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===Introduction===


Thulean is the sole surviving member of the Insular branch of the Hercynian language family. It has an estimated 33 million speakers. The language is agglutinative and polysynthetic with an active-stative morphosyntax of the fluid-S subtype. It is written using the Latin alphabet as is universal amongst Western European languages.


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===Phonology===


This is a short reminder of the language format policy.
A) PHONEME INVENTORY


I. Write a short piece stating your intents and purposes when creating the language (Design goal, inspiration, ideas, and so on).
1) CONSONANTS
II. Write a short introduction to your language. (Who speaks it? When was it created? By whom? or what? are some example questions that can be answered here)
III. Once done, try making sure everything is properly spelt so as to avoid unnecessary reader fatigue.


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NASAL:


==Introduction==
-fortis: /mb, nd, Ng/


===Description===
-lenis: /m, n, N/
The Thulean language (endonym: Migkatsi) has an agglutinative and polysynthetic morphology. Its morphosyntactic alignment is split intransitive with the fluid-S subtype. It is left-branching and double-marking. Thulean is a language isolate and has not been proven to belong to any established language family, even those of other thurse groups on the European mainland. The total number of speakers exceed 30 million.


===Background===
LIQUID:


Thurse is the collective name in English of the pygmy aboriginal groups of Europe. They are distinguished from the pygmies of the tropics by their striped epidermises. Thurse males and females are similar in stature and have an average height of between 135 to 140 cm. They are pale-skinned with dark stripes and have straight or wavy hair. Red hair is more common among Thurse tribes than any other ethnic group. The largest of the Thurse nations are the Selhar or Thuleans who occupy Thule (endonym: Telku) the northernmost of the British Isles. Their primary language is Thulean.
-fortis: /rd, ld/


===Influences===
-lenis: /r, l/


The phonology is inspired by Finnish and Quenya phonaesthetics. The morphology is heavily influenced by Yupik and Inuktitut.
PLOSIVE:


-->
-fortis: /pp, tt, kk/


<!-- ***Phonology*** -->
-lenis: /p, t, k/
<!-- What sounds does your language use? -->
<!-- Here are some example sub-/other categories:


Vowel inventory
FRICATIVE:
Consonant inventory
Syllable structure
Stress
Intonation


-->
-fortis: /ss, xx/


==Phonology==
-lenis: /s, x/
===Orthography===
1) Thulean is written with the Thulean alphabet. The Thulean government also endorses a romanised orthography for the purpose of transliterating Thulean proper names in foreign media. This is also increasingly used in foreign scholarly works on the language. These orthographies are as follows:


<!--a) Thulean:
APPROXIMANT: /v, D, j/


"o" = /p/
2) VOWELS


"oo" = /pp/
a) MONOPHTHONGS: /i, u, a/


"s" = /m/
b) DIPHTHONGS: /@U, OI, aI, aU/


"v" = /t/
B) ALLOPHONES


"vv" = /tt/
1) /N/ is realised as [g] in word-initial position and in onset position following a coda consonant.


"ʌ" = /s/
2) All fortis obstruents are realised as lenis plosives in intervocalic position.


"ʌʌ" = /ss/
3) All lenis plosives and /s/ are voiced in intervocalic position.


"u" =  /n/
4) /x/ is realised as [Z] in intervocalic position.


"n" = /r/
5) /D/ is realised as [T] in word-final position.


"x" = /ɬ/
6) /i, u/ are realised as [E, O] when preceding a liquid coda or fortis liquid.


"xx" = /ɬɬ/
7) /i, u/ are reslised as [E, O] when adjacent to /v, j/.


"z" = /l/
C) ORTHOGRAPHY


"ʎ" = /k/
"a" = /a/


"ʎʎ" = /kk/
"ai" = /aI/


"y" = /x/
"au" = /aU/


"yy" = /xx/
"g" = /N/


"h" = /ŋ/
"gg" = /Ng/


"ɥ" = /ɰ/
"h" = /x/


"d" = /j/
"hh" = /xx/


"p" = /w/
"i" = /i/
 
"a" = /i/
 
"e" = /u/
 
"ɔ" = /ɛ/
 
"c" = /ɑ/
 
b) Romanised:
 
"a" = /ɑ/
 
"e" = /ɛ/


"g" = /ŋ/
"iu" = /@U/
 
"h" = /ɰ/
 
"i" = /i/


"j" = /j/
"j" = /j/
Line 111: Line 84:


"l" = /l/
"l" = /l/
"ll" = /ld/


"m" = /m/
"m" = /m/
"mm" = /mb/


"n" = /n/
"n" = /n/
"nn" = /nd/


"p" = /p/
"p" = /p/
Line 120: Line 99:
"pp" = /pp/
"pp" = /pp/


"q" = /ɬ/
"q" = /D/


"qq" = /ɬɬ/
"r" = /r/


"r" = /r/
"rr" = /rd/


"s" = /s/
"s" = /s/
Line 136: Line 115:
"u" = /u/
"u" = /u/


"v" = /w/
"ui" = /OI/
 
"x" = /x/
 
"xx" = /x/-->
 
2) These orthographies are largely phonemic but indicate the effects of consonant gradation and sandhi. Each grapheme also includes all the allophones associated with the phoneme it represents. Thus, for example, the consonant cluster [mb] would be written "ss" or "mm".
 
===Consonants===
NASAL: /m, n/
 
PLOSIVE:
 
-Lenis: /p, t, k/
 
-Fortis: /b, d, g/
 
FRICATIVE:
 
-Lenis: /s, ɬ, x/
 
-Fortis: /z, ð, ʒ/
 
LIQUID: /r, l/
 
APPROXIMANT: /j, ɰ, w, h/
 
===Vowels===
HIGH: /i, u/
 
LOW: /ɛ, ɑ/
 
===Allophones===
1) /ŋ/ is realised as [g] in word-initial position and in onset position following a coda consonant.
 
2) Lenis plosives are aspirated in word-initial position.
 
3) /p, t, k, s/ are voiced in intervocalic position.
 
4) /ɬ/ is realised as [θ] in coda position and in onset position following a coda consonant.
 
5) /ɬ/ is realised as [ð] in intervocalic position.
 
6) /x/ is realised as [ʃ] in coda position.
 
7) /x/ is realised as [ʒ] in intervocalic position.
 
8) Fortis obstruents are realised as lenis obstruents in intervocalic position.
 
9) The geminate clusters /mm, nn, ŋŋ, rr, ll/ are realised as [mb, nd, ŋg, rd, ld].
 
10) The onset cluster /ŋj/ is realised as [dʒ] in word-initial position.
 
11) The onset clusters /tr, tl/ are realised as [tʂ, tɬ ].
 
12) The onset clusters /kj, kɰ, kw/ are realised as [tʃ, kx, kʍ].
 
===Prosody===
====Stress====
Thulean has stress accent. Primary stress falls within the root. Open syllables are light, closed syllables are heavy. Fortis obstruents or syllable onset clusters do not close the preceding syllable. If the first syllable of a root is heavy then the primary stress falls there otherwise it falls upon the second syllable of the root. In compound nouns, the primary stress falls within the second root.
 
====Intonation====
Secondary stress falls upon every alternate syllable after the primary stress. This gives Thulean a broadly iambic rhythm. Thulean does not have phonemic tone.
 
===Phonotactics===
<!-- Explain the consonant clusters and vowel clusters that are permissible for use in the language. For example, "st" is an allowed consonant cluster in English while onset "ng" isn't. -->
1) The maximal syllable in Thulean is CCVC.
 
2) Permitted syllable codas:
 
a) Morpheme-medial only: /ŋ, p/
 
b) Morpheme-medial and morpheme-final: /m, n, t, k, s, ɬ, x, r, l/
 
3) Fortis obstruents may not occur in word-initial position.
 
4) Fortis plosives may not occur in the onset of closed syllables.
 
5) Consonant clusters may have no more than two segments.
 
6) Consonant clusters may not occur in morpheme-final position.
 
7) Permitted syllable onset clusters: /ŋj, ŋɰ, ŋw, tr, tl, kj, kɰ, kw/. These consonant clusters are the only ones permitted to occur in prefix-initial or root-initial position.
 
8) Permitted syllable boundary clusters:
 
a) /m/ + /m, p/
 
b) /n/ + /n, t, s, ɬ/
 
c) /ŋ/ + /ŋ, k, x/
 
d) /p, t, k/ + /s/
 
e) /s/ + /p, t, k/
 
i) /ɬ/ + /p, t, k/
 
j) /x/ + /p, t, k/
 
k) /r/ + /m, n, ŋ, p, t, k, s, ɬ, x, r, j, ɰ, w/
 
l) /l/ + /m, n, ŋ, p, t, k, s, ɬ, x, l, j, ɰ, w/
 
8) With the exception of pronouns and some personal names, all roots are disyllabic.
 
10) All suffixes must begin with either a single consonant, a syllable onset cluster or a syllable boundary cluster.
 
11) Vowel clusters or diphthongs do not occur.
 
12) High vowels may not occur before a liquid coda.
 
13) /i/ may not occur after an onset of /j/.
 
14) /u/ may not occur after an onset of /w/.
 
===Morphophonology===
===Consonant Gradation===
 
1) If a syllable should be closed by suffixation and should it begin with a fortis plosive or a lenis plosive following a nasal, liquid or vowel then those plosives undergo lenition. This is usually referred to as consonant gradation.
 
2) The sequences of consonant gradation are as follows:
 
a) pp > p > w
 
b) tt > t > r
 
c) kk > k > ɰ
 
d) mp > mb
 
e) nt > nd
 
f) ŋk > ŋg
 
g) rp > rw
 
h) rt > rd
 
i) rk > rɰ
 
j) lp > lw
 
k) lt > ld
 
l) lk > lɰ
 
3) Consonant gradation occurs after metathesis from sandhi.
 
===Sandhi===
1) If a triconsonantal cluster should result from affixation then the first segment of the forbidden cluster is deleted.
 
2) Other forbidden clusters resulting from affixation are treated as follows:
 
i) /m/ + /n, ŋ/ > [nd, ŋg]
 
ii) /m/ + /t, k/ > [nt, ŋk]
 
iii) /m/ + /s, ɬ, x/ > [ns, nθ, ŋx]
 
iv) /m/ + /r, l/ > [rd, ld]
 
v) /m/ + /j, ɰ, w/ > [ŋj, ŋɰ, ŋw]
 
vi) /n/ + /m, ŋ/ > [mb, ŋg]
 
vii) /n/ + /p, k/ > [mp, ŋk]
 
viii) /n/ + /x/ > [ŋx]
 
ix) /n/ + /r, l/ > [rd, ld]
 
x) /n/ + /j, ɰ, w/ > [ŋj, ŋɰ, ŋw]
 
xi) /t/ + /m, n, ŋ/ > [nt, nt, nt]
 
xii) /t/ + /p, k] > [pp, kk]
 
xiii) /t/ + /ɬ x/ > [θt, ʃt]
 
xiv) /t/ + /j, ɰ, w/ > [tʃ, kx, kʍ]
 
xv) /k/ + /m, n, ŋ/ > [ŋk, ŋk, ŋk]
 
xvi) /k/ + /p, t/ > [pp, tt]
 
xvii) /k/ + /ɬ, x/ > [θk, ʃk]
 
xviii) /k/ + /r, l/ > [tʂ, tɬ]
 
xix)  /s/ + /m, n, ŋ/ > [ns, ns, ns]
 
xx) /s/ + /ɬ, x/ > [ɬɬ, xx]
 
xxi) /s/ + /r, l/ > [rs, ls]
 
xxii) /s/ + /j, ɰ, w/ > [ss, ss, ss]
 
xxiii) /ɬ/ + /m, n, ŋ/ > [nθ, nθ, nθ]
 
xxiv) /ɬ/ + /s, x/ > [ss, xx]
 
xxv) /ɬ/ + /r, l/ > [rθ, lθ]
 
xxvi) /ɬ/ + /j, ɰ, w/ > [ɬɬ, ɬɬ, ɬɬ]
 
xxvii) /x/ + /m, n, ŋ/ > [ŋx, ŋx, ŋx]
 
xxviii) /x/ + /s, ɬ/ > [ss, ɬɬ]
 
xxix) /x/ + /r, l/ > [rx, lx]
 
xxx) /x/ + /j, ɰ, w/ > [xx, xx, xx]
 
xxxi) /r/ + /l/ > [ld]
 
xxxii) /l/ + /r/ > [rd]
 
5) Two identical lenis obstruents fuse to create a fortis obstruent eg: /p/ + /p/ > /pp/, /s/ + /s/ > /ss/.
 
6) If a vowel cluster should result from prefixation then an epenthetic /ɰ/ is inserted after the first vocalic segment to break up the cluster.
 
7) If owing to suffixation a high vowel should precede a liquid coda then it is lowered to its corresponding low vowel.
 
===Sandhi table===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 660px; text-align:center;"
!
! p
! t
! k
! s
! ɬ
! x
! m
! n
!ŋ
! r
! l
! ɰ
! j
! w
|-
| t || rowspan ="2"|p || rowspan ="2"|t || rowspan ="2"|k|| st || θt || ʃt || colspan="3" | nt || rowspan="2"| tʂ || rowspan ="2" |tɬ || rowspan=2 | kx || rowspan="2" | tʃ || rowspan ="2" | kʍ
|-
| k || sk || θk || ʃk || colspan = "3" | ŋk
|-
| s || sp || st || sk || rowspan = "3" | s || rowspan = "3" | ɬ || rowspan = "3" | x || colspan = "3" | ns || rs || ls || colspan="3" | ss
|-
| ɬ || θp || θt || θk || colspan = "3" | nθ || rθ || lθ || colspan = "3" | ɬɬ
|-
| x || ʃp || ʃt || ʃk || colspan = "3" | ŋx || rx || lx || colspan = "3" | xx
|-
| m || rowspan="2" | mp || rowspan="2" | nt || rowspan="2" | ŋk || rowspan="2" | ns || rowspan="2" | nθ || rowspan="2" | ŋx || rowspan="2" | mb || rowspan="2" | nd || rowspan="2" | ŋg || rowspan="4" | rd || rowspan="4" | ld || rowspan="2" | ŋɰ || rowspan="2" | ŋj || rowspan="2" | ŋw
|-
| n
|-
| r || rp || rt || rk || rs || rθ || rx || rm || rn || rŋ || rɰ || rj || rw
|-
| l || lp || lt || lk || ls || lθ || lx || lm || ln || lŋ || lɰ || lj || lw
|}
 
==Morphology==
<!-- How do the words in your language look? How do you derive words from others? Do you have cases? Are verbs inflected? Do nouns differ from adjectives? Do adjectives differ from verbs? Etc. -->
 
<!-- Here are some example subcategories:
 
Nouns
Adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs
Particles
Derivational morphology
 
-->
 
===General Notes===
 
Thulean morphology has the following constituents:
 
1) Roots: these are divided into nominal and verbal roots. The latter are divided into transitive and intransitive categories.
 
2) Postbases: these are derivational or adjunctival suffixes which directly follow the root. They are scope-ordered.
 
3) Inflectional affixes: these bear functions such as case, number, possession, agent, patient, tense amongst others. The usual bread and butter, nuts and bolts stuff that inflection does.
 
4) Particles: Conjunctions, interjections and other miscellany that do not fit into the above categories.
 
===Nominal Morphology===
===Nominal Structure===
1) Noun template:
 
case prefix + nominal or verbal root + postbase(s) + number suffix + possessive suffix or indefinite suffix + demonstrative suffix
 
2) A minimally inflected noun has a case prefix and a number suffix.
 
===Cases===
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg"
|+ '''Nominal Case Declension'''
|-
! Case
! Prefix
! Function
! Examples
|-
!Absolutive
| Ø-
|
*Marks the nominal citation form
*Marks the O argument of a transitive verb
*Marks the stative S argument of an intransitive verb
*Marks the recipient of a ditransitive verb
|
|-
! Ergative
|a-
|
*Marks the A argument of a transitive verb
*Marks the active S argument of an intransitive verb
*Marks the possessor of a possessive noun phrase
|
|-
! Instrumental
|ki-
|
*Indicates the use of an instrument or tool
*Marks the the focus of an intransitive verb of perception, cognition or affection of stative S arguments
*Marks direct causation
*Marks the theme of a ditransitive verb
|
|-
! Locative
|jet-
|
*Indicates location or place
*Indicates time, event, or occasion
*Marks the locative comitative
*Marks the verbal infinitive in periphrastic constructions
|
|- 
! Allative
|nu-
|
*Marks the focus of an intransitive verb of perception, cognition or affection of active S arguments
*Encodes spatial and temporaral relations in conjunction with terminative markers (e.g. up to, until, as far as)
*Encodes benefactive case relations
|
|-
! Ablative
| pik-
|
*Indicates origin
*Indicates motion away from
*Indicates distance from a reference point
*Indicates time since an event occurred
*Marks the focus of intransitive malefactive/adversarial verbs
*Encodes aversive case relations (for fear of, lest, in case of)
|
|- 
! Perlative
| me-
|
*Indicates motion through, across or along
*Indicates duration
*Indicates path, means or mode of transport or transmission
*Marks the instrumental or collaborative comitative
*Marks indirection causation
|
|-
! Equative
| sin-
|
*Indicates similarity in manner or likeness
*Indicates composition
*Encodes comparative marking (as, than)
*Serves as a topicalizer (e.g. regarding, concerning, about, as for)
|
|}
 
<!--
1) Case prefixes:
 
ABS(olutive): Ø-
 
NOM(inative): a-
 
INST(rumental): ki-
 
LOC(ative): jet-
 
ALL(ative): nu-
 
ABL(ative): pik-
 
PER(lative): me-
 
EQU(ative): sin-
 
 
2) Case Functions:
 
a) Absolutive Case:
 
i) Marks the citation form of a noun.
 
ii) Marks the O argument of a transitive verb.
 
iii) Marks the stative S argument of an intransitive verb.
 
iv) Marks the recipient of a ditransitive verb.
 
b) Nominative Case:
 
i) Marks the A argument of a transitive verb.
 
ii) Marks the active S argument of an intransitive verb.
 
iii) Marks the possessor of a possessive noun phrase
 
c) Instrumental Case:
 
i) Marks the use of an instrument or tool.
 
ii) Marks the the focus of an intransitive verb of perception, cognition or affection if the S argument is stative.
 
iii) Marks direct causation.
 
iv) Marks the theme of a ditransitive verb.
 
d) Locative Case:
 
i) Marks location or place.
 
ii) Marks occasion, time or event.
 
iii) Marks the locative comitative.
 
iv) Marks the infinite form of the verb in periphrastic constructions.
 
e) Allative Case:
 
i)Marks destination or motion towards.
 
ii) Marks the focus of an intransitive verb of an intransitive verb of perception, cognition or affection if the S argument is active.
 
iii) Marks terminative relations (up to, until, as far as) spatially and temporarally.
 
iv) Marks benefactive relations (for, on behalf of).
 
f) Ablative Case:
 
i) Marks origin or motion away from.
 
ii) Marks distance from, time since.


iii) Marks the focus of intransitive verbs of opposition or repulsion.
"v" = /v/


iv) Marks aversive functions (for fear of, lest, in case of).
Historical note: /D/ was originally written with "þ". However, when printing was introduced to Thule, no type was available for that letter so "q" was substituted instead.


g) Perlative Case:
The spelling of Thulean is generally phonemic except that the effects of consonant gradation and sandhi are indicated.


i) Marks motion through, across or along.
D) PROSODY


ii) Marks duration.
Thulean has fixed initial primary stress. Secondary stress falls on every alternate syllable following the primary stress. Rhythm type is trochaic.


iii) Marks path, means or mode of transport or transmission.
E) PHONOTACTICS


iv) Marks the instrumental or collaborative comitative.
1) The syllable template is (C)V(C).


v) Marks indirection causation.
2) Consonant clusters only occur at syllable boundaries.


h) Equative Case:
3) Permitted consonant clusters:


i) Marks similarity in manner, likeness or composition.
a) /m/ + /p/


ii) Marks comparative functions (as, than).
b) /n/ + /t, s/


iii) Marks topical functions (re, regarding, concerning, about, as for).
c) /N/ + /k, x/
-->


===Number===
d) /r/ + /m, N, p, t, k, s, x, v, j/
1) For the purposes of number, Thulean nouns are divided into count nouns and mass nouns.


2) For count nouns there are two systems of number:
e) /l/ + /m, N, p, t, k, s, x, v, j/


a) singular-plural
f) /p, t, k/ + /s/


b) collective-singulative
g) /s/ + /p, t, k/


3) The singular-plural system works as it does in most European languages, the singular form of the noun is default and marks a single instance of that noun. The plural form marks multiple instances of that noun. Eg:
4) Permitted word-final codas: /m, n, t, k, s, D/


SG: kattu = cat
5) Vowels in hiatus do not occur.


PL: katar = cats
6) Diphthongs may not occur in a closed syllable, before a fortis consonant or before /P, j/.


4) With the collective-singulative system the collective form of the noun is default and marks multiple instances of that noun. The singulative form marks a single instance of that noun. Collective nouns usually indicate entities that are found in groups. Eg:
F) SANDHI


COL: makku = pigs
1) Sandhi occurs at morpheme boundaries as a result of suffixation.


SGV: makan = pig
2) The resulting sandhi transformations are as follows:


5) Mass nouns are considered to be pluralia tanta and thus use the collective-singulative system. The collective form indicates a lump or mass and the singulative form indicates a part of that lump or mass. Eg:
a) /m, n, N/ + /m, n, N/ > [mb, nd, Ng]


COL: ninta = water
b) /m, n, N/ + /r/ > [rd, rd, rd]


SGV: ninnan = a drop or sip of water
c) /m, n, N/ + /l/ > [ld, ld, ld]


6) Number suffixes:
d) /m, n, N/ + /v, D, j/ > [mb, nd, Ng]


a) After vowel:
e) /m, N/ + /t, s/ > [nt, ns]


PL: -r
f) /m, n/ + /k, x/ > [Nk, Nx]


SGV: -n
g) /n, N/ + /p/ > [mp]


b) After consonant or before suffix:
h) /r, l/ + /n/ > [nd]


PL: -ra
i) /r, l/ + /r, l/ > [rd, ld]


SGV: -ne
j) /r, l/ + /D/ > [rd, ld]


===Possession===
k) /p, t, k/ + /p, t, k/ > [pp, tt, kk]
1) Pronominal Possession:


This is indicated by the following set of suffixes:
l) /p, t, k, s/ + /v/ > [ps, ts, ks, ss]


1SG: -nne
m) /p, t, k, s/ + /D/ > [ps, ts, ks, ss]


2SG: -gke
n) /p, t, k, s/ + /j/ > [ps, ts, ks, ss]


3SG ANIM: -nte
G) CONSONANT GRADATION


3SG INAN: -mme
1) This process affects fortis consonants and lenis plosives following a nasal, liquid or vowel.


4SG ANIM: -lle
2) It is triggered if the consonants in question form the onset of a closed syllable due to suffixation.


4SG INAN: -ghe
3) The gradation sequences are as follows:


1PL EXCL: -gka
a) /mp/ > /mb/ > /m/


1PL INCL: -ppa
b) /nt/ > /nd/ > /n/


2PL: -kka
c) /Nk/ > /Ng/ > /N/


3PL ANIM: -tta
d) /rp/ > /rP/


3PL INAN: -mma
e) /rt/ > /rd/ > /r/


4PL ANIM: -tla
f) /rk/ > /rj/


4PL INAN: -kha
g) /lp/ > /lP/


2) Nominal Possession:
h) /lt/ > /ld/ > /ll/


This is indicated by the following construction:
i) /lk/ > /lj/


NOM + possessor possessum + pronominal possessive suffix eg:
j) /pp/ > /p/ > /P/


akimex katunte = the woman's cat
k) /tt/ > /t/ > /D/


===The Indefinite===
l) /kk/ > /k/ > /j/


==Syntax==
m) /ss/ > /s/
===Constituent order===
===Noun phrase===
===Verb phrase===
===Sentence phrase===
===Dependent clauses===
<!-- etc. etc. -->


==Example texts==
n) /xx/ > /x/
==Other resources==
<!-- Example: Word order, qualifiers, determinatives, branching, etc. -->


<!-- Template area -->




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Latest revision as of 14:07, 6 June 2017

Introduction

Thulean is the sole surviving member of the Insular branch of the Hercynian language family. It has an estimated 33 million speakers. The language is agglutinative and polysynthetic with an active-stative morphosyntax of the fluid-S subtype. It is written using the Latin alphabet as is universal amongst Western European languages.

Phonology

A) PHONEME INVENTORY

1) CONSONANTS

NASAL:

-fortis: /mb, nd, Ng/

-lenis: /m, n, N/

LIQUID:

-fortis: /rd, ld/

-lenis: /r, l/

PLOSIVE:

-fortis: /pp, tt, kk/

-lenis: /p, t, k/

FRICATIVE:

-fortis: /ss, xx/

-lenis: /s, x/

APPROXIMANT: /v, D, j/

2) VOWELS

a) MONOPHTHONGS: /i, u, a/

b) DIPHTHONGS: /@U, OI, aI, aU/

B) ALLOPHONES

1) /N/ is realised as [g] in word-initial position and in onset position following a coda consonant.

2) All fortis obstruents are realised as lenis plosives in intervocalic position.

3) All lenis plosives and /s/ are voiced in intervocalic position.

4) /x/ is realised as [Z] in intervocalic position.

5) /D/ is realised as [T] in word-final position.

6) /i, u/ are realised as [E, O] when preceding a liquid coda or fortis liquid.

7) /i, u/ are reslised as [E, O] when adjacent to /v, j/.

C) ORTHOGRAPHY

"a" = /a/

"ai" = /aI/

"au" = /aU/

"g" = /N/

"gg" = /Ng/

"h" = /x/

"hh" = /xx/

"i" = /i/

"iu" = /@U/

"j" = /j/

"k" = /k/

"kk" = /kk/

"l" = /l/

"ll" = /ld/

"m" = /m/

"mm" = /mb/

"n" = /n/

"nn" = /nd/

"p" = /p/

"pp" = /pp/

"q" = /D/

"r" = /r/

"rr" = /rd/

"s" = /s/

"ss" = /ss/

"t" = /t/

"tt" = /tt/

"u" = /u/

"ui" = /OI/

"v" = /v/

Historical note: /D/ was originally written with "þ". However, when printing was introduced to Thule, no type was available for that letter so "q" was substituted instead.

The spelling of Thulean is generally phonemic except that the effects of consonant gradation and sandhi are indicated.

D) PROSODY

Thulean has fixed initial primary stress. Secondary stress falls on every alternate syllable following the primary stress. Rhythm type is trochaic.

E) PHONOTACTICS

1) The syllable template is (C)V(C).

2) Consonant clusters only occur at syllable boundaries.

3) Permitted consonant clusters:

a) /m/ + /p/

b) /n/ + /t, s/

c) /N/ + /k, x/

d) /r/ + /m, N, p, t, k, s, x, v, j/

e) /l/ + /m, N, p, t, k, s, x, v, j/

f) /p, t, k/ + /s/

g) /s/ + /p, t, k/

4) Permitted word-final codas: /m, n, t, k, s, D/

5) Vowels in hiatus do not occur.

6) Diphthongs may not occur in a closed syllable, before a fortis consonant or before /P, j/.

F) SANDHI

1) Sandhi occurs at morpheme boundaries as a result of suffixation.

2) The resulting sandhi transformations are as follows:

a) /m, n, N/ + /m, n, N/ > [mb, nd, Ng]

b) /m, n, N/ + /r/ > [rd, rd, rd]

c) /m, n, N/ + /l/ > [ld, ld, ld]

d) /m, n, N/ + /v, D, j/ > [mb, nd, Ng]

e) /m, N/ + /t, s/ > [nt, ns]

f) /m, n/ + /k, x/ > [Nk, Nx]

g) /n, N/ + /p/ > [mp]

h) /r, l/ + /n/ > [nd]

i) /r, l/ + /r, l/ > [rd, ld]

j) /r, l/ + /D/ > [rd, ld]

k) /p, t, k/ + /p, t, k/ > [pp, tt, kk]

l) /p, t, k, s/ + /v/ > [ps, ts, ks, ss]

m) /p, t, k, s/ + /D/ > [ps, ts, ks, ss]

n) /p, t, k, s/ + /j/ > [ps, ts, ks, ss]

G) CONSONANT GRADATION

1) This process affects fortis consonants and lenis plosives following a nasal, liquid or vowel.

2) It is triggered if the consonants in question form the onset of a closed syllable due to suffixation.

3) The gradation sequences are as follows:

a) /mp/ > /mb/ > /m/

b) /nt/ > /nd/ > /n/

c) /Nk/ > /Ng/ > /N/

d) /rp/ > /rP/

e) /rt/ > /rd/ > /r/

f) /rk/ > /rj/

g) /lp/ > /lP/

h) /lt/ > /ld/ > /ll/

i) /lk/ > /lj/

j) /pp/ > /p/ > /P/

k) /tt/ > /t/ > /D/

l) /kk/ > /k/ > /j/

m) /ss/ > /s/

n) /xx/ > /x/

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