Re: Kalini Sapak bits (or How to buse the letter "X" ...)

From: "Andreas Johansson" <and_yo@...>
> Now, I don't want to use any digraphs (esp as that's only 23 phonemes and
> the Latin alphabet 's got 26 letters). My current idea is "q" for /x/
> (Somali does this), "c" for /G/ (after-all, "c" is related to gamma ...)
> and, take a deep breath, "x" for /N/. I know this last is pretty
> counter-intuitive, but "x" is used for a bit of everything around the world,
> so why not a velar nasal? Also, pretty much everything else is already used.
> Anyone got any comments/ideas?
My "naturalization meter" (never very reliable at the best of times, but hey)
says:

          x - /G/
          q - /N/
          c - /x/

Reasoning:
- Although {c} is known for having multiple values the world over (k/s/tS/ts/C),
they're almost all unvoiced ones, so /G/ kind of grates.

- The {c} on its own can recall to mind the common {ch} digraph for /x/.

- I think there are natlangs that have {q} for /N/ (there are certainly conlangs
that do).

- Some langs use/d voiced letters to denote /x/ (like {gh} in English) so it's
only fair to turn the tables and use a normally voiceless letter like {x} qua
/x/ to represent /G/.  (Or use {j}, as someone else suggested.)

    *Muke!