Ur-Veyatic - Phonology

Profile

• Vowels: /a e i o u ae/
• Productive diphthongs: /ey ai au/
• Consonants: /p b t d k g kh m n f v s z sh zh h th dh l r w j/
• Syllable structure: (C)(C)V(C) to (C)(C)V(C)(C) in celebratory or conservative words
• Typical codes: r, l, n, t, k, th, s, sh
• Stress: on the root syllable; often this is the first full syllable
• Sound character: dark enough for depth of age, but not blocky; worn and wavy instead of hard, staccato

Inventory count

• Core vowels: 6
• Productive diphthongs: 3
• Core consonants: 21

Phonotactic tendencies

• Initial clusters remain limited and family-owned: thr, shr, khl, dr, vr, sw
• Internal sonorant sequences such as -yar-, -var-, -ral-, -than- are common
• Heavy end edges are allowed but not dominant; The language thrives on alternation between the open middle and the marked end of the word
• Word final r remains mostly clearly audible; word final t is often crossed out as th in ritual or slow speech

Historically important patterns

• ey remains a core feature of the language family and is one of the clearest hereditary characters in words of speech and perception
• ae often has a deictic or nominal stabilizing effect, especially in old determiners and celebratory adjectives
• Secondary vowels can be weakened in fast speech, but are fully supported in stone, song and legal formulas

Impression for new creations

A new Ur-Veyatic word sounds appropriate if it:

• shows no clear earthly leanings
• has a recognizable root with a resonant core
• prefers to work with th, sh, zh, ae, ey, -r, -n, -th than with modern European-looking patterns
• sounds neither as open and smooth as Veyrathi nor as reduced and angular as Veythar