View source for Sarim

'''Sarim''' is one of the larger languages of the Ke:tic family. It is a strongly head-initial, largely isolating language. 

== Phonology ==

===Phoneme Inventory===

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
|-
|
|'''Labial'''
|'''Dental'''
|'''Alveolar'''
|'''Palatal'''
|'''Velar'''
|'''Glottal'''
|-
|'''Plosive/Affricate'''
|'''b''' /p/ '''p''' /pʰ/
|'''d''' /t/ '''t''' /tʰ/
|
|
|'''g''' /k/ '''k''' /kʰ/
|-
|'''Fricative'''
|
|'''th''' /θ/
|'''s''' /s/ 
|'''hy''' /ç/
|
|'''h''' /h/
|-
|'''Nasal'''
|'''m''' /m/
|
|'''n''' /n/
|'''ny''' /ɲ/
|'''ŋ''' /ŋ/
|
|-
|'''Liquid'''
|
|
|'''r''' /ɾ/ '''l''' /l/ 
|'''y''' /j/
|'''w''' /w/
|
|}



'''Vowels'''

<table><tr><td>'''i''' /i/ '''ī''' /i:/ </td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>'''u''' /u/ '''ū''' /u:/</td></tr> 
<tr><td>'''e''' /ɛ/ '''ē''' /e:/ </td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>'''o''' /ɒ/ '''ō'''/o:/</td></tr>  
<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>'''a''' /ɐ/ '''ā''' /ɐ:/</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></table>

Sarim also has the dipthongs '''ai au ei au oi ou''' /ai au ei eu oi ou/, all falling.

===Syllable Structure===

Sarim has a (C)(C)V(C) syllable structure. Onset clusters are made up of one of /m n p t k b d g s h/ + /r/. Word-internally, only /n/ or /s/ can occur in coda position. Word-finally, /n m r l t d θ s h/ may occur. Note that /h/ does not occur following a consonant. 

===Allophony===
 
- /n/ assimilates to the point of articulation of any following consonant, e.g. /np/ [mp]. Note that /m ŋ/ do not assimilate to the same point of articulation. 

- /k g/ are realised as [ʨ ʥ] before /i/.

- /h/ often strengthens to [x] between vowels.
 
- /r/ is realised as a tap [ɾ], except word-finally, where it weakens to an approximant [ɹ]. 

- The three short vowels are generally realised as [ɪ æ ʊ]. Word-final /a/ is realised as [ə]. The long vowels are realised close the their cardinal values, although note that word-final long vowels may be realised as short, e.g. /ari/ [æ'ɾɪ] /ari:/ [æri].

- Short /ai au/ are realised [əj əw].