Proto-Lakhesian language

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Lakhesian ({{{nativename}}})
Pronunciation: {{{pronunciation}}}
Spoken in: Shireroth
Region: Barony of Lakhesis
Total speakers: unknown
Language family: Lakhesian
Writing system: {{{alphabet}}}
Official status
Official language in: Shireroth: Barony of Lakhesis
Regulated by: Lakhesian Language Council

Sounds

Consonants I decided I wanted a sound system that is familiar enough to English that you can pronounce it, but not quite the same. These are the consonants so far:

Stops: p, pʲ, t, tʲ, k, kʲ Fricatives: f, s, sʲ, ʃ (as in shoot), ʃʲ, x (as in German Bach), xʲ, h Approximants: w, r, l, lʲ, j (as the y in year) Nasals: m, n, nʲ, ŋ, ŋʲ

Now you might think one of two things. Perhaps what that tiny j is for. It denotes palatalization, which is when you finish a consonant by raising the tongue up to the hard palate, like you're pronouncing a little j or y after the consonant. The other question could be where all the voiced consonants have gone. The simple answer is that I've decided not to have b, d, g, v, z, zh or any of the other voiced consonants, except the nasals and the approximants.

Vowels a, e, i, o, u; pronounced as in Spanish. a:, e:, i:, o:, u:; same as above, but long. All similar realisations of these sounds are valid, as long as they don't glide over to another vowel.

Syllable structure

The syllable structure is (C) - V - (C-palatalized).

Stress

Lakhesian has gentle stress on the first syllable, similar to Hungarian.

Alphabet

Translitterated a, e, i, o, u, c(=ʃ), f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, x(=x), y, '. The final letter, the apostrophe, denotes palatalization of the preceeding consonant. Long vowels are marked with an acute accent, like á.