Wistanian: Difference between revisions
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==Phonology== | ==Phonology== | ||
===Consonants=== | ===Inventory=== | ||
====Consonants==== | |||
[[File:WistanianZoratinFlower gold.png|thumb|right|The Wistanian symbol of peace, modelled after the ''zoraddin'' flower.]] | [[File:WistanianZoratinFlower gold.png|thumb|right|The Wistanian symbol of peace, modelled after the ''zoraddin'' flower.]] | ||
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# /r/ is spoken in emphasized or slow speech, while /ɾ/ is spoken in quick speech. In some words, the trilled is preferred even in quick speech; for example, '''''ggarauni''''' (large) is almost always pronounced [kəˈrɑni]. | # /r/ is spoken in emphasized or slow speech, while /ɾ/ is spoken in quick speech. In some words, the trilled is preferred even in quick speech; for example, '''''ggarauni''''' (large) is almost always pronounced [kəˈrɑni]. | ||
===Vowels=== | ====Vowels==== | ||
The vowels are as follows (allophones in [brackets]): | The vowels are as follows (allophones in [brackets]): | ||
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===Phonotactics=== | ===Phonotactics=== | ||
====Syllable Structure==== | |||
===Stress=== | Syllables take on a (C/FA)V(N) structure where C represents any consonant, FA represents a fricative followed by an approximate, and N represents any consonant that is not /j/, /w/, or /ɦ/. The last consonant in a syllable should not equal the first consonant in the next syllable, and neighboring vowels are always separated with /ɦ/, except for /i/ and /ə/, which are separated with /j/. | ||
====Stress==== | |||
Stress usually falls on the first non-lax vowel (/ai̯/, /i/, /e/, /a/, /ɯ/, or /ɑ/). But there are many exceptions, especially where the vowels /i/ and /a/ come into place since you must know whether or not those sounds are the stressed /i/ or /a/ or the lax [ɪ] or [ə]. A prime example is between the words '''''viman''''' and '''''viman''''', which are spelled identically. When stress is on the /i/ as in [ˈvimən], the word means “sugar”, but when stress is on the /a/ as in [vɪˈman], the word means “sky.” Stress is realized through vowel lengthening and sometimes a higher intonation. | Stress usually falls on the first non-lax vowel (/ai̯/, /i/, /e/, /a/, /ɯ/, or /ɑ/). But there are many exceptions, especially where the vowels /i/ and /a/ come into place since you must know whether or not those sounds are the stressed /i/ or /a/ or the lax [ɪ] or [ə]. A prime example is between the words '''''viman''''' and '''''viman''''', which are spelled identically. When stress is on the /i/ as in [ˈvimən], the word means “sugar”, but when stress is on the /a/ as in [vɪˈman], the word means “sky.” Stress is realized through vowel lengthening and sometimes a higher intonation. | ||
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===Orthography=== | ===Orthography=== | ||
====Romanization==== | |||
Wistanian employs its own script, but it is romanized with a system that reflects the script and its spellings. The romanization rules are as follows: | Wistanian employs its own script, but it is romanized with a system that reflects the script and its spellings. The romanization rules are as follows: | ||
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* /ɑ/ and [ɒ] is represetned by ⟨au⟩. | * /ɑ/ and [ɒ] is represetned by ⟨au⟩. | ||
===Script=== | ====Script==== | ||
[[File:Slide1.PNG|thumbnail|left|250px|The Wistanian script.]] Wistanian has an alphabet which represents the different sounds in Wistanian. The alphabet was inspired by Latin, IPA, and Greek, but is often described as Armenian-looking. | [[File:Slide1.PNG|thumbnail|left|250px|The Wistanian script.]] Wistanian has an alphabet which represents the different sounds in Wistanian. The alphabet was inspired by Latin, IPA, and Greek, but is often described as Armenian-looking. | ||
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Another interesting feature of the script is "compound glyphs." They are /k/, /t/, /p/, /e/, and /ɑ/, and they are made by doubling or combining two different glyphs together. This is why the romanization of Wistanian uses ⟨gg⟩ for /k/, ⟨au⟩ for /ɑ/, as well as the other digraphs. | Another interesting feature of the script is "compound glyphs." They are /k/, /t/, /p/, /e/, and /ɑ/, and they are made by doubling or combining two different glyphs together. This is why the romanization of Wistanian uses ⟨gg⟩ for /k/, ⟨au⟩ for /ɑ/, as well as the other digraphs. | ||
Like the lexicon and grammar, Daly redesigned the Wistanian script multiple times - three, to be exact. The original script was an alphabet, but it did not capture the "spirit" of Wistanian, so it was scrapped for an abugida. The abugida, which was beautiful, was also difficult to learn and write, prompting yet another redesign. The original design is now considered as the old | Like the lexicon and grammar, Daly redesigned the Wistanian script multiple times - three, to be exact. The original script was an alphabet, but it did not capture the "spirit" of Wistanian, so it was scrapped for an abugida. The abugida, which was beautiful, was also difficult to learn and write, prompting yet another redesign. The original design is now considered as the old Diwa alphabet, while the abugida is an alternative script used by the Nati. | ||
==Syntax== | ==Syntax== | ||