Phonology ​

Consonants ​

Vowels ​

• There is a seven vowel system, with /a ɛ e i u o ɔ/
• There are two diphthongs in the language: /eɪ/ and /oʉ/
• Vowel length is dependent on whether the syllable is an open or closed syllable
  • Closed syllables are those syllables which have a coda; vowels are short in closed syllables
  • Open syllables have no coda; vowels are long in open syllables
  • Long vowels are approximately one and a half times as long as their short vowel counterparts
• Stress is predictable based on the vowels present in the final two syllables
  • Balasian classifies e, ê, ei, ou and ô as "heavy" vowels, and a, i and u as "light" vowels
  • Stress is always on the penultimate syllable unless the penultimate syllable contains a light vowel, and the final syllable a heavy vowel

Orthographic Notes ​

• /ɛ/ is written as ê; /ɔ/ as ô
• /eɪ/ is written as ei; /oʉ/ is written as ou
• /x/ is written as h; /χ/ as χ
• /ʃ/ is written as š; /t͡ʃ/ as č, d͡ʒ as j
• /j/ is written as y

Syllable Structure ​

• Maximal syllable strucure is CCVC