Saxuma

From Linguifex
Revision as of 03:59, 22 September 2024 by Anisette Biscotti (talk | contribs) (→‎Vowels)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Introduction

Saxuma ([sa.ɕùˈmá], also romanized Sasiouma, historically known as Saras Wima ['sa.ras wi'ma]) is a language isolate spoken by approximately 5000 speakers on the western Mediterranean island of Sasaois. It is notable for its split ergative alignment, flexible word order, and dynamic semantic gender.

Almost all residents of Sasaios speak Greek and English, but there is a strong movement to protect the cultural heritage of the language, with poetry, novels, and music produced in Saxuma, as well as dubbings of many foreign movies and television into the language.

Phonology

Consonants

Consonant Inventory
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n (ɲ) (ŋ)
Plosive Voiceless p t c k <q> ʔ
Voiced b d g
Fricative Voiceless <ff> (ɸ) s⁓t͡s <x> ɕ <h> x⁓h <f> hʷ
Voiced v⁓β z⁓d͡z <j> ʑ⁓d͡ʑ
Approximant Voiceless (ʍ)
Voiced w l <y> j

Vowels

Vowel Inventory
Front Central Back
High i iː u uː
Mid ɛ~e eː o oː
Low ä äː
Diphthongs colspan="2" ai, oi, eo, ɑo

Other resources

~