Bpnjohnson: Created page with "Category: Languages Category: Conlangs Category: Artlangs Category: A posteriori Category: Indo-European languages Category: Romance Category: Braere..."

2023-01-04T16:06:40Z

Created page with "Category: Languages Category: Conlangs Category: Artlangs Category: A posteriori Category: Indo-European languages Category: Romance Category: Braere..."

New page

[[Category: Languages]]
[[Category: Conlangs]]
[[Category: Artlangs]]
[[Category: A posteriori]]
[[Category: Indo-European languages]]
[[Category: Romance]]
[[Category: Braereth]]{{Braereth/nav}}
Merineth is one of three modern dialects of '''[[Braereth]]''', spoken primarily by the shape-shifters.

The Merineth dialect is the furthest removed of the dialects from Classical Braereth. It has no palatal sounds whatsoever, and contains a number of liquids that appear seemingly spontaneously around certain clusters. Consonant clusters are all but eliminated, and diphthongs are broken up by an insertive ⟨l⟩ or ⟨r⟩. There is a merging of voiced and unvoiced consonants, as well as occlusion of certain fricatives. The vowels ⟨e⟩ and ⟨o⟩ do not exist in Merineth, and are usually raised to ⟨i⟩ and ⟨u⟩, respectively, but sometimes lowered to ⟨a⟩. The Merineth do not have a formal written language, and usually use the Classical spelling, though some have adopted the Eomentesa spelling reform, as it is a little closer than Classical Braereth to how Merineth is actually pronounced, though there are still vast differences.

==Phonology==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|width=75| '''Consonants'''
!width=75| Labial
!width=75| Dental
!width=75| Alveolar
!width=75| Dorsal
|width=12 rowspan=8|  
|width=75| '''Vowels'''
!width=75| Front
!width=75| Back
|-
! style="text-align: right;"| Plosive
| p · b
|colspan=2| t ·
| k ·
! style="text-align: right;"| High
| i, iː · y, yː
| u, uː
|-
! style="text-align: right;"| Affricate
|  
|  
| ʦ · ʣ
|  
! style="text-align: right;"| Mid
|  
|  
|-
! style="text-align: right;"| Fricative
|  
|  
| s · z
| (χ) ·
! style="text-align: right;"| Low
| colspan=2| æ~a~ɑ
|-
! style="text-align: right;"| Nasal
| m
|colspan=2| n
|  
| '''Diphthongs'''
! To Front
! To Back
|-
! style="text-align: right;"| Liquid
|  
| l
| r [ɾ]
| [ʀ]
! style="text-align: right;"|  
|colspan=2| ''none''
|}

===Notable Changes from Braereth to Merineth===
====Vowel Changes====
Although there are seven vowels in Merineth compared to Braereth’s five, the vowel space is very reduced. The high vowels (i.e. all of the vowels except /a/) have length distinction, long vowels being marked by an acute accent. Unlike many European languages, vowel length is rarely indicative of stress, though the rounded front vowels (⟨y⟩, ⟨ý⟩) are always stressed. Length is important to distinguish certain words, such as '''''[[Contionary: nuts#Merineth|nuts]]''''' ‘nineteen’ (from '''''[[Contionary: nouce#Braereth|nouce]]''''') and '''''[[Contionary: núts#Merineth|núts]]''''' ‘night’ (from '''''[[Contionary: nuictje#Braereth|nuictje]]''''').

Vowels are also inserted to break up consonant clusters, particularly the common Romance “nasal-stop-liquid” clusters such as /ndr/ or /mpl/.

Other changes are more predictable:
* ⟨e⟩: e → i
* ⟨ei⟩: ei̯ → iː
* ⟨o⟩: o → u
* ⟨u⟩: u → y (when stressed)
* ⟨ou⟩: ou̯ → ý (when stressed)

====Obstruent Changes====
The classic Braereth palatals are all dispersed; the sonorants are unpacked and the sibilants are alveolarized:
* ⟨cj⟩, ⟨c[e/i]⟩: ʧ → ts
* ⟨dj⟩: ʥ → dz
* ⟨gj⟩, ⟨g[e/i]⟩: ʤ → dz
* ⟨tj⟩: ʨ → ts
* ⟨sj⟩: ɕ → s
* ⟨zj⟩: ʑ → z

Fricatives are also dispersed; the only remaining fricatives in the languages are the sibilants (/s/ and /z/) and the uvular /χ/ which occurs only in borrowings.
* ⟨f⟩: f → p
* ⟨v⟩: v → b
* ⟨th⟩: θ → l~r
* ⟨sj⟩: ɕ → s
* ⟨zj⟩: ʑ → z

All non-sibilant obstruents are devoiced except for /v/, which is occluded (to /b/):
* ⟨b⟩: b → p
* ⟨d⟩: d → t
* ⟨g⟩: ɡ → k
* ⟨v⟩: v → b

Word-initially, affricates are simplified to their sibilant component:
* ⟨cj⟩, ⟨c[e/i]⟩: ʧ → ts → s (cjantar → santal)
* ⟨dj⟩: ʥ → dz → z (djurnu → zyrunu)
* ⟨gj⟩, ⟨g[e/i]⟩: ʤ → dz → z
* ⟨tj⟩: ʨ → ts → s
* ⟨tz⟩: ʦ → s

Word-finally, voiced sibilants are devoiced. (This usually occurs after deletion of word-final ⟨e⟩, exposing an affricate to a word boundary.):
* ⟨gj⟩, ⟨g[e/i]⟩: ʤ → dz → ts (mage → madz → mats)

===r/l Alternation and Insertion===
A key feature in Merineth is its treatment of the liquids /r/ and /l/. While [[Braereth]] already had a tendency to alternate liquids in proximity to each other (e.g. compare [[Braereth]] ''[[Contionary: moulire#Braereth|moulire]]'' ‘to die’ with other Romance languages such as French ''[[wikt: mourir#French|mourir]]''). This is most frequently observed in verbs, whose infinitive forms end in ⟨-l⟩ rather than the usua ⟨-r⟩, and as a result, /l/ occurring in the previous syllable tends to become /r/ through a process of dissimilation, hence Merineth ‘’[[Contionary: múril#Merineth|múril]]’’].

Liquids may also be inserted between the vowels of earlier diphthongs, with sometimes unexpected results.
* ⟨ae⟩: ai̯ → ali
* ⟨au⟩: au̯ → alu
* ⟨eu⟩: eu̯ → ili

A liquid may even be [[Contionary: -r-#Merineth|inserted between words]] to separate otherwise consecutive vowels, similar to r-insertion in non-rhotic varieties of English (e.g. like a “Long Island” pronunciation of the phrase “Minnesota and Wisconsin,” where it sounds a bit like “Minnesoter.”)

===Orthographic and Phonemic Mapping===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!width=50| Orth.
!width=50| Phn.
!width=150| Example
!width=100| IPA
!width=100| Classical
! Environment/Notes
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| a
| [æ~a]
| '''''[[Contionary: akua#Merineth|akua]]''''' ‘water’
| [ˈaku.a]
| '''''[[Contionary: aqua#Braereth|aqua]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨a⟩; sometimes from ⟨e⟩ or ⟨o⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| b
| [b]
| '''''[[Contionary: buril#Merineth|buril]]''''' ‘want’
| [buˈɾil]
| '''''[[Contionary: voulere#Braereth|voulere]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨v⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| dz
| [ʣ]
| '''''[[Contionary: madzinu#Merineth|madzinu]]''''' ‘morning’
| [maˈʣinu]
| '''''[[Contionary: matzinu#Braereth|matzinu]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨tz⟩, ⟨dj⟩, or palatalized ⟨g⟩. Cannot occur word-finally.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| i
| [i]
| '''''[[Contionary: ilis#Merineth|ilis]]''''' ‘they’
| [ˈi.lis]
| '''''[[Contionary: iljis#Braereth|iljis]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨i⟩ or ⟨e⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| í
| [iː]
| '''''[[Contionary: ípina#Merineth|ípina]]''''' ‘thorn’
| [iːˈpina]
| '''''[[Contionary: espina#Braereth|espina]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨ei⟩ or ⟨es⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| k
| [k]
| '''''[[Contionary: krastu#Merineth|krastu]]''''' ‘the next day’
| [ˈkrastu]
| '''''[[Contionary: crastu#Braereth|crastu]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨c⟩ or ⟨q⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| l
| [l]
| '''''[[Contionary: lapits#Merineth|lapits]]''''' ‘stone’
| [lapits]
| '''''[[Contionary: lapide#Braereth|lapide]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨l⟩ or ⟨r⟩. (See '''''[[#r/l Alternation and Insertion|r/l Alternation and Insertion]]'''''.)
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| m
| [m]
| '''''[[Contionary: múril#Merineth|múril]]''''' ‘to die’
| [muːˈɾil]
| '''''[[Contionary: moulire#Braereth|moulire]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"|
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| n
| [n]
| '''''[[Contionary: natal#Merineth|natal]]''''' ‘to swim’
| [naˈtal]
| '''''[[Contionary: natare#Braereth|natare]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"|
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| nk
| [ŋk~nk]
| '''''[[Contionary: zinkuru#Merineth|zinkuru]]''''' ‘knee’
| [ˈzin.ku.ɾu]
| '''''[[Contionary: ginclu#Braereth|ginclu]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| The expected velarization of the nasal (the “NG sound” before K) is dampened.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| p
| [p]
| '''''[[Contionary: púksa#Merineth|púksa]]''''' ‘mouth’
| [ˈpuː.ksa]
| '''''[[Contionary: boucsa#Braereth|boucsa]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨p⟩, ⟨b⟩, or ⟨f⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| q
| [χ~ʀ]
| '''''[[Contionary: qiru#Merineth|qiru]]''''' ‘deer’<br />'''''[[Contionary: aqma#Merineth|aqma]]''''' ‘spirit’
| [ˈχi.ru]<br />[ˈaʀma]
| '''''[[Contionary: qheru#Braereth|qheru]]'''''<br />'''''[[Contionary: aqhma#Braereth|aqhma]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨qh⟩: [ʀ] when intervocalic, [χ] otherwise.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| r
| [ɾ]
| '''''[[Contionary: rikal#Merineth|rikal]]''''' ‘to tie’
| [ɾiˈkal]
| '''''[[Contionary: ligare#Braereth|ligare]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨l⟩ or ⟨r⟩. (See '''''[[#r/l Alternation and Insertion|r/l Alternation and Insertion]]'''''.) Normally realized as a tap or flap rather than a fully-realized trill.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| s
| [s]
| '''''[[Contionary: sampil#Merineth|sampil]]''''' ‘change’
| [samˈpil]
| '''''[[Contionary: cjambiare#Braereth|cjambiare]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨s⟩ or word-initial ⟨cj⟩, ⟨tj⟩ or ⟨tz⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| t
| [t]
| '''''[[Contionary: tints#Merineth|tints]]''''' ‘tooth’
| [ˈtinʦ]
| '''''[[Contionary: dente#Braereth|dente]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨d⟩ or ⟨t⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| ts
| [ʦ]
| '''''[[Contionary: palits#Merineth|palits]]''''' ‘done, made’
| [ˈpaliʦ]
| '''''[[Contionary: faectje#Braereth|faectje]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨tz⟩, ⟨tj⟩, or palatalized ⟨c⟩, or from ⟨dj⟩ or palatalized ⟨g⟩ when word-final.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| u
| [u]
| '''''[[Contionary: ustu#Merineth|ustu]]''''' ‘bone’
| [ˈustu]
| '''''[[Contionary: ostu#Braereth|ostu]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨u⟩ or ⟨o⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| ú
| [uː]
| '''''[[Contionary: útsu#Merineth|útsu]]''''' ‘eight’
| [ˈuːʦu]
| '''''[[Contionary: uictjou#Braereth|uictjou]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨ou⟩ or ⟨ui⟩, sometimes from other phonological processes.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| x
| [ˈ]
| '''''[[Contionary: akurix#Merineth|akurix]]''''' ‘here’
| [a.kuˈri]
| '''''[[Contionary: ecquix#Braereth|ecquix]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| Like [[Braereth]], ⟨x⟩ indicates stress on the final syllable.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| y
| [y]
| '''''[[Contionary: kylupa#Merineth|kylupa]]''''' ‘fault’
| [ˈky.lu.pa]
| '''''[[Contionary: culpa#Braereth|culpa]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨u⟩ when stressed.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| ý
| [yː]
| '''''[[Contionary: kulýr#Merineth|kulýr]]''''' ‘colour’
| [kuˈlyːr]
| '''''[[Contionary: culoure#Braereth|culoure]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] ⟨ui⟩ or ⟨ou⟩.
|-
|style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: text-top;"| z
| [z]
| '''''[[Contionary: zints#Merineth|zints]]''''' ‘people’
| [ˈzinʦ]
| '''''[[Contionary: ginte#Braereth|ginte]]'''''
|style="text-align: left;"| From [[Braereth]] intervocalic ⟨s⟩ or word-initial ⟨dj⟩, or palatalized ⟨g⟩.
|}

Merineth (dialect) - Revision history

Bpnjohnson: Created page with "Category: Languages Category: Conlangs Category: Artlangs Category: A posteriori Category: Indo-European languages Category: Romance Category: Braere..."