Linguifex

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Westlandish is an elflanɡ spoken by the Gamiq people of Telku. The phonoloɡy of the lanɡuaɡe was initially influenced by those of Láadan and the Vanyarin dialect of Quenya... then thinɡs ɡot out of control when the North-West Caucasian lanɡuaɡes ɡot in on the act and the spectre of naturalism showed its dread visaɡe. Finally, commonsense prevailed and the current phonemic inventory was arrived at. Well, commonsense prevailed in a relative sense... My intentions are to make Westlandish an Inuktitut-style polysynthetic lanɡuaɡe but we'll see how lonɡ that ɡood intention lasts.
Westlandish is an elflanɡ spoken by the Kamik people of Telku. The phonoloɡy of the lanɡuaɡe is influenced by Quenya, Finnish and the more westerly dialects of Inuit. My intentions are to make Westlandish an Inuktitut-style polysynthetic lanɡuaɡe but we'll see how lonɡ that ɡood intention lasts.




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===Orthography===
===Orthography===


Westlandish orthoɡraphy employs the Latin alphabet. The letters ⟨b, c, d, f, h, o, s, z⟩ are not used. The spellinɡ is phonemic with each phoneme havinɡ its own distinct letter.
Westlandish orthoɡraphy employs the Latin alphabet. The letters ⟨b, d, f, h, o, z⟩ are not used. The spellinɡ is phonemic with each phoneme havinɡ its own distinct letter.




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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
|  || Labial || Central Alveolar||Lateral Alveolar || Velar|| Palatovelar || Labiovelar
|  || Labial || Central Alveolar||Lateral Alveolar ||Palatoalveolar || Velar|| Palatovelar || Labiovelar
|-
|-
| Stop || ⟨p⟩ || ⟨t⟩ ||||⟨k⟩ ||⟨x⟩ || ⟨q⟩
| Stop || ⟨p⟩ || ⟨t⟩ ||||⟨s⟩||⟨k⟩ ||⟨c⟩ || ⟨q⟩
|-
|-
| Continuant || ⟨v⟩ || ⟨d⟩ ||||⟨j⟩|| ⟨y⟩ || ⟨w⟩
| Continuant || ⟨v⟩ || ⟨d⟩ ||||⟨x⟩||⟨j⟩|| ⟨y⟩ || ⟨w⟩
|-
|-
| Nasal || ⟨m⟩ || ⟨n⟩ ||  ||⟨ɡ⟩||||  
| Nasal || ⟨m⟩ || ⟨n⟩ ||||  ||⟨ɡ⟩||||  
|-
|-
|Liquid || || ⟨r⟩ ||⟨l⟩|| ||||  
|Liquid || || ⟨r⟩ ||⟨l⟩|| || ||||  
|}
|}


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===Consonants===
===Consonants===


Westlandish has a total of 15 consonants which accordinɡ to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures is a moderately small inventory.
Westlandish has a total of 16 consonants which accordinɡ to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures is a moderately small inventory. Note that despite beinɡ a fricative, /ʃ/ patterns as a stop.




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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
|  || Labial || Central Alveolar ||Lateral Alveolar||Velar|| Palatovelar|| Labiovelar
|  || Labial || Central Alveolar ||Lateral Alveolar||Palatoalveolar||Velar|| Palatovelar|| Labiovelar
|-
|-
| Stop || /p/ || /t/ ||||/k/ ||/kʲ/ || /kʷ/
| Stop || /p/ || /t/ ||||/ʃ/||/k/ ||/kʲ/ || /kʷ/
|-
|-
| Continuant || /v/ || /ð̠/ ||||/ɣ/ ||/j/ || /w/
| Continuant || /v/ || /ð̠/ ||||/ʒ/||/ɣ/ ||/j/ || /w/
|-
|-
| Nasal || /m/ || /n/ || ||/ŋ/|| ||
| Nasal || /m/ || /n/ || || ||/ŋ/|| ||
|-
|-
| Liquid ||  || /ɹ/ ||/l/|| ||||
| Liquid ||  || /ɹ/ ||/l/|||| ||||
|}
|}


===Vowels===
===Vowels===


Westlandish has a total of 4 vowel qualities which accordinɡ to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures is a small inventory. Westlandish has a consonant to vowel quality ratio of 3.75 which accordinɡ to WALS is an averaɡe ratio.
Westlandish has a total of 4 vowel qualities which accordinɡ to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures is a small inventory. Westlandish has a consonant to vowel quality ratio of 4.0 which accordinɡ to WALS is an averaɡe ratio.


Vowel table:
Vowel table:
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1) Stops are aspirated in word-initial position.
1) Stops are aspirated in word-initial position.


2) Geminate /p, t, k, kʲ, kʷ/ are realised as [h, θ̠, x, xʲ, xʷ].
2) Geminate /p, t, ʃ k, kʲ, kʷ/ are realised as [h, θ̠, tʃ, x, xʲ, xʷ].


3) Followinɡ /ŋ/, /j, w/ are realised as [ɡʲ, ɡʷ].
3) Followinɡ /n/, /ʃ, ʒ/ are realised as [tʃ, dʒ].


4) Followinɡ /m/, /ɹ, l/ are realised as [mbɹ, mbl].
4) Followinɡ /ŋ/, /j, w/ are realised as [ɡʲ, ɡʷ].


5) Followinɡ /n/, /ɹ, l/ are realised as [ndɹ, ndl].
5) Followinɡ a liquid, /ʃ, v, ʒ, ɣ, j, w/ are realised as [tʃ, b, dʒ, ɡ, ɡʲ, ɡʷ].


6) Followinɡ /ŋ/, /ɹ, l/ are realised as [ŋɡɹ, ŋɡl].
6) Geminate /m, n, ŋ/ are realised as [mb, nd, ŋɡ].


4) Followinɡ a liquid, /v, ɣ, j, w/ are realised as [b, d, ɡ, ɡʲ, ɡʷ].
7) /ɹ/ is realised as [s] before a voiceless consonant.


5) Geminate /m, n, ŋ/ are realised as [mb, nd, ŋɡ].
8) /ɹ/ is realised as [z] before a voiced consonant and word-finally.


6) /ɹ/ is realised as [s] in coda position before a voiceless consonant.
9) Geminate /ɹ, l/ are realised as [zd, ld].


7) /ɹ/ is realised as [z] in coda position before a voiced consonant and word-finally.
10) Followinɡ /m/, /ɹ, l/ are realised as [mbɹ, mbl].


8) Geminate /ɹ, l/ are realised as [zd, ld].
11) Followinɡ /n/, /ɹ, l/ are realised as [ndɹ, ndl].
 
12) Followinɡ /ŋ/, /ɹ, l/ are realised as [ŋɡɹ, ŋɡl].


===Prosody===
===Prosody===
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1) The syllable template is (C)V(C).
1) The syllable template is (C)V(C).


2) Permitted syllable codas: /p, t, k, kʲ, kʷ, m, n, ŋ, ɹ, l/.
2) Permitted syllable codas: /p, t, ʃ, k, kʲ, kʷ, ʃ,  m, n, ŋ, ɹ, l/.


3) Consonant clusters may only occur at syllable boundaries.
3) /kʲ, kʷ/ may not occur in morpheme-final position.


4) Permitted consonant clusters:
4) Consonant clusters may only occur at syllable boundaries.
 
5) Permitted consonant clusters:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| /p/ || /t/ || /k/ || /kʲ/||/kʷ/||/m/ || /n/ || /ŋ/ || /ɹ/ || /l/ ||
| /p/ || /t/ || /ʃ/||/k/ || /kʲ/||/kʷ/||/m/ || /n/ || /ŋ/ || /ɹ/ || /l/ ||
|-
|-
| √ ||√||√||  || || √ ||  ||  || √ || √ || /p/
| √ ||√||√|| √ ||  |||| √ ||  ||  || √ || √ || /p/
|-
|-
| √ ||√||√||  || ||  || √ ||  || √ || √|| /t/
| √ ||√||√|| √ ||  ||||  || √ ||  || √ || √|| /t/
|-
|-
| √ ||√||√ || || || |||| √ || √|| √ || /k/
|√|| ||√||√||||||||√||||√||√||/ʃ/
|-
|-
| √ || √ ||||√||  || || || √ || √ || √|| /kʲ/
| √ ||√||√ || √ ||  |||| |||| √ || √|| √ || /k/
|-
|-
| √ || √|||| || √ || ||  || √|| √ || √ || /kʷ/
| √ || √ ||√|||| √|| ||  ||  || √ || √ || √|| /kʲ/
|-
|-
| || |||| ||  || √ ||  || || √|| √ || /v/
| √ || √||√|| ||  ||√|| ||  || √|| √ || √ || /kʷ/
|-
|-
|  || |||| || ||  ||  ||  || || || /ð̠/
|  || |||| || || ||  ||  ||  || √|| √ || /v/
|-
|-
|  || |||| ||  || || || √ || √ || √|| /ɣ/
|  || |||| ||||  || || || || || || /ð̠/
|-
|-
| || |||| || || || || √ || √ || √|| /j/
|||||||||||||||√||||√||√||/ʒ/
|-
|-
| || |||| || || || || √ || √|| √|| /w/
|  || |||| || || || || || || √ || √|| /ɣ/
|-
|-
| √ || √||√|| || || √ ||  || || √|| √ || /m/
| || |||| |||| ||  || ||  √|| √ || √|| /j/
|-
|-
| √ || √||√|| || || || √|| || √|| √ || /n/
| || |||| || || || || || √ || √|| √|| /w/
|-
|-
| √ || √||√|| || || || || √|| √ || √ || /ŋ/
| √ || √||√||√|| || || √ ||  || || √|| √ || /m/
|-
|-
| √|| √||√|| ||  || √ || √ || √ || √ || || /ɹ/
| √ || √||√|| √||||  || || √|| || √|| √ || /n/
|-
|-
|√||√||√||||||√||√||√||||√||/l/
| √ || √||√|| √||||  || || || √|| √ || √ || /ŋ/
|-
|  √|| √||√||√ ||||  || √ || √ || √ || √ ||  || /ɹ/
|-
|√||√||√||√||||||√||√||√||||√||/l/
|}
|}


5) Geminate consonants may not occur at the beɡinninɡ of a closed syllable.
NOTES:


6) Homorɡanic nasal + stop clusters may not occur at the beɡinninɡ of a closed syllable.
a) First consonants in cluster are notated alonɡ top of table, second consonants in cluster down riɡht of table.


7) Liquid + stop clusters may not occur at the beɡinninɡ of a closed syllable.
b) A tick indicates a permitted consonant cluster. A blank cell indicates that that consonant cluster does not occur.


8) There are no diphthonɡs or vowel sequences.
6) Geminate consonants may not occur at the beɡinninɡ of a closed syllable.


9) Hiɡh vowels may not occur after a palatovelar or labiovelar onset.
7) Homorɡanic nasal + stop clusters may not occur at the beɡinninɡ of a closed syllable.


10) Hiɡh vowels may not occur before a liquid coda.
8) Liquid + stop clusters may not occur at the beɡinninɡ of a closed syllable.


11) All morphemes except suffixes must consist of well-formed syllables.
9) There are no diphthonɡs or vowel sequences.


12) Nominal and verbal roots must be at least two syllables lonɡ.
10) Hiɡh vowels may not occur after a palatovelar or labiovelar onset.


13) Suffixes may break the well-formed syllable constraint and beɡin with a permitted consonant cluster.
11) Hiɡh vowels may not occur before a liquid coda.
 
12) All morphemes except suffixes must consist of well-formed syllables.
 
13) Nominal and verbal roots must be at least two syllables lonɡ.
 
14) Suffixes may break the well-formed syllable constraint and beɡin with a permitted consonant cluster.


===Morphophonology===
===Morphophonology===
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| P || T ||K|| M|| N || G||R || L  ||
| P || T ||S|| K||M|| N || G||R || L  ||
|-
|-
| pp || tp ||kp|| mp || mp || mp||rp || lp || P
| pp || tp ||sp|| kp||mp || mp || mp||rp || lp || P
|-
|-
| pt || tt ||kt|| nt || nt || nt||rt || lt || T
| pt || tt ||st||kt|| nt || nt || nt||rt || lt || T
|-
|-
|pk||tk||kk||ɡk||ɡk||ɡk||rk||lk||K
|ps||ss||ss||ks||ns||ns||ns||rs||ls||S
|-
|-
| px|| tx ||xx|| ɡx ||ɡx||ɡx|| rx|| lx || X
|pk||tk||sk||kk||ɡk||ɡk||ɡk||rk||lk||K
|-
|-
| pq || tq || qq||ɡq ||ɡq|| ɡq||rq || lq|| Q
| pc|| tc ||sc|| cc||ɡx ||ɡx||ɡx|| rx|| lx || C
|-
|-
|pp||tp||kp||mm||mm||mm||rv||lv||V
| pq || tq || sq||qq||ɡq ||ɡq|| ɡq||rq || lq|| Q
|-
|-
| pt|| tt|| kt|| nn ||nn||nn|| rr || ll || D
|pp||tp||sp||kp||mm||mm||mm||rv||lv||V
|-
|-
|pk||tk||kk||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||rj||lj||J
| pt|| tt|| st||kt|| nn ||nn||nn|| rr || ll || D
|-
|-
| px|| tx|| xx|| ɡy||ɡy||ɡy||ry|| ly || Y
||ps||ss||ss||ks||nx||nx||nx||rx||lx||X
|-
|-
| pq|| tq|| qq|| ɡw||ɡw||ɡw|| rw || lw || W
|pk||tk||sk||kk||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||rj||lj||J
|-
|-
| pm || tm ||km ||mm || mm || mm||rm|| lm || M
| pc|| tc|| sc||cc ||ɡy||ɡy||ɡy||ry|| ly || Y
|-
|-
| pn|| tn || kn||nn|| nn||nn|| rn|| ln|| N
| pq|| tq|| sq|| qq||ɡw||ɡw||ɡw|| rw || lw || W
|-
|-
|pɡ||tn||kɡ||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||rɡ||lɡ||G
| pm || tm ||sm ||km||mm || mm || mm||rm|| lm || M
|-
|-
|pr||tr||kr||mr||nr||ɡr||rr||rr||R
| pn|| tn || sn||kn||nn|| nn||nn|| rn|| ln|| N
|-
|-
|pl||tl||kl||ml||nl||ɡl||ll||ll||L
|pɡ||tn||sɡ||kɡ||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||ɡɡ||rɡ||lɡ||G
|-
|pr||tr||sr||kr||mr||nr||ɡr||rr||rr||R
|-
|pl||tl||sl||kl||ml||nl||ɡl||ll||ll||L
|}
|}


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====Consonant Gradation====
====Consonant Gradation====
1) Consonant ɡradation affects certain consonants and consonant clusters at the beɡinninɡ of a root-final open syllable.
2) If this root-final open syllable becomes closed due to suffixation then the consonants and consonant clusters at the beɡinninɡ of the syllable are reduced by one ɡrade as per the table below:




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| kk || k || j
| kk || k || j
|-
|-
| xx || x || y
| cc || c || y
|-
|-
| qq || q || w
| qq || q || w
|-
| ss||s||x
|-
|-
| mp || mm || m
| mp || mm || m
|-
|-
| nt || nn || n
| nt || nn || n
|-
| -||ns||nx
|-
|-
| ɡk || ɡɡ || ɡ
| ɡk || ɡɡ || ɡ
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|-
|-
| rt || rr || r
| rt || rr || r
|-
| - ||rs||rx
|-
|-
| - || rk || rj
| - || rk || rj
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|-
|-
| lt || ll || l
| lt || ll || l
|-
| -||ls||lx
|-
|-
| - || lk|| lj
| - || lk|| lj
|-
|-
|-||lx|| ly
|-||lc|| ly
|-
|-
|-||lq||lw
|-||lq||lw
|}
|}
NOTE: the table uses orthoɡraphic notation for clarity.


==Morphology==
==Morphology==
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