Vihal Phonology/Alphabet
Writing System
Vihal uses a modified alphabet, with consonants paired with vowel symbols to form syllable clusters. A L mark over the vowel indicates the syllable ends with an L; a N mark over the vowel indicates the syllable ends with an N. Syllable-initial vowels are marked with a dot above (i.e. A I U).
| V | H | L | N | R | S |
|---|
|
| v | h | l | n | r | s |
|
| |
| B | J | M | D | K | |
|---|
| b | j | m | d | k | |
| |
| I | A | U | |
|---|
| i | a | u | |
Phonology
The Vihal language has eleven consonant phonemes and three vowels:
Consonants
| | Bilabial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Glottal |
| Plosive | b <b> | d <d> | c <k> | |
|---|
| Fricative | β <v> | | z <s> | ç <j> | h <h> |
|---|
Lateral
approximant | | l <l> | |
|---|
| Tap/Flap | | r <r> | |
|---|
Vowels
| | Front | Central | Back |
|---|
| Close | i <i> | | u <u> |
|---|
| Open | a <a> | |
|---|
Phonological Changes
- K-Voicing – /k/ becomes [g] when not word-inital and between two vowels.
- S-Devoicing – /z/ becomes [s] before /i/.
- L-Devoicing – /l/ becomes voiceless [l̥] when syllable-final. This also devoices any immediately following consonants. Example: sildi (siLdi) is pronounced [sil̥.ti].
Syllable Structure
Vihal syllables follow a (C)V(l/n) pattern: They typically (but not always) start with a consonant, followed by a vowel. Syllables can only end in either a vowel or the consonants L or N. Example: vi-hal-di a-dal (vihaLdi adaL), "The man speaks/sings."
If an L or N could go with either of two consecutive syllables, it typically goes with the latter. Example: ru-nil (runiL), "the sun" (not *run-il). The exception to this is at morpheme boundaries, e.g. a-sil-i-han (AsiLIhaN "cats," from a-sil (AsiL) "cat."