logical language - Developers

Ithkuil: A Philosophical Design for a Hypothetical Language
Home Introduction 4 Case Morphology 8 Adjuncts 12 The Number System
FAQs 1 Phonology 5 Verb Morphology 9 Syntax List of Abbreviations
Links of Interest 2 Morpho-Phonology 6 More Verb Morphology 10 Lexico-Semantics The Lexicon
Updates / News 3 Basic Morphology 7 Suffixes 11 The Writing System Texts
Chapter 1: Phonology
1.1 Note On Orthography and Transliteration 1.3 Phonological Processes and Rules
1.2 Phonemic Inventory 1.4 Phonotactic Rules
The phonology of a language essentially refers to its sound system, i.e., its systematic employment of consonants, vowels, and
other vocalized phenomena such as pitch, stress (or accent), and tone in order to physically convey the meaningful content of
the language itself. The phonological system of Ithkuil is detailed in the sections below.
1.1 NOTE ON ORTHOGRAPHY AND TRANSLITERATION
The native script used to represent Ithkuil is both alien and complex. It is explained in Chapter 11. As a result of this
complexity, a system of romanization is employed throughout this grammar to allow the reader to recognize the general
phonetic structure of Ithkuil words. Due to the inadequacies of the Roman alphabet in transliterating some of the phonemes
(meaningful sounds) in Ithkuil, various diacritics are necessary for a phonemic Romanization system. Additionally, there are
two digraphs, dh and xh, which represent single sounds.
1.2 PHONEMIC INVENTORY
Ithkuil has 45 consonants and 13 vowels. These phonemes are illustrated by place and manner of articulation in Table No. 1
below using a special romanized orthography.
Tables 1(a) and 1(b): Phonemic Inventory
Table 1(a): Consonantal Inventory
PLOSIVES AFFRICATES
plain aspirated ejective plain aspirated ejective
unvoiced
+voice
unvoiced
unvoiced
unvoiced
+voice
unvoiced
unvoiced
Fricatives Nasals Taps/
Trills
unvoiced
Liquids Approximants
+voice +voice +voice +voice +voice
BILABIAL p b p h p’ _ _ _ _ _ _ m _ _ _