Re: Phonemes

For Boreanesian, I concentrated on phonotactics (e.g., syllable
structure), and suprasegmental features (e.g., stress, tones,
phonation, nasality, vowel harmony, etc.) rather than the phonemes.
The phonotactic feature of Boreanesian for instance is centered
around what the language calls onset and offset morae with the
particular constriction that words must end in an offset mora.
Words are therefore composed of heavy syllables that are each
optionally preceded by minor syllables (parallel to Austro-Asiatic
languages like Khmer). As for the suprasegmental features, this
includes phonation and nasality. The result is a language with
something reminiscent of the Danish stød, and suprasegmental
nasality reminiscent of several South American natlangs.

Another advice is to have a look at several exotic langs (any good
university should have stocks of grammars in their library) and read
lots of books on phonetics and phonology. I have found that by
combining my knowledge of phonology with the inspiration from
looking at various grammars, I have been able to keep Boreanesian
quite unique phonologically yet still naturalistic.

-kristian- 8)