Work in progress - Phonology

Seeing as I have a 3 month break between semesters (yay!), I though I might
as well get started with the conlanging I've been meaning to do for the past
goodness knows how many years.... (actually I once created a language when I
was about 13, but it was trés contrived and awkward - and very much based on
Latin, especially in lexicon).
So I have started at the beginning, and the beginning is the phonology.  Why
have I posted it to this list?  Well, seeing as you all seem like nice ppl,
I'm sure you wouldn't mind giving me comments/critiques/suggestions/etc....
And no, I'm not a lurker, seeing as I only started reading this list last
week.  And no, the reason I hadn't started reading this list sooner was
because of study.  And yes, 200 messages a day IS too much for a full time
student like me (or it was, anyway ;).

You may notice the voiceless nasals - in my opinion they are Cool (tm).  The
fact that only 4% of languages have them is beside the point :)  Also, if it
helps, the language has a (sortof) Elvish/Gaelic/Germanic feel to it, since
I feel like it.  Feelings are very important, don't you think?
Anyways, there is much to do, so here goes....


Consonants:

Bilabial Nasal:  m', m
            Stop:  p, b
Labiodental Fricative:  f, v
Dental Fricative:  T, D
Alveolar Nasal:  n', n
            Stop:  t, d
            Fricative:  s
            Approximant:  r', r
            Lateral:  l', l
Palato-alveolar Fricative:  s
Palatal Fricative:  ç, j
Velar Nasal:  N
            Stop:  k, g
            Fricative:  x
Labiovelar Approximant:  w', w
Glottal Fricative:  h

Note:  ' indicates the voiceless equivalent, e.g. m' indicates a voiceless
bilabial nasal (m)
Note:  T, D, N as in THink, THe, siNG respectively

The difference between w' and w is roughly the same as between WHich and
Witch.

We can romanize this by letting a post-h indicate devoicing, and applying
hyphens when there are abiguities, e.g.  mh indicates a voiceless m, but m-h
indicates a voiced m followed by h.
Also th, dh, ng indicate T, D, N respectively.
(I put this in only because I think the apostrophes and capitals look ugly
:)


Vowels:

Very close to the Norwegian system, with the inclusion of schwa.

i    close front unround
y    close front round
e    close-mid front unround
ø    close-mid front round
æ    open-mid front unround
a    open front unround
u    close back round
o    close-mid back round
å    open-mid back round
@    schwa

Note that æ is slightly more closed than the Norwegian equivalent.
I am not sure which dipthongs are possible yet, perhaps some suggestions?


Thankyou for listening to me :)
And for anyones information who might care in the slightest, I am an
Australian university student, have taken 1st yr Linguistics, and have a
infinite interest in linguistics and languages that has spanned many of my
few years on this strange planet.  I'm currently studying Computer Science
and Mathematics, though, seeing as I want to get my Science degree out of
the way.  Then again, CompSci, Math, and Linguistics complement each other
very well.... *grin*
And though it goes without saying, my favourite genre is Fantasy, and my
favourite Fantasy author is Tolkien.  Though Edding's The Redemption of
Althalus is the best book I've read in a long time....

John.


Schrödinger's Cat - Wanted Dead and Alive

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