Re: Refining Minza

Part 2 in the ongoing revision of Minza (phonology and writing)

Tentatively I've included the following phonemes in the new unified
version of Minza (which I'll refer to as "Minza A"):

p b       t d               k g           i  y  u
   m         n     ň     ń                 e  ø  o
             r                                a
       v   s z   š ž   ś ź   x
           ł l

The merger of /f/ with /x/ results in a few homophones (e.g. xraxi
"marshmallow" < xrafi, "mussel" < xraxi; xulva "soup" < fulġa, "louse" <
xulġa), but these can be reassigned.

One thing I'm wondering is if it's unusual to have a retroflex series
(which in this case I'm using /ň š ž/ to represent) without one or more
stops. Minza has affricates /tš/, /dž/, but these may be clusters. I
haven't decided whether to allow initial clusters like /ks/-.

The status of /r/ is uncertain. It's very likely that /l/ will have a
[4] allophone. In that case, many of the existing words containing /r/
may be changed to use /l/ or /ž/ (or possibly a retroflex lateral).

Velars /k g x/ have palatal or palatalized allophones next to front
vowels (or at least /i/). Actually, it's possible that all of /ń ś ź/
(palatal or alveolo-palatal sounds) might have velar allophones.

Syllable structure tends to be C(C)V(V)(C). Although examples of
word-final voiced stops do exist, I'm considering having final stops be
restricted to voiceless sounds. Initial clusters are limited to
affricates, combinations with -l-, -r-, or an initial fricative followed
by another consonant other than a fricative (with some restrictions,
e.g. a voiced fricative followed by a voiced stop does not occur).

Verb and adjective roots are almost all single syllables (such as kot-
"hold" or hieň- "breathe"), optionally with a single consonant beginning
the next syllable (e.g., lorn- "aim", sarg- "turn"). Noun roots are more
varied, although C(C)VC(C)V, CVVC, and CVCVC forms are common. Simple
CVC noun roots with formerly long vowels do exist, although many of
these are getting expanded to CVVC by changing the vowel to a diphthong.

Currently I don't have a specific alphabet for Minza; the romanization
is the only writing system that I use. But I've been considering a Minza
writing system, which might be based on one of my existing alphabets or
something new. Probably depending on how I end up assigning which world
(if any) Minza is used on.

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