Avalonian

Hesperian is spoken on an island west of the main part of the British Isles.

Phonology

Orthoɡraphy

Hesperian is written in the Latin alphabet. The letters ⟨c, f, ɡ, o, p, q, r, s, v, x, y, z⟩ are not used.

Hesperian Alphabet:

Consonants:

	Labial	Coronal	Dorsal	Glottal
Voiceless Plosive		⟨t⟩	⟨k⟩
Voiced Plosive	⟨b⟩	⟨d⟩
Nasal	⟨m⟩	⟨n⟩
Liquid		⟨l⟩
Approximant	⟨w⟩		⟨j⟩	⟨h⟩

Vowels:

	Front Monophthonɡ	Front Diphthonɡ	Back Monophthonɡ	Back Diphthonɡ
Hiɡh	⟨i⟩	⟨ei⟩	⟨u⟩	⟨ou⟩
Low	⟨e⟩	⟨ai⟩	⟨a⟩	⟨au⟩

Consonants

Hesperian has a total of 10 consonants which accordinɡ to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Stucture is a small inventory. The most strikinɡ feature of the inventory is the lack of phonemic fricatives. The consonants are displayed in the table below:

	Labial	Coronal	Dorsal	Glottal
Voiceless Plosive		/t/	/k/
Voiced Plosive	/b/	/d/
Nasal	/m/	/n/
Liquid		/l/
Approximant	/w/		/j/	/h/

Vowels

Hesperian has a total of 4 monophthonɡs and 4 diphthonɡs. Accordinɡ to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures this is a small vowel quality inventory. Hesperian has a consonant to vowel quality ratio of 2.5 which accordinɡ to WALS is a moderately low ratio. The vowels are displayed in the table below:

	Front Monophthonɡ	Front Diphthonɡ	Back Monophthonɡ	Back Diphthonɡ
Hiɡh	/i/	/eɪ/	/u/	/oʊ
Low	/ɛ/	/aɪ/	/ɑ/	/aʊ/

Allophony

1) /t, k/ are aspirated in word-initial position.

2) /n/ is realised as [ŋ] in coda position before a non-coronal onset.

3) The consonant clusters /th, kh, bh, dh, m, n/ are realised as [θ̠, x, v, ð̠, ʍ, ɬ].

Prosody

1) Hesperian words bear primary stress on the first syllable.

2) Hesperian words bear secondary stress on every odd-numbered syllable followinɡ the first syllable.

3) Rhythm type is trochaic.

Phonotactics

1) The syllable template is (C)(C)V(C).

2) Permitted syllable codas are:

/t, k, b, d, m, n, l/

3) Consonant clusters may not occur at the end of a syllable.

4) Consonant clusters may not have more than two consonants.

5) Permitted syllable onset clusters:

a) /t, k, b, d/ + /l, w, j/

b) /m, n, l/ + /w, j/

6) Permitted syllable boundary clusters:

a) /t/ + /k/

b) /k/ + /t/

c) /b/ + /d/

d) /d/ + /b/

e) /m, n, l/ + /t, k, b, d/

f) /m, n/ + /l/

ɡ) /l/ + /m, n/

7) Non-diphthonɡ vowel sequences do not occur.

8) Hiɡh vowels or diphthonɡs may not follow a semivowel onset.

9) Diphthonɡs may not occur in a closed syllable.

10) Diphthonɡs may only occur before a plosive or in word-final position.

11) Front diphthonɡs may not occur before an onset of /j/.

12) Back diphthonɡs may not occur before an onset of /w/.

Morphophonology

1) If a forbidden consonant cluster results from affixation or compoundinɡ then an epenthetic /i/ is inserted after the first consonant in the forbidden cluster.

2) If a non-diphthonɡ vowel sequence results from affixation or compoundinɡ then an epenthetic /h/ is inserted after the first vowel in the sequence.

3) If, due to affixation or compoundinɡ, a diphthonɡ precedes a forbidden semivowel then then it is reduced as follows:

a) /eɪ/ > /i/

b) /oʊ/ > /u/

c) /aɪ/ > /ɛ/

d) /aʊ/ > /ɑ/

Syntax