Modern Coptic

Introduction

Modern Coptic (natively, ⲙⲧ̀ⲣⲙ̀ⲛ̀ⲕⲏⲙⲉ ⲃⲣ̀ⲣⲉ Metremmenkeeme Verre [mətrm̩mn̩ˈkeːmə ˈvr̩rə]) is a revitalized vernacular version of Coptic, made to be a lingua franca for all varieties.

The language is written formally using the Coptic alphabet, however, since modern times a phonetic transliteration into the Latin Alphabet is preferred by the younger generations

Phonology

Consonants

	Labial	Alveolar	Post-Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal	m	n
Fricative	f	s	ʃ		(x)	h
Plosive	p	t	tʃ	(c)	k	(ʔ)
Approximant	β	l	j		w
		r

• x and c are minimal phonemes, while included in the standard and writing, they are free to merge with h and tʃ, respectivelly
• ʔ isn't phonemic and can only occur before a vowel, or to separate them
• β is most often realized as [v]
• the sequence /kj/ never occurs and colloquially changes to /c/ whenever it appears
• n assimilates to the place of articulation of the next sound, becoming /m/, [ɲ] or [ŋ] depending on the sound

Vowels

	Front			Back
High	i		(y)	u
Mid	e	eː	ə	o	oː
Low	a

• y only occurs in Greek and French borrowings.
• The sequences /əl/, /ər/, /əm/ and /ən/ are pronounced [l̩], [r̩], [m̩] and [n̩].
• Stress isn't phonemic, but normally occurs in either one of the long vowels (eː and oː) or the (3rd to) last vowel.
• ə normally doesn't bear the stress unless it is the only vowel in a word.
• Greek borrowings normally bear the stress 2nd to last instead.