Far East Semitic

Inspiration: Old Chinese

Family tree

• Proto-Far East Semitic
  • literally read Hmoob gib, possibly with tones? (greeting: Schlaub lag!)

Phonology

Consonants:

• p b t ṭ d k q g ħ ʕ -> pʰ b tʰ t d kʰ k g x ɣ~ɢ
• m n l r w y -> m n l r w y
• θ θ̣ ð s ṣ z ś ṣ́ š x ɣ h -> θ θ ð s ts z~dz l̥ l̥~ts (from koineization) š qʰ q h

Vowels: i ɨ u e ə o a

Grammar

verbs: xtab "wrote", yə·xtub "writes" (all persons and numbers) kʰətʰab "dictated? took notes?", yə·kʰətʰɨb (present tense form) then there's also nə·xtab and šə·xtab etc.

the pa'al / pi'el distinction surfaces as initial clusters vs minor syllables

particles for aspects like Wdm