Splitting Syllables
From: | Matthew Kehrt <matrix14@...> |
Date: | Tuesday, July 31, 2001, 23:46 |
This has been rattling around in my head for a bit.
In Eviendadhail, syllables are very important. The alphabet, such as it
is, is almost a syllabary. Meter is based on syllables. However,
Proto-Eviendadhail (which doesn't exist as more than a collection of
roots) does not specify syllables in roots. Thus, I have AR, the root
for 'red', beget "Äir" ( = fire) and "Är" ( = blood). The first is two
syllables and the second, one. However, this seems weird to me. Of
especial confusion is the two words "Nel" ( = child) and "Ênlê" ( =
small). Both come from the PE root, NL, "small". However, the two <l>s
are actually different phonemes, one being an initial sound and the
other a final. Does anyone know of any natlangs in which roots get
split between syllables? Also, I know my root system isn't very
scientific. Does anyone have any better ideas?
-M
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