From: Lady Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:35:07 +0000 (-0400) Subject: Initial Pre‐Zheshoi notes X-Git-Url: https://git.ladys.computer/Wiki/commitdiff_plain/97e91cbaddde97c41e87b2fb0b3f50052a0a83c3 Initial Pre‐Zheshoi notes (Originally published under a different title, but I’m amending the commit to use an endonym rather than an exonym for the language. This page may move again in the future if things develop unexpectedly, but as of now this is my best guess at what it should be called.) Mostly this is just phonological documentation right now. Note that the Proto⹀Fizonal dictionary is not actually published yet, so that link will be dead for now. --- diff --git a/Sources/Page/Languages.djot b/Sources/Page/Languages.djot new file mode 100644 index 0000000..28d86fd --- /dev/null +++ b/Sources/Page/Languages.djot @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +# languages + +The following (private·use) language codes are reserved for languages + under development by users of this _Wiki_{as=cite}:8--: + +{role=note} +::: +The private·use subtags ranging from `qaa`–`qfy` are reserved by + Unicode for use with C·L·D·R and should not be used. +::: + +| code | language | +|------:|:------------| +| `qho` | Eho | +| `qjl` | Jastulae | +| `qjt` | Jastugay | +| `qjx` | Pre‐Zheshoi | +| `qlr` | Elrex | + +Current recommended best practice is to actually use a primary subtag + of `art` (artificial languages) alongside an appropriate script tag, + and include the more specific subtag in the private·use area + (following `-x-`). +Applications are unlikely to recognize specific private·use tags, so + using them as the primary subtag is of limited utility. diff --git a/Sources/Page/Languages/PreZheshoi.djot b/Sources/Page/Languages/PreZheshoi.djot new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd7eb9f --- /dev/null +++ b/Sources/Page/Languages/PreZheshoi.djot @@ -0,0 +1,677 @@ +# Pre‐Zheshoi + +Pre‐Zheshoi is the hypothetical ancestor language to Zheshoi + (_ʒeßoı_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ʑɪɕɵɪ/; Pre‐Zheshoi: /ʒeɘʃɵɪ/), + providing a lexical and (rudimentary) syntactic base from which the + latter can be developed. +It is one possible synthesis of the Jastu⹀Fizonal languages, which were + developed by [][@:Lady] when she was in high school and college. + +: Language codes + + `art-Latn-x-qjx` (preferred); `qjx` (in restricted environments) + +## aim and scope + +Pre‐Zheshoi does not aim to be a complete, speakable language. +It aims to make the creation of such a language straightforward and + possible. + +## sources + +Pre‐Zheshoi is derived “primarily” from + [Jastugay][]{title="Jastugay: Documentation and Dictionary"}, which + is to say that Jastugay forms the basis of its phonological system + and grammars. +[Elrex][]{title="Elrex: Documentation and Dictionary"} and + [Eho][]{title="Eho: Documentation and Dictionary"} make a minor + vocabulary contribution. +A more significant contribution comes in the form of + [Proto⹀Fizonal][]{title="Proto‐Fizonal: Documentation and + Dictionary"}, which provides significant vocabulary diversity and + additional grammatical concepts to adopt. + +[Eho]: https://langdev.ladys.computer/ + urn:fdc:langdev.xyz:20160819:jsv:eho/ +[Elrex]: https://langdev.ladys.computer/ + urn:fdc:langdev.xyz:20160819:jsv:lrx/ +[Jastugay]: https://langdev.ladys.computer/ + urn:fdc:langdev.xyz:20160819:jsv:jst/ +[Proto⹀Fizonal]: https://langdev.ladys.computer/ + urn:fdc:langdev.xyz:20160819:fzn:proto/ + +The timeline of word adoption relative to other phonological shifts in + the language is as follows:8--: + +- Jastugay loses phonemic /n/ to vowel nasalization. + +- Jastugay merges /m/\~/w/, /z/\~/ʒ/, and /f/\~/v/. + +- Jastugay /d/ shifts to /ɾ/. + /d.s/ becomes /t͡ʃ/ and /s.t/ becomes /ʃ/. + +- Several Jastugay consonants are given voiced realizations:8--: + /f/ > /v/\~/β/, /s/ > /z/, /t/ > /n/, /x/ > /ŋ/. + The older, devoiced realizations persisted in cases where the + consonant was in a syllable coda and followed by /h/. + Note that /f/ was not permitted in syllable codas, and consequently + became voiced in every instance. + +- Words from other lanugages are adopted. + Voicing becomes fully phonemic in most cases. + +- /n/ shifts to /d/, except before other coronal consonants. + /ŋ/ shifts to /ɣ/\~/ʕ/ in all cases. + +## orthography + +Pre‐Zheshoi uses a Latin orthography with a few additional letters. +Ten of these letters are assigned corresponding digits for use in + Ascii environments: schwa (Ə) = 0, lambda (Ꟛ) = 1, R⹀rotunda (Ꝛ) = + 2, yr (Ʀ) = 3, cuatrillo (Ꜭ) = 4, ezh (Ʒ) = 5, eszett (ẞ) = 6, + glottal stop (Ɂ) = 7, ou (Ȣ) = 8, and gha (Ƣ) = 9. +Because font support for lambda and cuatrillo may be lacking, turned⹀L + (Ꞁ) and turned⹀H (Ɥ) are established as alternates. + +| Letter | Alternate | Ascii Digit | +|-------:|:---------:|:------------| +| Ə | ⸺ | 0 | +| Ꟛ | Ꞁ | 1 | +| Ꝛ | ⸺ | 2 | +| Ʀ | ⸺ | 3 | +| Ꜭ | Ɥ | 4 | +| Ʒ | ⸺ | 5 | +| ẞ | ⸺ | 6 | +| Ɂ | ⸺ | 7 | +| Ȣ | ⸺ | 8 | +| Ƣ | ⸺ | 9 | + +A small number of additional vowels are used, which are treated as + pairs of vowels in Ascii environments. + +| Letter | Ascii | +|-------:|:------| +| Ä | AA | +| Å | AU | +| Æ | AE | + +Dotless I is used in place of dotted I to indicate iotization of a + preceding vowel. +In Ascii, use of the dotted form is acceptable. + +The following Latin letters are not used:8--: B, C, F, L, Q, R. +Consequently, the complete alphabet (in recommended sorting order) + consists of the following 33 letters:8--: Ɂ, A, Ä, Å, Æ, D, E, Ə, G, + H, I, J, Ꜭ, K, Ꟛ, M, N, O, Ȣ, P, Ƣ, Ꝛ, Ʀ, S, ẞ, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, + Ʒ. + +### Anglicization + +As noted above, the recommended practice when writing Pre‐Zheshoi words + in Ascii environments is to use Ascii digits to encode letters + outside of Basic Latin. +However, there is a separate need for Anglicization rules when + converting Pre‐Zheshoi words into a form usable with English text. +Current best‐practice is to leave the original spelling as intact as + possible, despite the fact that this will make the pronunciation less + obvious for native speakers. + +The remaining equivalencies are as follows:8--: + +| Pre‐Zheshoi | Anglicized | +|------------:|:-------------| +| Ɂ | [apostrophe] | +| Ä | AA | +| Å | AU | +| Æ | AE | +| Ə | UW | +| Ꜭ | CH | +| Ꟛ | L | +| Ȣ | OU | +| Ƣ | Q | +| Ꝛ | R | +| Ʀ | R | +| ẞ | SH | +| Ʒ | ZH | + +## vocabulary + +Lexical words can have up to three forms. +The root form is the base lexical form of the word, and the prefix form + is a variant which can be used when making semantic derivations from + other words. +Verbals can additionally have a suffix form, which can be used to make + verbal derivations only with the meaning “while ⁓ing”. + +## phonology + +### consonants + +Pre‐Zheshoi has front, midfront, mid, midback, and back consonants with + nasal, stop, fricative, and approximant articulations. +The front fricative and stop are analysed as a voicing pair, as are the + back stop and fricative (even tho neither of the latter are + technically voiced). +The mid stops are in fact affricates. + +| Place / Manner | Front | Midfront | Mid | Midback | Back | +|-------------------:|:-----:|:--------:|:----------:|:-------:|:-----:| +| Voiced Stop | ⸺ | d /d/ | j /d͡ʒ/ | g /g/ | ɂ /ʔ/ | +| Devoiced Stop | p /p/ | t /t/ | ꜭ /t͡ʃ/ | k /k/ | ⸺ | +| Voiced Fricative | v /β/ | z /z/ | ʒ /ʒ/ | ƣ /ʕ/ | ⸺ | +| Devoiced Fricative | ⸺ | s /s/ | ß /ʃ/ | x /χ/ | h /h/ | +| Sonorant | m /m/ | n /n/ | ʀ /ɾ/\~/l/ | y /j/ | w /w/ | + +_ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr}, _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} and + _w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} are medials, and can only phonemically + appear following another consonant in a syllable onset (multiple can + appear, but only in the order _w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr}, + _ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr}, _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr}); note, + however, when the preceding consonant is + _ɂ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr}, it is typically not pronounced. +_ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} is pronounced [l] after other midfront + or mid consonants and [ɾ] otherwise. +_hw_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} is typically realized as [ʍ]. + +All other consonants may appear in syllable onsets. +No other combinations are permitted. + +In codas, _g_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} and + _k_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} are not phonemically permitted in + Pre‐Zheshoi, as they are considered indistinguishable from + _ƣ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} and _x_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr}. +Likewise, _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} may be realized as either [m] + or [n] in codas, but it is phonemically considered + _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} regardless and + _m_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} is not permitted. +All other single nonsonorant consonants are permitted; there are no + valid combinations. + +The mapping of phonemes from ancestor languages into the Pre‐Zheshoi + consonant inventory is not always trivial or obvious. +The following sections provide notes on the process. + +#### stops and fricatives + +With the exception of _g_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} and + _k_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}, these consonants may appear in either + the onset or the coda of a syllable. + +: _z_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /z/ + + In Jastugay, this consonant was originally realized as /s/, but + became voiced sometime after historic /z/ merged with /ʒ/. + Neither sound is evidenced in Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Jastugay + + _s_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /s/ + +: _s_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /s/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _z_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + + : Elrex: + + _s_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /s/ + + : Jastugay: + + _sh_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /s.h/ + +: _ƣ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ʕ/ + + In Jastugay, this consonant was originally pronounced /x/, but it + later became voiced and merged with /ŋ/ in other languages. + The pronunciation has gradually shifted further back, and it is often + articulated as an approximant. + + : Jastugay + + _ħ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /x/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _q_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /ŋ/ + +: _x_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /χ/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _ƣ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + It was common in most Jastu⹀Fizonal languages but not present in + Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Eho + + _h_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qho} /x/\~/h/ + + : Elrex + + _h_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /x/\~/h/ + + : Jastugay + + _ħh_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /x.h/ + +: _d_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /d/ + + In Jastugay, this consonant was originally pronounced /t/, but it + later became voiced and merged with /n/ in other languages. + + : Elrex + + _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /n/ (except when followed by another + coronal consonant) + + : Jastugay + + _t_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /t/ (except when followed by another + coronal consonant) + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /n/ (except when followed by another + coronal consonant) + +: _t_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /t/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _d_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + Most languages included this phoneme. + + : Elrex + + _t_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /t/ + + : Jastugay + + _th_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /t.h/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _t_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /t/ + +: _j_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /d͡ʒ/ + + This consonant has persisted largely unmodified from Jastugay. + From Proto⹀Fizonal, it is adapted from /d/, as Pre‐Zheshoi did not + have a /d/ phoneme at the time. + + : Jastugay + + _j_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /d͡ʒ/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _d_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /d/ + +: _ꜭ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /t͡ʃ/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _j_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + This is an exceedingly rare consonant, developing from Jastugay /d.s/ + in the course of the shift from /d/ to /ɾ/. + + : Jastugay + + _ds_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /d.s/ + +: _ʒ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ʒ/ + + In Jastugay, this consonant was historically either /z/ or /ʒ/. + It has persisted largely unmodified from Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Elrex + + _ʒ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /ʒ/ + + : Jastugay + + _ʒ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /ʒ/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _zh_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /ʒ/ + +: _ß_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ʃ/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _ʒ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + In Jastugay, it developed as a simplification of /s.t/. + It has persisted largely unmodified from Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Jastugay + + _st_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /s.t/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _sh_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /ʃ/ + +: _g_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /g/ + + This consonant has persisted largely unmodified from both Jastugay + and Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Jastugay + + _g_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /g/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _g_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /g/ + +: _k_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /k/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _g_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + It did not appear in Jastugay, but was persisted largely unmodified + from Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Elrex + + _k_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /k/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _k_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /k/ + +: _v_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /β/ + + In Jastugay, this consonant was historically either /f/ or /v/. + It originally merged to /f/, but later became voiced and merged with + /v/ and /b/ in other languages. + + : Eho + + _b_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qho} /b/ + + : Elrex + + _v_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /v/ + + : Jastugay + + _f_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /f/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _b_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /b/ + +: _p_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /p/ + + This consonant is the devoiced variant of + _v_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + It has persisted largely unmodified from both Jastugay and + Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Jastugay + + _p_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /p/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _p_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /p/ + +: _ɂ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ʔ/ + + This is the null initial consonant; it was not marked in ancestor + languages. + +: _h_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /h/ + + This consonant is often analysed as a “devoiced” glottal stop. + It has persisted largely unmodified from both Jastugay, but was + sometimes dropped in favour of devoicing a preceding consonant. + It was not phonemic in Proto⹀Fizonal. + + : Elrex + + _wh_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /ʍ/ + + : Jastugay + + _h_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /h/ + +#### nasal consonants + +Only _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} may appear in the coda of a + syllable, where it may be realized as /m/, /n/, or /ŋ/ depending on + the sound which follows. + +: _m_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /m/ + + Jastugay formerly had an /m/ sound, but it merged with /w/. + Consequently, only Proto⹀Fizonal /m/ survived to Pre‐Zheshoi. + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _m_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /m/ + +: _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /n/ + + The historic /n/ sound in Jastugay was lost to vowel nasalization. + A new /n/ developed from /t/ in the process of voicing it as /d/ when + the following consonant was also coronal. + /n/ in other languages like·wise merged to /d/ in the general case, + but was preserved as /n/ when a coronal consonant followed. + + : Elrex + + _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /n/ (when followed by another coronal + consonant) + + : Jastugay + + _t_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /t/ (when followed by another coronal + consonant) + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _n_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /n/ (when followed by another coronal + consonant) + +#### medial consonants + +These consonants follow the initial consonant in a syllable, which must + be either a stop, fricative, or nasal. + +: _ʀ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /ɾ/\~/l/ + + The realization of this consonant depends on the consonant which + precedes it; it can be either /ɾ/ or /l/. + In Jastugay, it descends from /d/, and descends from /r/ in most + other languages. + + : Eho + + _r_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qho} /ɹ/ + + : Elrex + + _r_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /ɹ/ + + : Jastugay + + _d_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /d/ + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _r_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /ɾ/ + +: _w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /w/ + + In Jastugay, this sound was historically either /m/ or /w∕. + It did not exist in Proto⹀Fizonal at the time that words were adopted + into Pre‐Zheshoi. + + : Elrex + + _w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /w/ + + : Jastugay + + _w_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /w/ + +: _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} /j/ + + This consonant was not phonemic in Jastugay, but developed from /i/. + In Proto⹀Fizonal, it was preceded by a velar stop (/gj/), which was + reduced to a glottal stop and eliminated on adoption into + Pre‐Zheshoi. + + : Elrex + + _y_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qlr} /j/ + + : Jastugay + + _ē_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjt} /i/ before vowels + + : Proto⹀Fizonal + + _gj_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qpt} /gj/ + +### vowels + +Vowels in Pre‐Zheshoi are categorized across several different axes. +Pre‐Zheshoi exhibits vowel harmony, and the polarity of the vowel + indicates which vowels it harmonizes with. +As a general rule, positive vowels are more open and negative vowels + are more close. +Vowels may also be rounded or unrounded, and they may be iotized to + form a diphthong with /ɪ/. +Finally, there are two nasal vowels in Pre‐Zheshoi, one which is + rounded and positive, and one which is unrounded and negative. + +In addition to the above distinctions, Pre‐Zheshoi exhibits a front + (①) ⧵ back (②) split in its positive and neutral vowels, and it + features a syllabic /ɫ̩/ which is vowel·like in most situations. + +The following table gives the complete inventory:8--: + +| Kind | Base | Iotized | Nasal | +|-------------------:|:----------------------:|:-------:|:------:| +| Positive Unrounded | ① a /æ/ ② ä /ɑ/ | aı /aɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Positive Rounded | ① å /aʊ/ ② ȣ /ɔ/ | ȣı /ɔɪ/ | ȣꝛ /ɔ̃/ | +| Neutral Unrounded | ① æ /ɛ/ ② ə /ʌ/\~/ə/ | i /i/ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Rounded | u /u/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Negative Unrounded | e /eɘ/ | eı /eɪ/ | eꝛ /ẽ/ | +| Negative Rounded | o /o/ | oı /ɵɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Lambda | ꟛ /ɫ̩/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | + +The way this vowel inventory maps onto the various source languages is, + perhaps unsuprisingly, complex. +In Jastugay, the two base positive unrounded vowels have already + merged (to /ɑ/). +Negative rounded vowels are not present in any fashion. + +| Kind | Base | Iotized | Nasal | +|-------------------:|:-------------------:|:-------:|:--------:| +| Positive Unrounded | ① ⸺ ② ä /ɑ/ | ī /aɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Positive Rounded | ① å /aʊ/ ② ō /ɔʊ/ | œ /ɔɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Unrounded | ① ë /ɛ/ ② ə /ʌ/ | ē /i/ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Rounded | u /u/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Negative Unrounded | æ /eɘ/ | ā /eɪ/ | æn /eɘn/ | +| Negative Rounded | ⸺ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Lambda | l’ /ɫ̩/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | + +In Fizonal, short and long vowels become distinct in most cases. + +| Kind | Base | Iotized | Nasal | +|-------------------:|:--------------------------:|:-------:|:------:| +| Positive Unrounded | ① a /æ/, a: /æː/ ② o /ɒ/ | ai /aɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Positive Rounded | ① au /aʊ/ ② o: /ɒː/ | oi /ɔɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Unrounded | ① i /i/ ② e /ə/ | i: /iː/ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Rounded | ua /uɐ/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Negative Unrounded | e: /əː/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Negative Rounded | u /u/ | u: /uː/ | ⸺ | +| Lambda | l /l/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | + +Elrex lacks only the back positive and negative rounded vowels. + +| Kind | Base | Iotized | Nasal | +|-------------------:|:---------------------:|:-------:|:------:| +| Positive Unrounded | ① a /æ/ ② ä /ɑ/ | ī /aɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Positive Rounded | ① ō /aʊ/ ② ⸺ | œ /ɔɪ/ | ōn /ɔ̃/ | +| Neutral Unrounded | ① e /ɛ/ ② ə /ʌ/ | ē /i/ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Rounded | u /u/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Negative Unrounded | ǽ /eə/, i /ɪ/ | ā /eɪ/ | ǽn /ẽ/ | +| Negative Rounded | ⸺ | ớ /ɔaɪ/ | ⸺ | +| Lambda | l /l/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | + +Unsuprisingly, given the small size of its known lexicon, Eho is + missing a good chunk of the vowel inventory. + +| Kind | Base | Iotized | Nasal | +|-------------------:|:-----------------:|:-------:|:------:| +| Positive Unrounded | ① ⸺ ② ä /ɑ/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Positive Rounded | ① ō /aʊ/ ② ⸺ | œ /ɔɪ/ | ōn /ɔ̃/ | +| Neutral Unrounded | ① ⸺ ② ⸺ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Neutral Rounded | o͡o /u/ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Negative Unrounded | i /ɪ/ | ā /eɪ/ | än /ɑ̃/ | +| Negative Rounded | ⸺ | ⸺ | ⸺ | +| Lambda | ⸺ | ⸺ | ⸺ | + +When determining the harmony of a word, the polarity of the stressed + syllable takes first priority, followed by the polarity of the first + non·neutral vowel in the word. +If a nominal contains only neutral vowels, it has null harmony. +If a verbal contains only neutral vowels, it has unmarked harmony. +In the case of unmarked harmony, the etymology of the word should be + used to suggest the correct polarity, favouring negative harmony if + no polarity can otherwise be determined. + +### known shifts and changes + +The following phonological changes are known to occur between + Pre‐Zheshoi and Zheshoi proper:8--: + +- _ä_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} merges with + _ȣ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} after midback consonants, and + _a_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} otherwise. + Similarly, _å_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} merges with + _a_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} after front consonants, and + _ȣ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} otherwise. + +- _æ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} merges to the base vowel (positive or + negative) which harmonizes with the word, favouring + _e_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}. + +- _e_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} shifts to /ɪ/. + +- The nasal vowels become R‐coloured: + _eꝛ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} becomes /ɚ/ and + _ȣꝛ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} becomes /ɔ˞/. + In so doing, they lose their polarity and become generic rhotic + unrounded and rounded vowels. + +- _Ꟛ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx} is realized as /n/ consonantally. + After unrounded vowels, it shifts to /ɚ/, and after rounded vowels it + shifts to /ɔ˞/. + (It persists unmodified in other cases.) + +- When an rounded, non·iotized vowel is followed by a glottal consonant + or velar fricative ∣ approximant, an /m/ is inserted between the + two, and:8--: + + - The glottal consonant is dropped, or + + - The velar fricative ∣ approximant becomes /w/. + +- When an iotized vowel is followed by a glottal consonant or velar + fricative ∣ approximant, the iotization is moved preceding the + vowel as /j/. + +- The mid consonants move further back: /ʒ/ becomes /ʑ/ and /ʃ/ becomes + /ɕ/. + +- Consonant codas are devoiced when the onset of the same syllable + contains a voiced consonant. + +- Consonants in the onsets of unstressed syllables (excluding + _ɂ_{as=i lang=art-Latn-x-qjx}) are devoiced when the onset of the + preceding syllable is a more front stop or nasal. + Mid and midfront consonants are considered equivalent with respect to + this shift.