Proto-Lakhesian language

From ShireWiki
Revision as of 02:32, 6 January 2010 by Malliki (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
Lakhesian (Lakhesian)
Pronunciation: {{{pronunciation}}}
Spoken in: Shireroth
Region: Barony of Lakhesis
Total speakers: 14 million
Language family: Lakhesian
Writing system: {{{alphabet}}}
Official status
Official language in: Shireroth: Barony of Greater Lakhesis
Regulated by: Lakhesian Language Council

Lakhesian is mainly spoken in the Barony of Lakhesis. It is the main language of the County of Benacia and the Lakhesian Tribal Nation, as well as widely spoken in Amarr. Sizeable Lakhesian communities also exist in Highpass. There are also communities that still speak the language on the islands off the coast of K'Tzuni, as well as in regions of Ashkenatza that are close to the Lakhesian border and the coast. Most scolars agree that the language is a remnant from the people that inhabited the area before the tribes that would later make up the classes that founded Shireroth came to the area. Some believe, but most serious linguists disagree, that the Lakhesians and their langauge are a direct descendant from the people of the Khaz Modan empire.

Phonology

Consonants

The Lakhesian consonant system is pretty straight-forward for English speakers, with some anomalies.

Stops

p, t, k, ' (glottal stop)

Fricatives

f, s, ʃ (as in shoot), h

Approximants

w, l, ll (voiceless l), j (as the y in year)

Nasals

m, n, ŋ

Vowels

Monophthongs

a, i, o, u. Pronounced as in Spanish.

Diphthongs

ai, au, ou, oi. 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 CV, where C is a consonant and V is a monophthong or a diphthong.

Stress

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

Transliteration

a, i, o, u, ai, au, oi, ou, sh(=ʃ), f, h, j, k, l, ll, m, n, ng, p, s, t, w, '. The final letter, the apostrophe, represents the glottal stop.