Introduction - Sound changes - Phonology - Nominal morphology - Verbal Morphology - Syntax - Sample text - Lexicon - Appendix

ɑˈgɑf language

Sound changes

Evolving from a dialect where /ɦ/ is realised [ɣ]

Approximant rising :
[w] > [v]
[j] > [ʒ]

Aspiration of affricates :
[pf ts tʃ kx] > [pʰ tʰ tʰ kʰ]

Hiatuses reduction : A short vowel is ellided when in contact with a long vowel. When two long vowel are in contact, the most further away from the accent is deleted. Shwas are ellided. Semi vowels are ellided. Front vowels are ellided. High vowels are elided.

Fricative point of articulation shift :
[ɸ θ] > [f]
[ʃ ʒ] > [x ɣ]

First short vowel shift :
[i y e ɛ a ɨ u o ɔ] > [ɪ ʏ ɛ æ ə ə ʊ ɔ ɑ] / both oral and nasal vowels

[ɹ] > [z] / before a vowel

Fortition of voiced fricatives :
[v z ɣ] > [b d g]

[ɹ] > [ɰ]
[ɲ] > [ŋ]

Nasal shift :
[b d g] > [m n ŋ] / before a nasal vowel
[m n ŋ] > [b d g] / before an oral vowel

Diphthonguisation of accented long vowels :
[iː yː eː ɛː œː aː ɨː uː oː ɑː] > [ei øy ai ae ay əa əɨ ou au əɑ]

[nasal vowel] > [oral vowel]

Second short vowel shift :
[ɪ ʏ ə ʊ] > [e ø ø o]

[sf] > [f]

[geminate consonant] > [simple consonant]

Voiced occlusive forming a cluster with a voiceless consonant become voiceless.

Diphthongs merger and shift :
[ei əɨ] > [ɛɪ]
[øy] > [œɪ]
[ai ay ae] > [aɪ]
[ou] > [ɔʊ]
[au] > [aʊ]
[əa] > [ja]
[əɑ] > [jɑ]

Accent moves on the first long vowel of a word
[Long vowels] > [short vowels]
[a] > [æ]

[jæ jɑ] > [ʲæ ʲɑ] / after a consonant