Re: Common Orcish Article (Long) - was Re: tolkien?

Quoting Ray Brown <ray.brown@...>:

> >        Orcs are always shown with protruding fangs, a physical feature
> > which
> > definitely limits the sounds they can make.  Many subtle sounds that
> > require a
> > completely closed mouth to produce will be unknown to orcs, because their
> > fangs literally get in the way.  Their harsh, savage nature will further
> > lead
> > orcs to use mostly harsh, guttural sounds.  Therefore, the only consonant
> > sounds
> > in the language are D, G, J, K, N, R, T, and Z.
>
> I don't notice any 'guttural' sounds there, unless R is uvular.
Velar stops sometimes appear to be considered "guttural". And the do make up
25% of the inventory! Now, I rather suspect the guy in question has quite hazy
ideas on what "guttural" means at all.

> Mr Heaton also hasn't explained why Orcs are, apparently, able to produce
> voiceless equivalents of D and G, but not, apparently, of J (which I
> assume is
> /dZ/) and Z.  Why?
As human languages are concerned, the opposite arrangement seems to be alot
more common; voiceless frics and affricates, but no (phonemically) voiced
ones. Could be interpreted as a consciously non-human trait.

But that there are no phonemic [s] and [tS] in the language certainly
shouldn't be interpreted that the Orcs can't pronounce such sound; I can make
a few sounds that aren't phonemic in any language I can speak!

Now, oughtn't logic imply that Orcs should speak an orcslang? Dread the coming
of Orcspiranto, which is reputed to be heavy on voiceless spirants! [x:::::]!

                                                              Andreas

                                                        Andreas

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