Proto-Atlanto-Mediterranean

Proto-Atlanto-Mediterranean is a hypothetical reconstructed language thought to be the ancestor of the Atlanto-Mediterranean linguistic macrofamily. This large group includes several language families and isolated languages spoken primarily in Europe. Its origin is controversial and would be linked to the Ahmarian culture of the Middle East or the Aurignacian culture of Europe, both associated with the settlement of Europe by Homo sapiens during the Paleolithic. However, due to the extreme remoteness of this ancient language, its precise reconstruction faces enormous challenges. In the absence of direct evidence, one can only rely on speculation and the limited long range comparative historical evidence available.

Phonology

Consonants

			Labial	Coronal					Dorsal		Laryngeal
				Laminal	Apical		Sublaminal
				Dental	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	Postpalatal	Velar	Uvular	Pharyngeal	Glottal
Nasal			*m	*n		*ɳ	*ɲ		*ŋ	*ɴ
Plosive	Voiceless	Ejective	*pʼ	*tʼ	*tsʼ	*tɬʼ	*tʃʼ	*tɕʼ	*kʼ	*qʼ	*ʡ	*ʔ
		Aspirated	*pʰ	*tʰ	*tsʰ	*tɬʰ	*tʃʰ	*tɕʰ	*kʰ	*qʰ
	Voiced	Plain	*b	*d	*dz	*dɮ	*dʒ	*dʑ	*g	*ɢ
		Murmured	*bʱ	*dʱ	*dzʱ	*dɮʱ	*dʒʱ	*dʑʱ	*gʱ	*ɢʱ
Fricative	Voiceless		*f	*θ	*s	*ɬ	*ʃ	*ɕ	*x	*χ	*ħ	*h
	Voiced		*v	*ð	*z	*ɮ	*ʒ	*ʑ	*ɣ	*ʁ	*ʕ	*ɦ
Liquid	Rhotic		*ʙ	*ɹ		*ɻ	*r			*ʀ	*ʢ
	Lateral			*l		*ɭ	*ʎ		*ʟ
Click			*(ʘ)	*ǀ	*ǃ	*ǁ	*ǂ			*(qǂ)

Approximants

	Labial	Palatal	Velar
Labial	*ʋ	*ɥ	*w
Palatal	*ɥ	*j	*ɧ
Velar	*w	*ɧ	*ɰ

Vowels

	Front		Central		Back
	Short	Long	Short	Long	Short	Long
High	*i	*iː	*ɨ	*ɨː	*u	*uː
Mid	*e	*eː	*ə	*əː	*o	*oː
Low	*a	*aː	*ɐ	*ɐː	*ɑ	*ɑː