
 
==Phonetics==


==Phonology==
===Consonants===
===Consonants===
The consonant inventory includes plain stops/affricates, glottal stops/affricates, fricatives, approximants, and nasals.
The consonant inventory includes plain stops/affricates, glottal stops/affricates, fricatives, approximants, and nasals.
Line 32: Line 189:
* Ejective stops and affricates become pulmonic (i.e. plain voiceless) word-finally.
* Ejective stops and affricates become pulmonic (i.e. plain voiceless) word-finally.
** For instance, the word for "language" is ''nuk’aaz'', derived from the word for "tongue" (''nuk'') with an augmentative suffix.
** For instance, the word for "language" is ''nuk’aaz'', derived from the word for "tongue" (''nuk'') with an augmentative suffix.
* The old vowel ''*u'' regularly changes to ''v''.
* The old vowel ''*u'' often changes to ''v'' when it occurs next to another vowel.
* Obstruents undergo progressive voicing assimilation, resulting in word-internal clusters such as ''*sd'' becoming ''zd''.
* Obstruents undergo progressive voicing assimilation, resulting in word-internal clusters such as ''*sd'' becoming ''zd''.
* Syllables can begin with a consonant followed by an approximant or ''v'' at most. Syllables can only end with a single consonant, with ''ts'', ''ts’'', and ''dz'' considered as single consonants.
* Syllables can begin with a consonant followed by an approximant or ''v'' at most. Syllables can only end with a single consonant, with ''ts'', ''ts’'', and ''dz'' considered as single consonants.
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** ''*ai'' > ''e''
** ''*ai'' > ''e''
** ''*ae'' > ''ai''
** ''*ae'' > ''ai''
** ''*ee'' > ''ii''
** ''*ee'', ''*ea'', ''*ei'', ''*üe'', ''*üi'', ''*üo'', ''*üö'', ''*ie'', ''*iü'' > ''ii''
** ''*uu'' > ''üü''
** ''*uu'', ''*uü'', ''*üu'', ''*ui'' (before a consonant), ''*öo'', ''*eo'', ''*eö'', ''*eü'', ''*iö'', ''*iu'' (before a consonant) > ''üü''
** ''*oo'' > ''uu''
** ''*oo'', ''*ou'' (before a consonant) > ''uu''
** *ou > uu (except at the end of a word, where it becomes ''ov'')
** ''*üa'', ''*io'' > ''üo''
* Consonants in Kinuk’aaz can occur as geminates (doubled consonants), and they undergo two types of mutation: N-mutation and V-mutation. Further details about these mutations will be discussed in the context of morphology, where their implications become clearer.
** ''*aö'', ''*aü'', ''*oe'', ''*oö'', ''*oi'' > ''oü''
** ''*öe'', ''*öi'' > ''öü''
* Consonants in Kinuk’aaz can occur as geminates (doubled consonants), and they undergo two types of mutation: N-mutation and V-mutation.
 
[[Category:Kinuk'aaz language|Pronunciation]]
[[Category:Pronunciation by language]]

Latest revision as of 11:48, 23 November 2023

Kinuk'aaz Language Navigation: Home, Phonology, Grammar, Vocabulary, Orthography, Dialogue

This appendix provides an overview of the phonology, phonotactics and romanization of the Kinuk’aaz language spoken by the Omec. The language has undergone changes to its original form, with adjustments made to the phonetic inventory to make it more distinctive from the other Votan languages. The Kinuk'aaz language has 19 consonants, 16 vowels, and no glides.

Standard Romanization

Letter IPA English example Notes
’ ʔ — The sound in the middle of "uh-oh".
a a father
b b bother
d d dog
dz dz adze
e e bait
g ɡ good
h h ham
i i, ɨ machine, chicken
k k skill
k’ k’ — Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
l l left
m m man
n n no Assimilates to a following velar or uvular consonant.
o o moat
ö ø — Like the ai in bait pronounced with rounded lips.
p p span
q q — Like a k, but pronounced further back in the throat, with the back of the tongue contacting the uvula.
q’ q’ — Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
r ʀ — Pronounced roughly like the r in French rouge.
s s see
t t stop
t’ t’ — Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
ts ts pits
ts’ ts’ — Produced by holding your breath at the same time as making the above sound.
u u rude
ü y — Like the i in machine pronounced with rounded lips.
v v voice
z z zoo

Phonetics

Consonants

The consonant inventory includes plain stops/affricates, glottal stops/affricates, fricatives, approximants, and nasals.

Plain Stops/Affricates: p/b, t/d, ts/dz, k/g
Glottal Stops/Affricates: t’, ts’, k’, q’, ʔ
Fricatives: v, s/z, h
Approximants: l, ʀ
Nasals: m, n, ŋ*, ɴ*

Note that the above sounds are represented using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and the romanization used with actors is mostly identical. [ʀ] is written as r, [ʔ] is represented by an apostrophe (’), and [ŋ] and [ɴ] are both written as n since they are predictable allophones of [n]. The limited phonemic inventory was deliberately chosen to differentiate Kinuk’aaz from other Votan languages, notably lacking any palatal sounds.

The most distinctive sounds in Kinuk’aaz are the ejectives and the trilled uvular r. The q’ sound is the rarest due to its difficulty for English speakers. Ejectives are voiceless obstruents pronounced while holding one's breath, giving them a distinct quality.

Vowels

The vowel inventory consists of high, mid, and low vowels, as well as diphthongs.

High: i/iː, y/yː, ɨ, u/uː
Mid: e, ø, o
Low: a/aː
Diphthongs: ia, ai, øy, oy

Long vowels are indicated by doubling the vowel symbol, and most vowels are represented by their corresponding IPA symbol in the romanization. However, [y] is written as ü, [ø] is written as ö, and [ɨ] is considered a predictable variant of i. The presence of front-rounded vowels and long vowels distinguishes Kinuk’aaz from other Votan languages.

Phonotactics

Here are some key points about Kinuk’aaz phonotactics:

  • Generally, the last syllable of a root is stressed, although verbs often exhibit penultimate or antepenultimate stress due to suffixation. Nouns usually have word-final stress, since they take fewer suffixes in general.
  • Voiced obstruents become voiceless word-finally and the preceding vowel is lengthened.
  • Ejective stops and affricates become pulmonic (i.e. plain voiceless) word-finally.
    • For instance, the word for "language" is nuk’aaz, derived from the word for "tongue" (nuk) with an augmentative suffix.
  • The old vowel *u often changes to v when it occurs next to another vowel.
  • Obstruents undergo progressive voicing assimilation, resulting in word-internal clusters such as *sd becoming zd.
  • Syllables can begin with a consonant followed by an approximant or v at most. Syllables can only end with a single consonant, with ts, ts’, and dz considered as single consonants.
  • High vowels lower to mid vowels after q’ and the old implosive consonants *b’ and *d’.
  • Some notable vowel changes:
    • *ai > e
    • *ae > ai
    • *ee, *ea, *ei, *üe, *üi, *üo, *üö, *ie, *iü > ii
    • *uu, *uü, *üu, *ui (before a consonant), *öo, *eo, *eö, *eü, *iö, *iu (before a consonant) > üü
    • *oo, *ou (before a consonant) > uu
    • *üa, *io > üo
    • *aö, *aü, *oe, *oö, *oi > oü
    • *öe, *öi > öü
  • Consonants in Kinuk’aaz can occur as geminates (doubled consonants), and they undergo two types of mutation: N-mutation and V-mutation.
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