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Phonology Help (Aramaic and Pashto)

From:Eamon Graham <robertg@...>
Date:Monday, November 18, 2002, 11:34
Dear Group Members,

For one of my many projects I'm attempting to create a phonology
based on Aramaic and Pashto (why?  Because I think they sound really
nice.)

I've had to piece together the phonological constraints myself
(mostly based on Aramaic and Modern Hebrew and dropping the more
ungodly Pashto consonant clusters).

The real fun is putting together the consonant inventory.  The
problem isn't so much Pashto but that I'm a real novice in Semitic
phonology.  Allow me to present the consonant inventory I've
developed so far, which attempts to mix or compromise Aramaic and
Pashto:

PLOSIVES:

Bilabial: p b
Dental: t d
Retroflex: t. d.
Velar: k g
Uvular: q
Glottal: ?

NASALS:

Bilabial: m
Dental: n
Retroflex: n.

TRILLS:

Dental: r

TAPS/FLAPS:

Retroflex: r.

FRICATIVES:

Labiodental: (loanwords only) f v (I may drop the v)
Alveolar: s z
Postalveolar: S Z
Velar: x Q
Glottal: h

AFFRICATES:

Alveolar: ts dz
Postalveolar: tS dZ

APPROXIMANTS:

Palatal: j

LATERAL APPROXIMANTS:

Dental: l

The main issue are the Aramaic emphatic consonants.  I'll be honest:
I'm not quite sure what they are or how they would fit in to such a
scheme.  Little help? :)

Any comments on the overall consonant system from those on the list
who know more about Aramaic and Pashto than myself?  Any glaring
holes or problems?

Cheers,
Eamon