Proto-Cynthi-Kather

Proto-Cynthi-Kather was a language spoken on the islands of Cynth and Kather. It gave rise to many languages, such as Mekatheri and Cynthian. Many words are directly attested, as the islands’ people saw writing as the key to knowledge and power. Some ancient sources also describe the phonology, thus making it attested. It was written using a Greek-derived alphabet. It used all of the Greek letters we are familiar with, as well as ⟨ϝ⟩, ⟨ͱ⟩, and ⟨ϟ⟩ (wau, heta, and qoppa). The ⟨ϟ⟩ variant of ⟨ϙ⟩ is not attested until the 13th century; however, most historical linguists documenting the language prefer the more recent qoppa variant, as that is what is used in the islands’ languages today, “and it just looks better” according to Kathyrian-born linguist Qòir Ok.

Phonology

Using diagrams created by ancient linguist Ksùunqiur and making inferences from the daughter languages, linguists believe the following to be the phonology of Proto-Cynthi-Kather.

Consonants

	bilabial	labiodental	dental	alveolar	velar	uvular	laryngeal
plosive	p ⟨π⟩ b ⟨βπ⟩ ps ⟨ψ⟩	bv ⟨β⟩	dð ⟨δ⟩	t ⟨τ⟩ d ⟨δτ⟩ ts ⟨τσ⟩	k ⟨κ⟩ g ⟨γκ⟩ ks ⟨ξ⟩ gɣ ⟨γ⟩	q ⟨ϟ⟩ ɢ ⟨γϟ⟩ qs ⟨ϟσ⟩
fricative		f ⟨φ⟩	θ ⟨θ⟩	s ⟨σ⟩ z ⟨ζ⟩	x ⟨χ⟩		ħ ⟨ͱ⟩
trill				r̥ ⟨τρ⟩ r ⟨ρ⟩
approximant	w ⟨ϝ⟩			l ⟨λ⟩	(w)		ʕ ⟨γͱ⟩
nasal	m ⟨μ⟩			n ⟨ν⟩

Vowels

	front	back
close	i ⟨ι⟩ iː ⟨ει⟩ iu̯ ⟨ιυ⟩	u ⟨υ⟩ uː ⟨ου⟩ ui̯ ⟨υι⟩
mid	e ⟨ε⟩ eː ⟨η⟩ ɛi̯ ⟨ηι⟩ ɛu̯ ⟨ευ⟩	o ⟨ο⟩ oː ⟨ω⟩ ɔi̯ ⟨οι⟩ ɔu̯ ⟨ωυ⟩
open	a ⟨α⟩ aː ⟨αα⟩ ai̯ ⟨αι⟩ au̯ ⟨αυ⟩

Tones

mid	high	low	falling
˧ ⟨◌⟩	˥ ⟨◌́⟩	˩ ⟨◌̀⟩	˥˩ ⟨◌̃⟩