From: Lady <redacted>
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2024 06:20:36 +0000 (-0400)
Subject: Zheshoi phonological notes
X-Git-Url: https://git.ladys.computer/Wiki/commitdiff_plain/12fdcd3ceb83712368c68543b70beede61c4a964?ds=sidebyside

Zheshoi phonological notes
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+# Zheshoi
+
+Zheshoi (_ʒeßoı_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ʑɪɕɵɪ/) is a language in
+  the Jastu⹀Fizonal language family, derived from [][:PreZheshoi].
+
+## phonology
+
+### syllable structure
+
+The basic Zheshoi syllable is C(w)(ʀ)(y)V(ı)(C).
+This is analyzed as follows:8--:
+
+- An initial consonant
+- Zero or more medials (_w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz},
+    _ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz}, or _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz},
+    in that order)
+- A vowel (V) or diphthong (Vı)
+- Optionally, a final consonant
+
+Details regarding the consonants, medials, and finals are given in the
+  following sections.
+
+### consonants
+
+Broadly, the basic consonants in Zheshoi fall into one of five
+  series:8--:
+
+| Name     |  Base  | Devoiced | Alternate | Devoiced Alternate |
+|:---------|:------:|:--------:|:---------:|:------------------:|
+| V⹀Series | v /β/  | p /p/    | m /m/     |                    |
+| D⹀Series | d /d/  | t /t/    | z /z/     | s /s/              |
+| J⹀Series | j /d͡ʑ/ | ꜭ /t͡ɕ/   | ʒ /ʑ/     | ß /ɕ/              |
+| G⹀Series | g /ɡ/  | k /k/    | n /n/     |                    |
+| Ɂ⹀Series | ɂ /ʔ/  | h /h/    | ƣ /ʕ/     | x /χ/              |
+
+Note that /n/ is equated with the allophonic /ŋ/ for this
+  categorization, and the nasal alternates have no devoiced forms.
+
+All consonants are valid in both the initial and final position with
+  two broad exceptions:8--:
+
+- /ʔ/ and /h/ are not permitted as final consonants
+
+- /g/ and /k/ are allophonic with /ʕ/ and /χ/ in the final position.
+  For simplicity, such consonants are traditionally analysed as
+    G⹀series, leaving Ɂ⹀series consonants forbidden across the board.
+
+/n/ and /m/ were allophonic in the final position Pre⹀Zheshoi, but
+  aren¦t in Zheshoi proper.
+
+### medials
+
+There are three kinds of medial in Zheshoi, all of which may appear in
+  a single syllable:8--:
+
+- _w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz} phonemically indicates /w/, but this
+    may be realized a variety of ways∶8--∶
+
+  - /ʔw/ reduces to [w] and /hw/ is realized as [ʍ].
+
+  - When followed by another medial, the preceding and following
+      consonants are labialized and the [w] is dropped, so that /gwƦ/
+      becomes [ɡʷrʷ], /twƦ/ becomes [tʷɫʷ], and /mwy/ becomes
+      [mɥ].
+
+  - Otherwise, the [w] is pronounced.
+
+- _ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz} is realized as [l] (rounded: [ɫʷ])
+    after D⹀ or J⹀series consonants and [ɾ] (rounded: [rʷ]) otherwise.
+
+- _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz} is realized as [j] (rounded: [ɥ]).
+  Any preceding /ʔ/ or /h/ is dropped.
+
+### vowels
+
+Zheshoi words exhibit vowel harmony, and accordingly are grouped into
+  three classes (or polarities): positive, neutral, and negative.
+These correspond to open, mid, and close vowel heights, respectively,
+  altho due to shifts over time some of the neutral vowels have wound
+  up more close than the negatives.
+Within each polarity, there are rounded (+U) and unrounded vowels.
+Additionally, each rounded or unrounded vowel can be iotized (+I),
+  which usually results in a diphthong with /ɪ/, or rhoticized (+R),
+  which adds R⹀colouring.
+The one exception is that there is no neutral vowel which is both
+  rounded and iotized.
+
+| Polarity |   ∅   |   +U   |   +I    |  +U +I  |   +R    |  +U +R   |
+|:---------|:-----:|:------:|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|:--------:|
+| Positive | a /æ/ | ȣ /ɔ/  | aı /aɪ/ | ȣı /ɔɪ/ | aꝛ /ɑ˞/ | ȣꝛ /ɔ˞/  |
+| Neutral  | ə /ə/ | u /u/  |  i /i/  |         | əꝛ /ʌ˞/ | uꝛ /ʊ˞/  |
+| Negative | e /ɪ/ | o /o/  | eı /eɪ/ | oı /ɵɪ/ | eꝛ /eɚ/ | oꝛ /oʊ˞/ | 
+
+In addition to the above, Zheshoi features a syllabic /ɫ̩/, which
+  functions like a neutral vowel with the following restrictions: it
+  may not be preceded by a medial, and it may not be followed by a
+  final consonant.
+It is called “lambda”, and written _ꟛ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz}.
+
+## future
+
+The following are potential future directions for the language:8--:
+
+- Loss of simultaneous support for all three medials in every syllable.
+  Loss of phonemic labialization with a corresponding split of
+    _ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz} into potentially as many options as
+    /l/, /ɫ/ (which may merge with the syllabic equivalent), /ɾ/,
+    and /r/; and of _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjz} into /j/ and /ɥ/.
+
+- Rhoticization makes a good candidate for evolving into a tonal
+    system.
+
+- The rounded vowels are a good candidate for a merger.