Re: Gnumin Phonology Sketch

Justin Mansfield sikayal:

> > VOWELS
> >
> > Vowels are quite simple.  There are only three qualities [i u a],
> which
> > also occur long [i: u: a:].  The short vowels might wind up being
> somewhat
> > laxed, to [I U @], though I'm not sure about that yet.
> > [snip]
>
> It seems to me that a language wiht that many consonants and that few
> vowels would very likely reinforce consonant phonemes with allophonic
> vowel alternation. By way of example, I've often heard it said (and it's
> been my experience) that you can recognize an Arabic emphatic consonant
> more by the pronunciation of the adjacent vowels than by the consoant
> itself!
This is a great idea.  I'll have to work it out some, but the first things
that come to mind are devoicing of vowels following aspirated stops,
breathy voicing following murmured stops, and perhaps some centralization
following the ejectives . . . I'll have to work it out more, but since
this language is still in its infancy I have lots of room to play.


Jesse S. Bangs jaspax@u.washington.edu

"If you look at a thing nine hundred and ninety-nine times, you are
perfectly safe; if you look at it the thousandth time, you are in
frightful danger of seeing it for the first time."
--G.K. Chesterton