Re: Featural code based on the Latin alphabet

Peter Bleackley sikyal:

> As a featural code is the most unambiguous and flexible manner of
> representing pronunciation, and the Latin alphabet is universally available
> on a simple computer keyboard, it has occurred to me that the most logical
> writing system possible is to use the Latin alphabet as a featural code. I
> would therefore like to propose such a code.
This is a very interesting idea. I'll echo some others' comments and give
you extra things to think about.

First, is this meant to address all languages, or just ones that already
use the Latin alphabet? Because you're missing things like clicks,
ejectives, implosives, aspiration, etc.

Also, did you address the order that things must appear in?

> 1.3: Lateralisation
> l       indicates a lateral (since it both represents a laterals in its
> most    common uses, and is the initial letter of lateral).
A lateral is implicitly an approximant, so perhaps you should allow the
{w} to be ommited when writing a lateral sound. Then, {l} can stand for
/l/, with variants like {lk} for a velar lateral.

> 1.4: Voicing
> Consonants are by default voiceless. Voicing is indicated by
> v       since this is both a voiced consonant and the initial of voice.
I think that voice should be automatic on sonorants, with a special
"voiceless" mark used for the rare voiceless sonorant. How about {s} for
voicelessness (is that already taken?).


--
Jesse S. Bangs jaspax@u.washington.edu
http://students.washington.edu/jaspax/
http://students.washington.edu/jaspax/blog

Jesus asked them, "Who do you say that I am?"

And they answered, "You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground
of our being, the kerygma in which we find the ultimate meaning of our
interpersonal relationship."

And Jesus said, "What?"

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