Re: oh no, not Tech phonology again

One small addition:

>Vowels are a bit simpler.  Though there are up to twelve vowel sounds:
>
>i  y  i- u
>e  o/ @  o
>ae oe a  A
>
>there might be as few as two vowel PHONEMES.
I forgot to mention nasal and aspirated vowels.  Length does occur, but
mostly in cases of, say, /uw/ and /ij/.  Diphthongs, on the other hand, are
plentious; each vowel then is followed by /w/ or /j/.

Also, the occurence of *labiopalatized* consonants is no small controversy
among Techian linguists.  Also, "emphasis" ("backing" or
pharyngealization/velarization/uvularization) is found among some.

Fortunately, the two major dialects, Qotilian and Maou, have simplified
their consonant phonologies significantly, as in the 100-some-odd range.
And Highland Tech has scrapped all plain/aspirated/ejective variations,
replacing them with vowel tones! (Relatively, they became mid/high/low;
nasals and liquids mean low tone; fricatives create high tone.)

Still, that's a helluva lot of consonants.

Danny
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