Lakovic

Kurmian (an dhàoigh Cuatham)

Phonology

Initials

An unusual feature of Kurmian phonology is that palatalized stops are realized as clicks.

Lakovic initials

		Labial		Coronal		Coarticulated		Velar		Glottal
		broad	slender	broad	slender	broad	slender	broad	slender
Nasal	voiceless	/m̊/	/ŋ̊ʘ/	/n̊/	/ŋ̊ǀ/	/ŋ̊!/	/ŋ̊ǂ/	/ŋ̊/	/ɲ̊/
	voiceless	/m/	/ŋʘ/	/n/	/ŋǀ/	/ŋ!/	/ŋǂ/	/ŋ/	/ɲ/
Stop	tenuis	/p/	/ʘ/	/t/	/ǀ/	/!/	/ǂ/	/k/	/c/	/ʔ/
	aspirated	/pʰ/	/ʘʰ/	/tʰ/	/ǀʰ/	/!ʰ/	/ǂʰ/	/kʰ/	/cʰ/
	voiced	/b/	/gʘ/	/d/	/gǀ/	/g!/	/gǂ/	/g/	/ɟ/
Fricative	voiceless	/f/	/fç/	/s/	/sç/	/ɧ/	/ʂ/	/x/	/ç/	/h/
	voiced			/z/	/zj/	/ɧ̬/	/ʐ/	/ɣ/	/ʝ/
Trill				/r/	/r̝/
Approximant		/w/	/ɥ/	/l/	/ʎ/				/j/

Medials

The medial is optional. There is one possible medial, /w~ɥ/.

Nucleus

There are three possible nuclei: /a/, /ə/ and zero. The nuclei display a range of different realizations depending on the phonetic environment:

• /a/ is realized as:
• /ə/ is realized as:
• Zero nucleus is realized as:
  • /u/ if the medial is /w/
  • /y/ if the medial is /ɥ/
  • /i/ if the medial is zero
  • /ɨ/ if the medial is zero and

Coda

The coda is optional. There are seven possible finals in Kurmian: /m n ŋ l r w j/.

Mutations

seimhiu
/p, ʘ/ > /f(ʲ)/
/pʰ, ʘʰ/ > /f(ʲ)/
/b, gʘ, m, ŋʘ/ > /w, ɥ/
/t, |/ > /h/
/d, g|/ > /ɣ, j/
/tʰ, |ʰ/ > /h/
/!, ǂ, !ʰ, ǂʰ/ > /ɧ, ɧʲ/
/g|, gǂ/ > voiced sj
/k, c, kʰ, cʰ/ > /x, ç/
/g, gʲ/ > /ɣ, j/
/s, sʲ/ > /x, ç/

uru:
/p, ʘ/ > /b gʘ/ > /m, ŋʘ/
/pʰ ʘʰ/ > /m̊ ŋ̊ʘ/
/t, |/ > /d, g|/ > /n, ŋ|/
/tʰ, |ʰ/ > /nʰ, ŋʰ|/
/!, ǂ/ > /g!, gǂ/ > /ŋ!, ŋǂ/
/!ʰ, ǂʰ/ > /ŋʰ!, ŋʰǂ/
/k, c/ >/g, gʲ/ > /ŋ, ŋʲ/
/s, sʲ/ > /z, zʲ/ (spelled ns)

Grammar

masculine declension:

singular:
an: nominative
an-S: accusative
an-H: genitive

plural:
on-S: nominative
on-N: accusative
on-S: genitive

feminine declension:

singular:
an-S: nominative (*ire*)
an-S: accusative
an-N: genitive

plural:
ár: nominative
ár-N: accusative
ár-S: genitive