Re: Infered Vowels?

le mar 09-07-2002 à 04:49, Jake X a écrit :
> >From: Abrigon Gusiq <abrigon@...>
> >Reply-To: Constructed Languages List <CONLANG@...>
> >To: CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU
> >Subject: Infered Vowels?
> >Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2002 05:18:11 -0800
> >
> >I believe their is some lingos where the vowels are infered. Namely you
> >go from a consonant, to another consonant, and you feel there is
> >something there.. Or that you don't need to write the vowel, cause you
> >know the vowel is there, just you don't have to write it down?
> Well, the only lang like that I know is hebrew, though I'm sure there are
> others.
I think, more generally, that this is a typical feature of semitic
languages. Arabic is famous for that : vowels are often not written down
(except I think in Coran and maybe newspapers) : they can be deduced
from the consonantal root pattern, as word formation is rather regular.
It is the same thing for hieroglyphic egyptian : hieroglyphs were also
used to write sounds, but only consontants e.g. "r" = mouth. The
pronunciation /ro/ had to be deduced. Now, it is with the help of coptic
language.