Lakovic
Kurmian (an dhbhàigh Cuatham) is a Whetmeric Pfiunic language spoken in the Kurmian Mountains. It is notorious in the Wiobosphere for having a large number of click consonants and a terse fusional morphology using mutations and tone changes.
Phonology
Initials
An unusual feature of Kurmian phonology is that palatalized stops are realized as clicks.
| Labial | Coronal | Lateral | Coarticulated | Velar | Glottal | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| broad | slender | broad | slender | broad | slender | broad | slender | broad | slender | |||
| Nasal | voiceless | /m̊/ | /ŋ̊ʘ/ | /n̊/ | /ŋ̊ǀ/ | /n̊ˡ/ | /ŋ̊ǁ/ | /ŋ̊!/ | /ŋ̊ǂ/ | /ŋ̊/ | /ɲ̊/ | |
| voiceless | /m/ | /ŋʘ/ | /n/ | /ŋǀ/ | /nˡ/ | /ŋǁ/ | /ŋ!/ | /ŋǂ/ | /ŋ/ | /ɲ/ | ||
| Stop | tenuis | /p/ | /ʘ/ | /t/ | /ǀ/ | /tɬ/ | /ǁ/ | /!/ | /ǂ/ | /k/ | /c/ | /ʔ/ |
| aspirated | /pʰ/ | /ʘʰ/ | /tʰ/ | /ǀʰ/ | /tɬʰ/ | /ǁʰ/ | /!ʰ/ | /ǂʰ/ | /kʰ/ | /cʰ/ | ||
| voiced | /b/ | /gʘ/ | /d/ | /gǀ/ | /dɮ/ | /gǁ/ | /g!/ | /gǂ/ | /g/ | /ɟ/ | ||
| Fricative | voiceless | /f/ | /fç/ | /s/ | /sç/ | /ɬ/ | /ɬʲ/ | /ɧ/ | /ʂ/ | /x/ | /ç/ | /h/ |
| voiced | /z/ | /zj/ | /ɮ/ | /ɮʲ/ | /ɧ̬/ | /ʐ/ | /ɣ/ | /ʝ/ | ||||
| Trill | /r/ | /r̝/ | ||||||||||
| Approximant | /w/ | /ɥ/ | /l/ | /ʎ/ | /j/ | |||||||
Medials
The medial is optional. There is one possible medial, /w~ɥ/.
Nucleus
There are three possible nuclei: /a/, /ə/ and zero. The nuclei display a range of different realizations depending on the phonetic environment:
- /a/ is realized as:
- /ɑ/ after a broad labialized consonant
- /æ/ after a palatal consonant, palatal click or /ɥ/
- /a/ otherwise
- /ə/ is realized as:
- /ɔ/ after a broad labialized consonant
- /e/ after a palatal consonant, palatal click or /ɥ/, or with /-j/ coda
- /ə/ otherwise
- Zero nucleus is realized as:
- /u/ if the medial is /w/
- /y/ if the medial is /ɥ/
- /ɨ/ if the medial is zero and initial is a dental click, a retroflex or a broad velar
- /i/ if the medial is zero, for other initials
Coda
The coda is optional. There are seven possible finals in Kurmian: /m n ŋ l r w j/.
Tones
Mutations
seimhiu
/p, ʘ/ > /f(ʲ)/
/pʰ, ʘʰ/ > /f(ʲ)/
/b, gʘ, m, ŋʘ/ > /w, ɥ/
/t, |/ > /h/
/d, g|/ > /ɣ, j/
/tʰ, |ʰ/ > /h/
/!, ǂ, !ʰ, ǂʰ/ > /ɧ, ɧʲ/
/g|, gǂ/ > voiced sj
/k, c, kʰ, cʰ/ > /x, ç/
/g, gʲ/ > /ɣ, j/
/s, sʲ/ > /x, ç/
uru:
/p, ʘ/ > /b gʘ/ > /m, ŋʘ/
/pʰ ʘʰ/ > /m̊ ŋ̊ʘ/
/t, |/ > /d, g|/ > /n, ŋ|/
/tʰ, |ʰ/ > /nʰ, ŋʰ|/
/!, ǂ/ > /g!, gǂ/ > /ŋ!, ŋǂ/
/!ʰ, ǂʰ/ > /ŋʰ!, ŋʰǂ/
/k, c/ >/g, gʲ/ > /ŋ, ŋʲ/
/s, sʲ/ > /z, zʲ/ (spelled ns)
Grammar
masculine declension:
singular:
an: nominative
an-S: accusative
an-H: genitive
plural:
on-S: nominative
on-N: accusative
on-S: genitive
feminine declension:
singular:
an-S: nominative (*ire*)
an-S: accusative
an-N: genitive
plural:
ár: nominative
ár-N: accusative
ár-S: genitive
Lexicon
- bhò-N - from
- na-N - bhò + an