Constructive Criticism Appreciated: Vowels

I'll start out saying I plan to post just about
everything about Tlilarese as I design it. It's my fav
project right now, and I can't help sharing the
creative process.
  Probably one of the odder features of the present
Tlilarese phonology, other than having both pharyngeal
and epiglottal fricatives, is that it distinguishes
creaky-voiced vowels from modal vowels. I would say
this is a segmental feature, except most consonants
are voiceless. I'm not sure how many natlangs have
distinct creaky vowels along with ejective consonants,
bu I'm sure Tlilarese is not unique in this.
The vowels are:
e like english "bed", close-mid front unrounded
i like english "bid", close front unrounded
o somewhat like english "pot", close-mid back rounded
u somewhat like english "put" (not "but"), close back

  rounded
2 like french "peu", close-mid front rounded
y like french "lune", close front rounded
e^ same as e with creaky-voice
i^ same as i " "
o^ same as o " "
u^ same as u " "
2^ same as 2 " "
y^ same as y " "

The vowels e o 2 e^ o^ 2^ are a bit more open in open
syllables and when short. All vowels may be either
long or short. When long they are also tense.
Pharyngealized consonants, the uvulars, pharyngeals,
and epiglottals, and l, lh and lh' all flatten
adjacent vowels, especially following vowels. Thus,
the front close vowels become central vowels, with the
mid-close vowels also becoming open. u and u^ sound
more like o and o^, and o and o^ take on qualities
almost like the vowel in english "hawk". The mid-close
vowels are not as centralized as the close ones when
flattened, but are more open. The front vowels also
centralize following a palatal glide, but maintain
degree of closure.
 It occurs to me to use j instead of y for the
consonant, to avoid ambiguity with the X-sampa symbol.
 Right now, I'm practising smoothly transitioning from
a "strident" phonation to a creaky one. If I get it
down, I may add the "strident" consonants. Let me know
what you all think. Thank you,
                              Travis






		
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