logical language - Developers

1.2.2 Pronunciation of Vowels
There are thirteen vowel phonemes, all of which are pure sounds, not glided into diphthongs as in English.
a A low unrounded central vowel as in Spanish or Italian. IPA or X-SAMPA [a].
â A low unrounded back vowel as in Western U.S. all, or a conservative French pronunciation of pâte. IPA [ɑ];
e The mid-low unrounded front vowel of English bet, Italian letto, or French être. IPA [ε] or X-SAMPA [E]. When
followed by a vowel other than u, it is pronounced like the vowel ê immediately below, only shorter.
ê The mid unrounded front vowel of Spanish este or Italian cadere or French déjà, lengthened. IPA or X-SAMPA [e:]
i
The mid-high lax unrounded front vowel as in English sit, or German sitzen. IPA [I] or X-SAMPA [I]. At the end of
a word, or when followed by a vowel other than u, it is pronounced like the vowel î immediately below, only
shorter.
î the high tense rounded vowel of Spanish or Italian libro, or Fench litre, lengthened. IPA or X-SAMPA [i:]
o The mid rounded back vowel of English short or Italian otto. IPA [ ] or X-SAMPA [O]. When followed by a vowel
other than i, it is pronounced like the vowel ô immediately below, only shorter.
ô The mid-low rounded back vowel in Spanish or Italian cosa, lengthened. IPA or X-SAMPA [o:]
u The mid-high lax rounded back vowel of English put or look or German putsch. IPA [ ] or X-SAMPA [U]. At the
end of a word, or when followed by a vowel other than i, it is pronounced like the vowel û immediately below, only
shorter.
û the high tense rounded back vowel of Spanish or Italian puta or crudo, lengthened. IPA or X-SAMPA [u:]
ë The mid unrounded central vowel in American English cut or nut, IPA [ə] or X-SAMPA [@].
ö This vowel may be pronounced either of two ways: (1) as the mid-low rounded front vowel of French feu, IPA [ø]
or X-SAMPA [2]; or (2) as the mid rounded front vowel of French neuf, IPA [œ] or X-SAMPA [9].
ü A high central rounded vowel, as found in Norwegian hus or the Highland Scottish pronunciation of English book or
good; IPA [ ] or X-SAMPA [ }]. This vowel may alternately be pronounced as the high rounded front vowel of
French du or German über, IPA or X-SAMPA [y], if this is easier for the speaker.
1.2.2.1 Epenthetic Vowel Following a Glottal Stop. In Ithkuil words where a glottal stop (spelled ’) is followed by a
consonant (e.g., as in the words ka’tal or morui’ss), the glottal stop is usually followed by a very briefly pronounced vowel
sound before the following consonant is pronounced. This vowel may be pronounced in either of two ways, whichever is
easier for the speaker. The first is as the high central unrounded vowel of Russian быть, IPA [ ] or X-SAMPA [1]. The
second way is to pronounce it as the high back unrounded vowel found in Turkish (spelled with an undotted i), IPA [ ] or X-
SAMPA [M]. Both of these vowels are extremely short in duration and may even be de-voiced if the following consonant is
voiceless.
1.2.3 Diphthongs
An Ithkuil syllable may contain one diphthong (a combination of two vowels pronounced together as one syllable). All Ithkuil
diphthongs are “falling” diphthongs, i.e., the first vowel of the diphthong receives the primary articulation while the second