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Proto-Rathmosian: Difference between revisions
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==Phonotactics== | ==Phonotactics== | ||
The basic building block of most Proto-Rathmosian words is the '''primary root''', a simple morpheme which cannot be broken down further. Most primary roots are verbal stems though some nominal elements such as body parts, landscape and family terms are primary. | |||
Primary roots may be formed into other words by (a) the direct addition of derivational and morphological affixes; (b) internal changes within the root to create a '''secondary''' or '''derived root'''; (c) a combination of both. | |||
A number of grammatical words or particles are not considered roots and do not follow the rules set out below. | |||
===Primary Roots=== | |||
Primary roots are monosyllabic and must have the minimal form '''VC''', in which '''V''' represents a single primary vowel (''a, e, i'' or ''u'') and '''C''' any consonant. Most roots will also have an initial consonant (vowel-initial roots are relatively rare and may have developed from the loss of an initial /h/ or glottal stop /ʔ/, e.g. */had, ʔad/ > ''ad-''). | |||
Consonant clusters within roots are limited to '''CL''' in onset position, in which '''L''' represents a liquid (''l'' or ''r''). The initial consonant in these clusters cannot be ''l, r, w'' or ''y''. In coda position the only consonant cluster permitted is '''GC''', in which '''G''' represents a glide (''w'' or ''y''). | |||
The vowels of primary roots are always short. Diphthongs are not considered to occur and in the combination of vowel + ''w'' or ''y'' the second element is analysed as a consonant. | |||
Primary roots may take one of the following forms: | |||
* '''CVC''', e.g. ''ret-'' "go, move", ''ker-'' "rule" | * '''CVC''', e.g. ''ret-'' "go, move", ''ker-'' "rule" | ||
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* '''CLVGC''', e.g. ''trayh-'' "strangle, choke", ''sluyn-'' "seep, ooze". | * '''CLVGC''', e.g. ''trayh-'' "strangle, choke", ''sluyn-'' "seep, ooze". | ||
* '''VC''', e.g. | * '''VC''', e.g. | ||
* '''VGC''', e.g. | * '''VGC''', e.g. | ||
===Secondary Roots=== | |||
Secondary roots are derived from primary ones by one of three clearly defined and mostly predictable phonological processes: | |||
* '''Vowel Lengthening''' doubles the vowel of the primary root, e.g. ''ret-'' > ''reet-'', ''tiyk-'' > ''tiiyk''. | |||
* '''Vowel deletion''' removes the primary vowel enitrely, e.g. ''ker-'' > ''Vkr-'', ''hed-'' > ''Vhd-''. Where this creates an impossible consonant cluster, the reduced vowel ''ə'' /ə/ is inserted (its position depends on the order of the consonants), e.g. ''mlak-'' > ''Vməlk-'', ''dreh-'' > ''Vdərh-''. Where a glide ''w'' or ''y'' remains after the deletion of a vowel, it becomes vocalic ''u'' or ''i'', e.g. ''reyk-'' > ''Vrik-'', ''trayh-'' > ''Vtrih''. | |||
* '''Reduplication''' involves the addition of the first consonant plus the reduced vowel ''ə'' to the beginning of a word, e.g. ''ret-'' > ''rəret-'', ''sluyn-'' > ''səsluyn-''. | |||
===Affixes=== | |||
Affixes may take any of the forms: V, VC, C, CV, CVC. They may also be combined into more complex structures. The addition of affixes sometimes requires the insertion of the reduced vowel ''ə'' between consonants, or of a linking glide ''w'' or ''y'' between vowels. | |||
The following processes of assimilation occur when certain sounds come into contact across syllables: | |||
* voiced plosives /b, d, g/ are devoiced before voiceless plosives or fricatives /p, t, k, ɸ, s, x/. | |||
* voiceless plosives /p, t, k/ are voiced before voiced plosives and nasals /b, d, g, n, m/. | |||
* /t/ and /d/ assimilate to any following plosive or /n/ | |||
* /n/ assimilates to a following liquid /l, r/. | |||
==Syllables and Roots== | ==Syllables and Roots== | ||