Re: Phonemes

Hi, Dave,

Carlos' advice is very good.   Let me add my own two cents worth.   Another
way to make a decidedly non-Englishy phonology is keep it simple.   For
instance, a strict CV syllable structure will make some exotic words indeed
if your actual native language (English, for instance) permits a lot of
clusters.

Other exotic sounds include clicks.   The sound that equestrians use to get
their horses going can be a consonant, as can the sound often transcribed as
"tsk" in cartoon captions.   Even a quick audible pucker can be a consonant.

Consider using phonemic tone;   a high tone and a low tone would give you a
simple system.   Having most of your words at least two syllables long could
allow you to make four words out of the same CVCV combinations.
CVhighCVhigh  CVhighCVlow CVlowCVhigh CVlowCVlow.

Onward and upward,

Jim


Dave Mezynski wrote:

> I'm new at this...all apologies if this has been hashed to death.
>
> The advice I have suggests trying to make up new sounds to create a
> language.  This way, it says, you can avoid making too "Englishy".
>
> I've tried using the charts of nasals, fricatives, dentals, etc and making
> new sounds but they all end up sounding like L's or F's.  How did you guys
> start the ball rolling?
Well... try an Englishy pronunciation and make some changes, like avoiding
diphtongs and schwas, pronouncing all <t>'s as in _stop_ (no aspiration: no
puff of air after the /t/).

Then try to add new sounds: try different points of articulations like
palatal: try saying "yes" without voicing <y> and you get someting like /ç/,
try then making it plosive by moving your tongue upper till it closes the
air flux.  Or the uvulars by pronuncing a <k> the backest you can.

> Thank you for your help and a very entertaining listserv.
>
> Dave
-- Carlos Th