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Snakes have vastly simplified mouths compared to human-being.  We are capable of making every sound they make, though some are easier than others.  Snakes have no lips. Their palate is occupied with the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ), which acts as a sense of smell.  Snakes have no uvula.  Their glottis can move aside when eating large prey.  They have no epiglottal region.
Snakes have vastly simplified mouths compared to human-beings.  We are capable of making every sound they make, though some are easier than others.  Snakes have no lips. Their soft-palate is occupied with the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ), which acts as a sense of smell.  Snakes have no uvula.  Their glottis can move aside when eating.


Sentient and non-sentient snakes hiss their entire volume of air without interruption, so a Parseltongue utterances cannot be longer than about fifteen seconds.  Stops are typically initial, and in a verb.  Whatever vocal-cords they are graced with by magic, snakes cannot speak very loudly or vary pitch beyond very low frequencies.  Humans speaking above a whisper, voicing consonants and vowels, are something like "shouting barbarians" to the snakes we were allowed to interview.
Sentient and non-sentient snakes hiss their entire volume of air without interruption, so a Parseltongue utterances cannot be longer than about ten seconds.  Stops are typically initial, and in a verb.  Whatever vocal-cords they are graced with by magic, snakes cannot speak very loudly or vary pitch beyond very low frequencies.  Humans speaking above a loud whisper, voicing consonants and vowels, are something like "shouting barbarians" to the snakes we were allowed to interview.


[[File:Snake_mouth.jpg|thumb|right|Snake mouth anatomy|400px]]
[[File:Snake_mouth.jpg|thumb|right|Snake mouth anatomy|400px]]
Given snake anatomy, even with the aide of magic, Parseltongue
Given snake anatomy, even with the aide of magic, Parseltongue
* has no labial consonants
* has no labial consonants
* has no retroflex consonants
* has no uvular consonants
* has no palatal or alveolar-palatal consonants
* has no uvular or epiglottal consonants
* has no voiced consonants
* has no voiced consonants
* is all spoken in creaky-voice
* has clicks
* has no corarticulated consonants
* has no co-articulated consonants (except nasal clicks)
* of the clicks, has only the dental and the lateral
* prefers to end an utterance with a sibilant/fricative or a vowel
* may begin an utterance with a stop, but they are unpleasant elsewhere in speech.
* has ejective forms of the stops (and affricates)
** (An exception to this is relative clauses, where verbs are still fronted as much as possible)
* has ingressive sounds in certain circumstances
* allows all affricates (though typically only utterance initial or final)
* must end an utterance with a sibilant/fricative or - much less commonly - a vowel
* has ejective forms of the stops and affricates


There are two non-phonemic sounds that snakes are readily capable of making, the trilled 'r' and the glottal stop.  However, /r/ is a highly erotic sound which no snake would make in polite company, and stopping the flow of air during an utterance is generally indicative of sickness or eating.
There is a non-phonemic sound that snakes are readily capable of making, the trilled 'r'.  However, /r/ is a highly erotic sound which no snake would make in polite company!
 
Non-parselmouths should take care not to "round" any consonants or vowels when speaking to a sentient snake.  Snakes have no lips, so this can render one's speech unintelligible.  English speakers should take greatest care with words beginning with 'r' or any 'sh' sound.


== Consonants ==
== Consonants ==
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0; float:right;"
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0; float:right;"
! colspan=17 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Consonants (IPA above, Romanization below)
! colspan=17 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Consonants (IPA above, Romanization below)
|- style="vertical-align: top; font-size: small;"
|- style="font-size: x-small;"
|  
|  
! rowspan="2" | Dental  
! Dental  
! colspan="2" | Alveolar  
! Alveolar  
! rowspan="2" | Post-alveolar
! Lateral
! colspan="2" | Velar
! <small>Retroflex</small>
! rowspan="2" | Pharyngeal
! Palatal
! rowspan="2" | Glottal
! Velar
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: x-small;"
! Radical
| || Central || Lateral || Central || Lateral
! Glottal
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Nasal || {{IPA|n̪̊}} || {{IPA|n̥}} || || {{IPA|ɳ̊}} || {{IPA|ɲ̊}} || {{IPA|ŋ̊}}
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''m''' || '''n''' || || '''ṇ''' || '''ñ''' || '''ŋ'''
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Unaspirated Stop || {{IPA|t̪}} || t || || {{IPA|ʈ}} || {{IPA|t͡ʃ}}~c || k || {{IPA|ʡ}}~{{IPA|ʛ̥ }} || {{IPA|ʔ}}
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''p''' || '''t''' || || '''ʈ''' || '''c''' || '''k''' || ''' ` ''' || ''' ' '''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Nasal || || {{IPA|}} || || || {{IPA|ŋ̊}}
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Aspirated Stop || {{IPA|t̪ʰ}} || tʰ || || {{IPA|ʈʰ}} || {{IPA|}} || {{IPA|kʰ}} || || {{IPA|ʔʰ}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || || '''n''' || || || '''ñ'''
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''ph''' || '''th''' || || '''ʈh''' || '''ch''' || '''kh''' || || ''' 'h '''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Unaspirated Stop || || t || || || k ||
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Ejective Stop || {{IPA|t̪ʼ}} || {{IPA|tʼ}} || || {{IPA|ʈʼ}} || c || {{IPA|kʼ}} ||
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || || '''d''' || || || '''g''' ||
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''p'''' || '''t'''' || || '''ʈ' ''' || '''c' ''' || '''k' ''' ||
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Ejective Stop || || t' || || || k' ||
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Click || {{IPA|ǀ}} || {{IPA|ǃ}} || {{IPA|ǁ}} || {{IPA|‼}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || || '''t''' || || || '''k''' ||
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''pq''' || '''tq'''|| '''zq''' || '''ʈq'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Click/Tap || {{IPA|ǀ}} || {{IPA|ɾ}} || {{IPA|ǁ}}
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Nasal Click || {{IPA|ᵑ̊ǀ}} || {{IPA|ᵑ̊ǃ}} || {{IPA|ᵑ̊ǁ}} || {{IPA|ᵑ̊‼}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"|  || '''¡''' || '''ř''' || '''¿'''
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"|  || '''npq''' || '''ntq'''|| '''nzq''' || '''nʈq'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Fricative || {{IPA|θ}} || s || {{IPA|ɬ}} || {{IPA|ʃ}} || x || {{IPA|ʟ̝̊}}
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Fricative || {{IPA|θ̟}} || s || {{IPA|ɬ}} || {{IPA|ʃ}}~{{IPA|ʂ}} || {{IPA|ɕ}}~{{IPA|ç}} || x ||
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''þ''' || '''s''' || '''ł''' || '''š''' || '''x''' || l
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''f''' || '''s''' || '''z''' || '''ṣ''' || '''ç''' || '''x''' ||  
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Approximant || || {{IPA|ɹ}} || l || || {{IPA|ɰ}} || {{IPA|ɫ̥}} || {{IPA|ħ}} || h
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Approximant || || || {{IPA|}} || {{IPA|ɻ̊}} || {{IPA|j̞̊}} || {{IPA|ɰ̊}} || {{IPA|ħ}} || h
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| ||  || '''r''' || '''l''' || || '''w''' || l || '''ħ''' || '''h'''
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| ||  || || '''l''' || '''r''' || '''j''' || '''w''' || '''g''' || '''h'''
|}
|}
The dentals are actually all ''interdental'', with the tongue protruding far out between the teeth.
The retroflex consonants are like those found in Hindi or Tamil.  That is, the tip of the tongue is not actually curled backwards, only pushed back past the alveolar ridge.  However, most humans have to articulate the retroflex click with the tongue actually curling back on itself (but snakes do not).
The palatal stop /c/ can be said in the way common to those unfamiliar with such a sound (i.e. /tʃ/) with no loss of clarity to a Parselmouth or a snake.


Most English speakers round their lips anyway when saying word-initial /r/, and any /ʃ/, which snakes regard as quite irritating.  For those unfamiliar with the sound /ɰ/, pronounce a 'w' but leave off the lip-rounding.  The dental click ('''¡''') is used in the English "tsk tsk tsk", while the lateral click ('''¿''') is used to spur on a horse.  The alveolar tap ('''ř''') is found as the 'r' and 'l' of East Asian languages, or the 'd'-like sound in the middle of 'water'.  The lateral fricative ('''ł''') is found in Welsh but may be very unfamiliar to English-speakers elsewhere.  The pharyngeal approximant ('''ħ''') is a very raspy, rattling 'h'.
For those unfamiliar with the sound /ɰ/, pronounce a 'w' but leave off the lip-rounding.  The lateral fricative ('''z''') is found in Welsh but may be very unfamiliar to English-speakers elsewhere.  The pharyngeal approximant ('''g''') is a very raspy 'h', produced as far down the throat as possible.  The epiglottal stop ('''`''') is produced very differently in snakes and humans, but is moderately similar to the sound many people use to imitate strong swallowing sounds, only whispered.


A history of Latin alphabet orthography has given rise to the system as presented in the tables.  Some consonants are exactly the same as IPA notation: '''x s l ħ h'''.  Others require some thought: '''n''' for /n̥/, '''ñ''' for /ŋ̊/, '''d''' for an unaspirated /t/, '''t''' for /t'/, '''g''' for unaspirated /k/, '''k''' for /k'/, '''þ''' for /θ/, '''š''' for /ʃ/ (like Czech), '''ł''' for /ɬ/, '''r''' for /ɹ/, '''ř''' for /ɾ/, and '''w''' for /ɰ/.  The dental and lateral clicks receive non-letter symbols: '''¡ ¿'''.
=== Clicks ===
The dental click ('''pq''') is used in the English "tsk tsk tsk", while the lateral click ('''zq''') is used to spur on a horse.  The alveolar click ('''tq''') is made by placing the tongue at the top of the mouth and then letting it slap down.  The African version of this click - where the mouth produces an overly loud, hollow sound - should be avoided. The retroflex click ('''ʈq''') is made by curling the tongue tip backwards and then sucking in.  Because there are ingressive, '''ʈq''' and '''nʈq''' are ''sui generis'' and not normally parts of words, but only exclamatory interjections and ideophones.


All affricate possibilities are realized in Parseltongue, though most are very rareParseltongue does not distinguish between affricate and non-affricate pairs, so the tie-bar is not commonly written, even in IPA.  The possibilities are: '''dþ ds dš dł gx tþ ts tš tł kx'''.
Clicks are most often "pre-nasalized", in which case they are written with the letter '''n''' before hand (i.e. '''npq''', '''ntq''', '''nzq''', and '''nʈq''')In practice, the nasal quality may match the click in place of articulation or more often be the velar nasal '''ŋ'''.  Such difference are not phonemic, so all version are spelled with an 'n'.


'''h''' can make any preceding letter aspiratedCare must be taken not to aspirate '''d''' and '''g''' normally.
=== Stop Harmony ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|
! "None" (º) || "Breathing" (ʰ) || "Biting" (')
|-
! m/f
| '''p'''
| '''ph'''
| ''' p' '''
|-
! n/s/z/l
| '''t'''
| '''th'''
| '''t' '''
|-
! ṇ/ṣ/r
| '''ʈ'''
| '''ʈh'''
| '''ʈ' '''
|-
! ñ/ç/j
| '''c'''
| '''ch'''
| '''c' '''
|-
! ŋ/x/w
| '''k'''
| '''kh'''
| '''k' '''
|-
! g/h
| ''' ' '''
| ''' 'h '''
| ''' ` '''
|}
Most verbs in Parseltongue begin with a stop (in the indicative).  These stops are most often ''underspecified''That is, they conform in place of articulation to the nasal, fricative, or approximant of the subject's classifier.
 
The names of the three classes of stops are calques of the Parseltongue names themselves.  Underspecified stops are as a '''T''' with the class symbols as a small superscript, e.g. '''ŋaT'''ʰ'''aṣo''' = '''ŋakhaṣo'''.
 
=== Ingressive ===
There are a small number of ingressive words in Parseltongue, mostly interjections, ideophones and onomatopoeias. There is no special notation for these words: they are either italicized or set off in down-arrows before and after (e.g. ↓kss↓).  The retroflex clicks (i.e. '''ʈq''' and '''nʈq''') are ingressive, but not marked as such in any way.
=== Allophony ===
=== Allophony ===
* g/x/k/gx/kx + l > /{{IPA|ɫ}}/
The lateral approximant and fricative seemingly do not care where they are articulated, capitulating left and right.  The following patterns all apply whether l/z comes first or second:
* g/x/k/gx/kx + ł > /{{IPA|ʟ̝̊}}/
* p/f/m + l > /{{IPA|l̪}}/
* ʈ/ṣ/ṇ + l > ḷ
* c/ç/ñ + l > /ʎ/
* k/x/ŋ + l > /{{IPA|ɫ̥}}/
* p/f/m + z > /ɬ̟/
* ʈ/ṣ/ṇ +  z> /ɬ̢/
* c/ç/ñ + z > /ʎ̝̊/
* k/x/ŋ + z > /{{IPA|ʟ̝̊}}/
 
Nasals assimilate place of articulation before stops and clicks.  Two hetrorganic nasals assimilate to the place of articulation of the first.
=== Gemination ===
English does distinguish between geminate and non-geminate consonants (cp. "his zeal" vs. "his eel") but it is often irrelevant.  In Parseltongue, however, it is of great import.  Stops cannot be geminated.


== Vowels ==
== Vowels ==
Line 81: Line 144:
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''i''' ||  || '''u'''
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''i''' ||  || '''u'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Near-high || {{{IPA|ɪ}}} ||  ||
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Near-high || {{{IPA|ɪ}}} ||  || {{IPA|ʊ̜}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"|  || '''y''' ||  ||
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"|  || '''ï''' ||  || '''ü'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| High-mid || {{IPA|e}} || || {{IPA|ɤ}}
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| High-mid || {{IPA|e}} || || {{IPA|ɤ}}
Line 91: Line 154:
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Low-mid || {{IPA|ɛ}} || || {{IPA|ʌ}}
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Low-mid || {{IPA|ɛ}} || || {{IPA|ʌ}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"|  || '''ë''' || || '''ü'''
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"|  || '''ë''' || || '''ö'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Near-low || {{IPA|æ}} || {{IPA|ɐ}}
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Near-low || {{IPA|æ}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''æ''' || '''a'''
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || '''a'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| Low || || {{IPA|ä}}
|-
|style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"| || || '''ä'''
|}
|}
The Parseltongue system of vowels consists of nine soundsAs with consonants, '''''there is no lip-rounding'''''.  Hence, '''u''' means /ɯ/ and '''o''' means /ɤ/English-speakers must remember to distinguish between '''i''' and '''y''': '''y''' always functions as it does in the English "myth" or "system", while '''i''' always a "long 'e'".
Like the [[Wikipedia:Niger-Congo language|Niger-Congo family of languages]] in Africa, Parseltongue has a system of five vowels, each of which has a twin with Advanced Tongue Root (ATR)These five vowels can be arranged in a 'V', with '''i''' in the top-left.  '''e''' is in the middle-left and '''a''' at the bottomThe unrounded (because, again, snakes have no lips) versions of '''o''' and '''u''' are the right-middle and top-right components of the 'V'With this pattern in mind, one can see how '''i''' and '''u''' are "high", while '''e''' and '''o''' are "mid".  '''a''' is "low"'''i e a''' are "front" and '''u o a''' are "back".  Notice how, in regards to frontness/backness, '''a''' is both.


Korean-speakers will have an advantage distinguishing '''e''' from '''ë''' from '''ü''': 에 vs. 애 vs. 어.
Like consonant gemination, all vowels exist in long and short versions.


The presence of diphthongs is disputed (see Phonotactics below).
When vowel hiatus occurs (which is often), snakes and Parselmouths do not glide between vowels, but neither are there excrescent glottal stops.


Parseltongue uses most of the letters of the English alphabet, excepting for 'c', 'j', 'm', 'p', 'q', 'v' and 'z' (because 'f' and 'b' mark frontness and backness of underspecified vowels)Eleven non-ASCII symbols are also needed: ¡, ¿, ř, ë, æ, ü, ë, š, ł, ħ, and þIn our notation, gemination is marked with .
=== Semi-Vowels ===
 
Generally, '''j''' and '''w''' function as consonants, even with geminationSometimes, however, they function as vowelsThere are no vowel-vowel diphthongs in Parseltongue, but any vowel can be coupled with any semi-vowel. After +ATR vowels, they are /i/ and /ɯ/After -ATR vowels, they are /ɪ/ and /ʊ̜/.
English speakers should take care to pronounce all the vowels carefully and no rush through unstressed syllablesParseltongue has only one central vowel ('''a'''), which appears comparable to the English central vowel /ə/.  They occur with the same frequency in speech, but care must be taken to not let ''any'' Parseltongue vowel become "reduced".


=== Vowel Harmony ===
=== Vowel Harmony ===
Of the nine vowels of Parseltongue, 6 participate in vowel harmony.  These vowels may be underspecified for frontness/backness or one of three heights.  (There is no rounding in Parseltongue.)  The three independent vowels have an assigned height but typically reduplicate themselves, overriding vowel harmony.  Underspecified prefixes and suffixes are written with '''f/b''' respectively for frontness/backness and '''1'''/'''2'''/'''3''' respectively for height.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left;"
{| class="wikitable"
|
! Indep.
! Front
! Front
! Back
! Back
! Height #
|-
|-
! y
! High
! i
| i
! u
| u
| 1
|-
|-
! æ
! Mid
! e
| e
! o
| o
| 2
|-
|-
! a
! Low
! ë
| colspan="2" | a/ä
! ü
| 3
|}
|}
Like [[Wikipedia:Finnish language|Finnish]], Parseltongue has [[Wikipedia:vowel harmony|vowel harmony]].  Like [[Wikipedia:Mongolian language|Mongolian]], however, it is based on [[Wikipedia:Advanced and retracted tongue root|Advanced Tongue Root]] (ATR).  In every case, pushing the tongue forward is indicated by removing the umlaut/diaeresis from the letter.  Hence, '''ï''' is /ɪ/ as in "kit"  and '''i''' is /i/ as in "keep".  '''a''' is /æ/ as in "Sally", while '''ä''' is /ä/ as in "father".


Vowels have three attributes:
* '''+high''' vs. '''+mid''' vs. '''+low'''
* '''+front''' vs. '''+back''' ('''a/ä''' is both)
* '''+ATR''' vs. '''-ATR'''
Underspecified vowels are written as a capital '''V''' with the set attribute(s) in small superscript, e.g. '''t'''<sup><small>+high,+front</small></sup>'''sä''' = '''tësä'''.
<br clear="both" />
== Phonotactics ==
== Phonotactics ==
Parseltongue can be extremely difficult to analyze phonotacticly.  Even with enunciating as one would to a fool or simpleton, snakes never cease the continuous airstream.  Syllable boundaries, therefore, are somewhat arbitrary.  Snakes we interviewed regard this as an unimportant, human problem, akin to transcribing choking or sneezing. For our purposes, we should regard Parseltongue syllables as capable of having either a vowel or a fricative in the nucleus.  The overwhelming majority of syllables are '''V''', '''CV''', or '''CVC'''.  Like [[Wikipedia:Estonian language|Estonian]], Parseltongue distinguishes [[geminate]] consonants and vowels with a high degree of specificity.  Under some analyses, there are ''three'' levels of gradation, but this is disputed and typically called a supersegmental featureIn our notation, doubling of any letter indicated gemination.
[[File:Snake vowel chart.svg|500px|right]]
Like the [[Wikipedia:Salishan languages|Salish language]] of the Pacific-Northwest, Parseltongue can be extremely difficult to analyze phonotacticly.  Even with enunciating as one would to a fool or simpleton, snakes never cease a continuous airstream. We managed to persuade our Burmese python to geminate stops (normally forbidden by Parseltongue phonotactics) but could not get her to supply prolonged glottal stops to ease our analysis! Syllable boundaries, therefore, are highly arbitrary.  The same snake we interviewed regard this as an unimportant, human problem, akin to transcribing choking or sneezing!  
 
Under our analysis, there are four over-arching types of syllables with regard to nuclei: vowels, liquids, clicks, and fricativeAffricates -- whether they share place of articulation or not -- are simply counted as stop + fricative.


A fricative (in the onset or in the nucleus) may be long or short.  A syllabic fricative may be preceded by a stop, and hence, part of an affricate.  It may also be preceded by an approximant or another fricative.  Open syllables, in this case, are common.  A fricative, nasal, or approximant can be analyzed as the coda of a fricative-nucleus syllable.
# Vowel nuclei (of either length)
## May have neither onset nor coda: '''V(:)'''
## May have an onset consonant: '''CV(:)'''
### which may have a coda sonorant (which can be geminate): '''CV(:)R(:)'''
## May have just a coda sonorant (which may be geminate): '''V(:)R(:)'''
## May have a consonant plus approximant onset cluster: '''CAV(:)'''
### which may have a coda sonorant (which can be geminate): '''CAV(:)R(:)'''
## May have an affricate onset cluster: '''OFV(:)'''
### which may have a coda sonorant (which can be geminate): '''OFV(:)R(:)'''
# Liquid nuclei (with or without gemination)
## May have neither onset nor coda: '''B(:)'''
## May have a fricative onset (which may be geminate): '''F(:)B(:)'''
# Fricative nuclei (with or without gemination)
## May have neither onset nor coda: '''F(:)'''
## May have an onset stop: '''SF(:)'''
# Click nuclei (without without gemination)
## May have neither onset nor coda: '''Q(:)'''
## May have a sonorant onset (which may be geminate): '''R(:)Q(:)'''


If a vowel is the syllable nucleus, it may be preceded by a tap, click, either nasal, a stop (which may be preceded by a fricative), a fricative, an affricate (which may be preceded by a fricative) or an approximant (which may be preceded by a stop or a fricative).  The coda of a vowel-nucleus syllable may be a nasal (which may be followed by a fricative), a fricative, '''l''' or '''h''', or it may be left open.  Clicks and taps may only follow an open, vowel-nucleus syllable.
* F = any Fricative ('''f''' + '''s''' + '''z''' + '''ṣ''' + '''ç''' + '''x''')
* N = any Nasal ('''m''' + '''n''' + '''ṇ''' + '''ñ''' + '''ŋ''')
* B = N + '''r''' + '''l'''
* A = any Approximant ('''l''' + '''r''' + '''j''' + '''w''' + '''g''' + '''h''')
* R = Sonorants (F + N + A)
* S = any Stop (including aspirated versions)
* Q = any egressive Click, including pre-nasalized Clicks, so not the retroflex clicks '''nʈq''' ('''pq''' + '''tq''' + '''zq''' + '''npq''' + '''ntq''' + '''nzq''')
* O = Obstruents (S + Q)
* C = any Consonant (R + O)
* V = any Vowel ('''a''' + '''ä''' + '''e''' + '''ë''' + '''i''' + '''ï''' + '''o''' + '''ö''' + '''u''' + '''ü''')


Aesthetically, snakes find it distasteful to have stops or clicks in the middle of an utterance.  Hence, while it would be possible through appropriate case use to have any word order, verbs almost always come first.
While nasals can be geminate, one nasal may never be followed by another (across syllable boundaries).


Accent is very hard to detect at times in Parseltongue.  It appears that almost all words are emphasized on the first syllable, though pronouns tend to be enclitic.  Unusually stress patterns are marked with an apostrophe herein (i.e. ''' ' ''').
Aesthetically, snakes find it undesirable to have stops in the middle of an utterance.  Hence, while it would be possible through appropriate case use to have any word order, verbs almost always come first.
 
Accent is very hard to detect at times in Parseltongue.  It appears that almost all words are emphasized on the first syllable, though pronouns tend to be enclitic.  Unusually stress patterns are marked with an acute on the nucleus (e.g. '''Nagíni''').
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|
! colspan="5" | Nasals
! colspan="6" | Stops
! colspan="6" | Fricatives
! colspan="6" | Approximants
! colspan="4" | Clicks
|-
| 1\2
! m || n || ṇ || ñ || ŋ || p* || t* || ʈ* || c* || k* || '* || f || s || z || ṣ || ç || x || l || r || j || w || g || h || pq* || tq* || zq* || ʈq*
|-
! m
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|mm}} || {{IDK|mm}} || {{IDK|mm}} || {{IDK|mm}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|nt}} || {{IDK|ṇʈ}} || {{IDK|ñc}} || {{IDK|ŋk}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} ||  ||  ||  ||  || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ml̪}}
|  || {{IDK|ñ}} || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ptq}} || {{IDK|ntq}} || {{IDK|nzq}} || {{IDK|nʈq}}
|-
! n
| {{IDK|nn}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|nn}} || {{IDK|nn}} || {{IDK|nn}} || {{IDK|mp}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ṇʈ}} || {{IDK|ñc}} || {{IDK|ŋk}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{IDK|mf}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} ||  ||  ||  || {{Yes|Y}} ||  || {{IDK|ñ}} ||  || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|npq}} || {{IDK|ntq}} || {{IDK|nzq}} || {{IDK|nʈq}}
|-
! ṇ
| {{IDK|ṇṇ}} || {{IDK|ṇṇ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ṇṇ}} || {{IDK|ṇṇ}} || {{IDK|mp}} || {{IDK|nt}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ñc}} || {{IDK|ŋk}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| || || || {{Yes|Y}} || || || {{Yes|ṇḷ}} || || {{IDK|ñ}} || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{IDK|npq}} || {{IDK|ntq}} || {{IDK|nzq}} || {{IDK|nʈq}}
|-
! ñ
| {{IDK|ññ}} || {{IDK|ññ}} || {{IDK|ññ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ññ}} || {{IDK|mp}} || {{IDK|nt}} || {{IDK|ṇʈ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ŋk}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| || || || || {{Yes|Y}} || || || || || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{IDK|npq}} || {{IDK|ntq}} || {{IDK|nzq}} || {{IDK|nʈq}}
|-
! ŋ
| {{IDK|ŋŋ}} || {{IDK|ŋŋ}} || {{IDK|ŋŋ}} || {{IDK|ŋŋ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|mp}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ṇʈ}} || {{IDK|ñc}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| || || || || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ŋɫ̥}} || || || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{IDK|npq}} || {{IDK|ntq}} || {{IDK|nzq}} || {{IDK|nʈq}}
|-
! p*
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{IDK|p'}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|tz}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ʨ}} || {{IDK|tx}} || {{Yes|pl̪}}
| {{IDK|tr}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ph}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! t*
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{IDK|t'}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ʨ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|th}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! ʈ*
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{IDK|ʈ'}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ʨ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ʈḷ}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ʈh}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! c*
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{IDK|c'}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|cʎ̝̊}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|ch}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! k*
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} ||{{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{IDK|k'}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|kɫ̥}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|kh}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! '*
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{IDK|`}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|'h}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! f
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|fl̪}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! s
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! z
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! ṣ
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ṣḷ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! ç
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|çʎ̝̊}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! x
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|xɫ̥}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! l
| {{Yes|l̪m}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ḷṇ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ɫ̥ŋ}} || {{Yes|l̪p}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ḷʈ}} || {{Yes|ʎ̝̊c}} || {{Yes|ɫ̥k}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|l̪f}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|ḷṣ}} || {{Yes|ʎ̝̊ç}} || {{Yes|ɫ̥x}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|l̪pq}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|ḷʈq}}
|-
! r
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! j
| colspan="11" style="background:#90ff90;" | as /ɪ/
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|ɪɰ}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| colspan="4" style="background:#90ff90;" | as /ɪ/
|-
! w
| colspan="11" style="background:#90ff90;" | as /ɯ/
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|ɯj}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| colspan="4" style="background:#90ff90;" | as /ɯ/
|-
! g
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! h
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
! pq*
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|pqn}} || {{IDK|pqn}} || {{IDK|pqn}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
| {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{No}}
|-
! tq*
| {{IDK|tqn}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|tqṇ}} || {{IDK|tqṇ}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{No|N}} || || ||
| || || || || || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{No}}
|-
! zq*
| {{IDK|zqn}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{IDK|zqn}} || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{Yes|Y}} || {{No}}
|-
! ʈq*
| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|Y}}
|-
| 1\2
! m || n || ṇ || ñ || ŋ || p* || t* || ʈ* || c* || k* || '* || f || s || z || ṣ || ç || x || l || r || j || w || g || h || pq* || tq* || zq* || ʈq*
|}
 
== Orthography ==
Gemination is indicated by doubling the letter.  Like English, Parseltongue has several sounds that are written with two letters, called ''digraphs''.  Even more unusual, the pre-nasalized clicks can be written as ''trigraphs'', that is, one sound that takes three letters to write.  The Latin alphabet orthography is a mixture of European, African, and Dravidian techniques.  The sequence is given below in its full order, with [[Wikipedia:Conlang X-SAMPA|Z-SAMPA]] transcriptions.
* '''a''' is <tt>[ä]</tt> as in ''Sally''
** '''ä''' is <tt>[Â]</tt> as in ''father''
* '''b''' is not used
* '''c''' is <tt>[c\]</tt>, much like English 'ch' in ''church'', but not made of two parts (t + sh), and without an accompanying breath-out
** '''ch''' is <tt>[c\_h]</tt>like '''c''', but with the breath of air
** '''c' ''' is <tt>[c\_>]</tt>the ejective of '''c''', as in beatboxing
* '''ç''' is <tt>[C]</tt>like 'sh' + 'y' said quickly, as in ''mesh yet''
* '''d''' is not used
* '''e''' is <tt>[e]</tt> as in ''bet''
** '''ë''' is <tt>[E]</tt> as in Scottish ''bet'', like the vowel in ''thanks'' said rapidly (no diphthong)
* '''f''' is <tt>[T]</tt> as in ''thin'', never ''they'' (with the tongue-tip sticking farther out between the teeth)
* '''g''' is <tt>[X\]</tt> like a harsh 'h' said low in the throat
* '''h''' is <tt>[h]</tt> as in ''harpie'' (and can end a syllable!)
** also used after '''p''', '''t''', and '''k''' to produce aspirated stops
* '''i''' is <tt>[i]</tt> as in ''sheet''
** '''ï''' is <tt>[I]</tt> as in ''shit''
* '''j''' is <tt>[j]</tt> as in "yes" (In Parseltongue, it is like /ɪ/ - not /i/ - made into a consonant)
* '''k''' is <tt>[k]</tt> as in "kit", but without a breath of air
** '''kh''' is <tt>[k_h]</tt> the same as '''k''', but with the breath of air
** '''k'''' is <tt>[k_>]</tt> as in beatboxing 'k'
* '''l''' is <tt>[l]</tt> or <tt>[l_d]</tt> or <tt>[l`]</tt> or <tt>[L]</tt> or <tt>[L\]</tt> as in ''lull'', but can also be velarized, or dental


[[File:Snake vowel chart.svg|500px|right]]
* '''a''' is /a/ as in ''father'' (아)
* '''æ''' is /æ/ as in ''fat'' (전설 비원순 근저모음)
* '''b''' is a '''back vowel''' (i.e. '''u''', '''o''', '''ü''', and sometimes '''a''', 후설 모음)
* '''c''' is not used
* '''d''' is /t/ as in ''stop'' (note the lack of a puff of air, ㄷ)
* '''þ''' is /θ/, English 'th' as in ''thin'' never ''they'' (무성 치 마찰음)
* '''e''' is /e/ as in ''bet'' (에)
* '''ë''' is /ɛ/ as in Scottish ''bet'' (애)
* '''f''' is a '''front vowel''' (i.e. '''i''', '''e''', '''ë''', and sometimes '''y''' and '''æ''', 전설 모음)
* '''g''' is /k/ as in ''skit'' (note t he lack of a puff of air, ㄱ)
* '''ħ''' is /ħ/, a raspy and tight 'h' (무성 인두 마찰음)
* '''h''' is /h/ as in ''hat'' (ㅎ)
* '''i''' is /i/ as in ''beet'' (이)
* '''j''' is not used
* '''k''' is /k'/ as in a 'k' sound when beatboxing (ㅋ)
* '''l''' is /l/ as in ''lamp'', sometimes as in ''pull'' (치경 설측 접근음)
* '''ł''' is /ɬ/ as in Welsh ''llwyd'' (무성 치경 설측 마찰음)
* '''m''' is not used
* '''n''' is /n/ as in ''nun'', but in a whisper (ㄴ)
* '''ñ''' is /ŋ/ as in ''sing'', but in a whisper (ㅇ)
* '''o''' is /ɤ/ as in ''oil'', but without the lip-rounding (오)
* '''p''' is not used
* '''q''' is not used
* '''r''' is /ɹ/ as in ''furr'' (but not too far back down the throat)
* '''ř''' is /ɾ/ as in the middle consonant of ''water'' (ㄹ)
* '''s''' is /s/ as in ''sass'' (ㅅ)
* '''š''' is /ʃ/, English 'sh' as in ''shush''
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|
|
C=nñgdkt <br />
N=nmñŋņ<br />
T=ř¡¿ <br />
C=pdtʈc<br />
S=sšxþł <br />
T=q<br />
R=rlħhw <br />
S=szxfşç<br />
V=aieyëæouü <br />
R=rljghwy<br />
V=aäeëiïoöuü<br />
|
|
SV <br />
(.)b|$1$1
CV <br />
|
V <br />
SV<br />
CVS <br />
NV<br />
SVS <br />
RV<br />
CRV <br />
V<br />
SRV <br />
NVS<br />
TV <br />
SVS<br />
SS <br />
RVS<br />
NVR<br />
SVR<br />
RVR<br />
SRV<br />
CV<br />
CVS<br />
CVR<br />
CRV<br />
TV<br />
SS<br />
|-
|-
| colspan="2" | [http://zompist.com/gen http://zompist.com/gen]
| colspan="3" | [http://zompist.com/gen http://zompist.com/gen]
|}
|}
* '''t''' is /t'/ as in a 't' sound when beatboxing ()
 
* '''u''' is /ɯ/ as in ''suit'', but without the lip-rounding (우)
* '''m''' is <tt>[n_d_0]</tt> as in ''tenth''
* '''ü''' is /ʌ/ as in ''aw'', but without the lip-rounding (어)
* '''n''' is <tt>[n_0] as in ''nun'' whispered
** '''ñ''' is <tt>[J]</tt> as in Russian ''nyet'' whispered
** '''ṇ''' is <tt>[n`_0]</tt>, like English '''n''' but with the tongue tip curled further back.
** '''ŋ''' is <tt>[N_0]</tt>, as in ''sing'' (but can begin a syllable!)
** A generic '''n''' is also used in trigraphs to indicate nasalized clicks
* '''o''' is <tt>[ë]</tt> like 'foe' without the lip rounding (not a diphthong, like Spanish)
** '''ö''' is <tt>[Ë]</tt> like an English ''cot'' without lip-rounding
* '''p''' is <tt>[t_d]</tt> like the 't' in ''uncouth talk'', said rapidly, with the tongue between the teeth, but without a breath of air
** '''p' ''' is <tt>[t_d_>]</tt>, an ejective dental t, as in beatboxing
** '''ph''' is <tt>[t_d_h]</tt>the same as '''p''' but with the exhaled breath
** '''pq''' is <tt>[=\]<tt>, the dental click, like spurring a horse on
*** '''npq''' is <tt>[n_!]</tt>
* '''q''' is only used in digraphs to produce clicks after '''p''', '''t''', '''ʈ''', and '''z'''
* '''r''' is <tt>[r\`_0]</tt> as in ''peruse'' whispered (be careful not to put the tongue-tip behind the alveolar ridge)
* '''s''' is <tt>[s]</tt> as in ''sass''
** '''ṣ''' is <tt>[S]</tt> or <tt>[s`]</tt> as in ''shush'' (without lip-rounding and with the tongue-tip further back)
* '''t''' is <tt>[t]</tt> as in ''star',  without a breath of air
** '''t' ''' is <tt>[t_>]</tt>, an ejective 't' as in beatboxing
** '''th''' is <tt>[t_h]</tt> the same as '''t''' but with the exhaled breath
** '''tq''' is <tt>[|\]</tt> the alveolar click, like children imitating horses trotting
*** '''ntq''' is <tt>[J_!]</tt>, the nasalized alveolar click
* '''ʈ''' is <tt>[t`]</tt> a 't' but without the breath of air escaping and with the tongue-tip curled further back
** '''ʈ' ''' is <tt>[t`_>]</tt>, an ejective 't' as in beatboxing
** '''ʈh''' is <tt>[t`_h]</tt> the same as '''ʈ''' but with the exhaled breath
** '''ʈq''' is <tt>[!\]</tt> the retroflex click
*** '''nʈq''' is <tt>[n`_!]</tt>
* '''u''' is <tt>[ï]</tt>, an unrounded version of ''shoot''
** '''ü''' is <tt>[Ï]</tt>, an unrounded version of ''cut''
* '''v''' is not used
* '''v''' is not used
* '''w''' is /ɰ/ as in ''quick'', but without the lip-rounding
* '''w''' is <tt>[M\_0]</tt>, like a whispered 'w' without lip rounding
* '''x''' is /x/ as in ''loch''
* '''x''' is <tt>[x]</tt>, as in ''loch'' or ''Bach''
* '''y''' is /ɪ/ as in ''bit''
* '''y''' is not used
* '''z''' is not used
* '''z''' is <tt>[K]</tt>, like the Welsh 'll'
** '''zq''' is <tt>[|\|\]</tt>the lateral click
** '''nzq''' is <tt>[n_7]</tt>
* ''' ' ''' is <tt>[?]</tt> the glottal-stop, like the dash in ''uh-oh''
** ''' 'h ''' is <tt>[?_h]</tt> the aspirated glottal stop, if you will ''uh-ho''
** ''' ` ''' is <tt>[>\]</tt> or <tt>[q_<\]</tt> the epiglottal stop or the unvoiced ingressive velar stop, like a whispered imitation of swallowing
 
== Devanagari ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|
! Ø
! m || n || ṇ || ñ || ŋ
! f || z || s || ṣ || ç || x
! l || r || j || w || g || h
|-
! a
| अ
| म || न || ण || ञ || ङ
| फ़ || ळ || स || ष || श || ख़
| ल || र || य || व || हँ || ह
|-
! ä
| आ
| मा || ना || णा || ञा || ङा
| फ़ा || ळा || सा || षा || शा || ख़ा
| ला || रा || या || वा || हँा || हा
|-
! e
| ए
| मे || ने || णे || ञे || ङे
| फ़े || ळे || से || षे || शे || ख़े
| ले || रे || ये || वे || हंे || हे
|-
! ë
| ऐ
| मै || नै || णै || ञै || ङै
| फ़ै || ळै || सै || षै || शै || ख़ै
| लै || रै || यै || वै || हैं || है
|-
! i
| इ
| मि || नि || णि || ञि || ङि
| फ़ि || ळि || सि || षि || शि || ख़ि
| लि || रि || यि || वि || हंि || हि
|-
! ï
| ई
| मी || नी || णी || ञी || ङी
| फ़ी || ळी || सी || षी || शी || ख़ी
| ली || री || यी || वी || हीं || ही
|-
! o
| ओ
| मो || नो ||  णो || ञो || ङो
| फ़ो || ळो || सो || षो || शो || ख़ो
| लो || रो || यो || वो || हों || हो
|-
! ö
| औ
| मौ || नौ || णौ || ञौ || ङौ
| फ़ौ || ळौ || सौ || षौ || शौ || ख़ौ
| लौ || रौ || यौ || वौ || हौं || हौ
|-
! u
| उ
| मु || नु || णु || ञु || ङु
| फंु || ळु || सु || षु|| शु || खंु
| लु || रु || यु || वु || हँु || हु
|-
! ü
| ऊ
| मू || नू || णू || ञू || ङू
| फंू || ळू || सू || षू || शू || खंू
| लू || रू || यू || वू || हँू || हू
|-
! ø
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| मऽ || नऽ || णऽ || ञऽ || ङऽ
| फ़ऽ || ळऽ || सऽ || षऽ || शऽ || ख़ऽ
| लऽ || रऽ || यऽ || वऽ || हँऽ || हऽ
|}
In India, a method for writing Parseltongue in Devanāgarī arose independently.  Some general principles are.
* The ''avagraha'' (ऽ) is used for consonants without immediately subsequent vowels.
* The ''visarga'' (ः) is used for geminate consonants and long vowels
* The long-vowel symbols were used as -ATR symbols.
* /e/ and /i/ use /ai/ and /au/ as their -ATR symbols.
* The ''candrabindu/anunāsika'' is used on nasalized clicks and '''g''', while ''nukta/anusvāra'' is a general diacritic.
=== Ø, Nasals, Fricatives, and Approximants ===
 
* The 'p'-series plus ''nukta'' makes the /θ̟/ fricative series.
** The ''nukta'' becomes an ''anunāsika'' to make room in '''fu''' and '''fü'''.
* The 'kh'-series plus ''nukta'' makes the /x/ series.
** The ''nukta'' becomes an ''anunāsika'' to make room in '''xu''' and '''xü'''.
* The ळ-series has been utilized to make the lateral (/ɬ/) series.
* The 'h'-series plus ''candrabindu'' makes the /ħ/ series.
** The ''candrabindu'' becomes an ''anunāsika'' to make room in '''ge''', '''gë''', '''gi''', '''gï''', '''go''', and '''gö'''.
* The use of 'v' for 'w' is ''consistent'' (i.e. there are no 'v's).
<br clear="both" />
=== Stops and Clicks ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left;"
| rowspan="2" |
! colspan="5" | Interdental
! colspan="5" | Alveolar
! colspan="2" | Lateral
! colspan="5" | Retroflex
! colspan="3" | Palatal
! colspan="3" | Velar
! colspan="3" | *Glottal
|-
! p || ph || p' || pq || npq
! t || th || t' || tq || ntq
! zq || nzq
! ʈ || ʈh || ʈ' || ʈq || nʈq
! c || ch || c'
! k || kh || k'
! ' || 'h || `
|-
! a
| प || फ || ब || भ || भँ
| त || थ || ध || ध || धँ
| ऌ || ऌँ
| ट || ठ || ड || ढ || ढँ
| च || छ || ज <!--झ//--> <!--झँ//-->
| क || ख || ग <!--घ//--> <!--घँ//-->
| ॽ || ॽं || ॻ
|-
! ä
| पा || फा || बा || भा || भँा
| ता || था || दा || धा || धँा
| ऌा || ऌँा
| टा || ठा || डा || ढा || ढँा
| चा || छा || जा
| का || खा || गा
| ॽा || ॽंा || ॻा
|-
! e
| पे || फे || बे || भे || भें
| ते || थे || दे || धे || धें
| ऌे || ऌंे
| टे || ठे || डे || ढे || ढें
| चे || छे || जे
| के || खे || गे
| ॽे || ॽंे || ॻे
|-
! ë
| पै || फै || बै || भै || भैं
| तै || थै || दै || धै || धैं
| ऌै || ऌंै
| टै || ठै || डै || ढै || ढैं
| चै || छै || जै
| कै || खै || गै
| ॽै || ॽंै|| ॻै
|-
! i
| पि || फि || बि || भी || भँि
| ति || थि || दि || धी || धँि
| ऌि || ऌँि
| टि || ठि || दि || ढि || ढँि
| चि || छि || जि
| कि || खि || गि
| ॽि || ॽंि || ॻि
|-
! ï
| पी || फी || बी || भी || भीं
| ती || थी || दी || धी || धीं
| ऌी || ऌीं
| टी || ठी || डी || ढी || ढीं
| ची || छी || जी
| की || खी || गी
| ॽी || ॽीं || ॻी
|-
! o
| पो || फो || बो || भो || भों
| तो || थो || दो || धो || धों
| ऌो || ऌों
| टो || ठो || डो || ढो || ढों
| चो || छो || जो
| को || खो || गो
| ॽो || ॽों || ॻो
|-
! ö
| पौ || फौ  || बौ || भौ || भौं
| तौ || थौ || दौ || धौ || धौं
| ऌौ || ऌौं
| टौ || ठौ || डौ || ढौ || ढौं
| चौ || छौ || जौ
| कौ || खौ || गौ
| ॽौ || ॽौं || ॻौ
|-
! u
| पु || फु || बु || भु || बँु
| तु || थु || दु || धु || धँु
| ऌु || ऌँू
| टु || ठु || डु || ढु || ढँु
| चु || छु || जु
| कु || खु || गु
| ॽु || ॽंु || ॻु
|-
! ü
| पू || फू || बू || भू || भँू
| तू || थू || दू || धू || धँू
| ऌू || ऌँू
| टू || ठू || डू || ढू || ढँू
| चू || छू || जू
| कू || खू || गू
| ॽू || ॽंू || ॻू
|-
! ø
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" | 
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| भऽ || भँऽ
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| धऽ || धँऽ
| ऌऽ || ऌँऽ
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| ढऽ || ढँऽ
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
| style="background:#aaa;" |
|}


* '''¡''' is /ǀ/ as in 'tsk tsk'
* '''¿''' is /ǁ/ as in cajoling a horse
* ' means the next syllable gets the accent, not the first.


* The voiced stops serve as ejectives.
* The  aspirated voiced stops serve as clicks.
* The modern glottal stop symbol (ॽ) is used for ''''a''', or with a ''visarga'' for ''''ha'''.
** The ingressive ॻ is used for the epiglottal stop.
* The ''dantya'' (ऌ) is used for the lateral click.
* The ''candrabindu'' becomes an ''anunāsika'' before an '''e''', '''ë''', '''ï''', '''o''', or '''ö''' in all cases.
[[Category:Stilio]]
[[Category:Stilio]]

Latest revision as of 13:56, 23 March 2013

Snakes have vastly simplified mouths compared to human-beings. We are capable of making every sound they make, though some are easier than others. Snakes have no lips. Their soft-palate is occupied with the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ), which acts as a sense of smell. Snakes have no uvula. Their glottis can move aside when eating.

Sentient and non-sentient snakes hiss their entire volume of air without interruption, so a Parseltongue utterances cannot be longer than about ten seconds. Stops are typically initial, and in a verb. Whatever vocal-cords they are graced with by magic, snakes cannot speak very loudly or vary pitch beyond very low frequencies. Humans speaking above a loud whisper, voicing consonants and vowels, are something like "shouting barbarians" to the snakes we were allowed to interview.

Snake mouth anatomy

Given snake anatomy, even with the aide of magic, Parseltongue

  • has no labial consonants
  • has no uvular consonants
  • has no voiced consonants
  • has clicks
  • has no co-articulated consonants (except nasal clicks)
  • prefers to end an utterance with a sibilant/fricative or a vowel
  • has ejective forms of the stops (and affricates)
  • has ingressive sounds in certain circumstances

There is a non-phonemic sound that snakes are readily capable of making, the trilled 'r'. However, /r/ is a highly erotic sound which no snake would make in polite company!

Non-parselmouths should take care not to "round" any consonants or vowels when speaking to a sentient snake. Snakes have no lips, so this can render one's speech unintelligible. English speakers should take greatest care with words beginning with 'r' or any 'sh' sound.

Consonants

Consonants (IPA above, Romanization below)
Dental Alveolar Lateral Retroflex Palatal Velar Radical Glottal
Nasal n̪̊ ɳ̊ ɲ̊ ŋ̊
m n ñ ŋ
Unaspirated Stop t ʈ t͡ʃ~c k ʡ~ʛ̥  ʔ
p t ʈ c k ` '
Aspirated Stop t̪ʰ ʈʰ ʔʰ
ph th ʈh ch kh 'h
Ejective Stop t̪ʼ ʈʼ c
p' t' ʈ' c' k'
Click ǀ ǃ ǁ
pq tq zq ʈq
Nasal Click ᵑ̊ǀ ᵑ̊ǃ ᵑ̊ǁ ᵑ̊‼
npq ntq nzq nʈq
Fricative θ̟ s ɬ ʃ~ʂ ɕ~ç x
f s z ç x
Approximant ɻ̊ j̞̊ ɰ̊ ħ h
l r j w g h

The dentals are actually all interdental, with the tongue protruding far out between the teeth.

The retroflex consonants are like those found in Hindi or Tamil. That is, the tip of the tongue is not actually curled backwards, only pushed back past the alveolar ridge. However, most humans have to articulate the retroflex click with the tongue actually curling back on itself (but snakes do not).

The palatal stop /c/ can be said in the way common to those unfamiliar with such a sound (i.e. /tʃ/) with no loss of clarity to a Parselmouth or a snake.

For those unfamiliar with the sound /ɰ/, pronounce a 'w' but leave off the lip-rounding. The lateral fricative (z) is found in Welsh but may be very unfamiliar to English-speakers elsewhere. The pharyngeal approximant (g) is a very raspy 'h', produced as far down the throat as possible. The epiglottal stop (`) is produced very differently in snakes and humans, but is moderately similar to the sound many people use to imitate strong swallowing sounds, only whispered.

Clicks

The dental click (pq) is used in the English "tsk tsk tsk", while the lateral click (zq) is used to spur on a horse. The alveolar click (tq) is made by placing the tongue at the top of the mouth and then letting it slap down. The African version of this click - where the mouth produces an overly loud, hollow sound - should be avoided. The retroflex click (ʈq) is made by curling the tongue tip backwards and then sucking in. Because there are ingressive, ʈq and nʈq are sui generis and not normally parts of words, but only exclamatory interjections and ideophones.

Clicks are most often "pre-nasalized", in which case they are written with the letter n before hand (i.e. npq, ntq, nzq, and nʈq). In practice, the nasal quality may match the click in place of articulation or more often be the velar nasal ŋ. Such difference are not phonemic, so all version are spelled with an 'n'.

Stop Harmony

"None" (º) "Breathing" (ʰ) "Biting" (')
m/f p ph p'
n/s/z/l t th t'
ṇ/ṣ/r ʈ ʈh ʈ'
ñ/ç/j c ch c'
ŋ/x/w k kh k'
g/h ' 'h `

Most verbs in Parseltongue begin with a stop (in the indicative). These stops are most often underspecified. That is, they conform in place of articulation to the nasal, fricative, or approximant of the subject's classifier.

The names of the three classes of stops are calques of the Parseltongue names themselves. Underspecified stops are as a T with the class symbols as a small superscript, e.g. ŋaTʰaṣo = ŋakhaṣo.

Ingressive

There are a small number of ingressive words in Parseltongue, mostly interjections, ideophones and onomatopoeias. There is no special notation for these words: they are either italicized or set off in down-arrows before and after (e.g. ↓kss↓). The retroflex clicks (i.e. ʈq and nʈq) are ingressive, but not marked as such in any way.

Allophony

The lateral approximant and fricative seemingly do not care where they are articulated, capitulating left and right. The following patterns all apply whether l/z comes first or second:

  • p/f/m + l > //
  • ʈ/ṣ/ṇ + l > ḷ
  • c/ç/ñ + l > /ʎ/
  • k/x/ŋ + l > /ɫ̥/
  • p/f/m + z > /ɬ̟/
  • ʈ/ṣ/ṇ + z> /ɬ̢/
  • c/ç/ñ + z > /ʎ̝̊/
  • k/x/ŋ + z > /ʟ̝̊/

Nasals assimilate place of articulation before stops and clicks. Two hetrorganic nasals assimilate to the place of articulation of the first.

Gemination

English does distinguish between geminate and non-geminate consonants (cp. "his zeal" vs. "his eel") but it is often irrelevant. In Parseltongue, however, it is of great import. Stops cannot be geminated.

Vowels

Vowels (IPA above, Romanization below)
Front Center Back
High i ɯ
i u
Near-high ɪ ʊ̜
ï ü
High-mid e ɤ
e o
Low-mid ɛ ʌ
ë ö
Near-low æ
a
Low ä
ä

Like the Niger-Congo family of languages in Africa, Parseltongue has a system of five vowels, each of which has a twin with Advanced Tongue Root (ATR). These five vowels can be arranged in a 'V', with i in the top-left. e is in the middle-left and a at the bottom. The unrounded (because, again, snakes have no lips) versions of o and u are the right-middle and top-right components of the 'V'. With this pattern in mind, one can see how i and u are "high", while e and o are "mid". a is "low". i e a are "front" and u o a are "back". Notice how, in regards to frontness/backness, a is both.

Like consonant gemination, all vowels exist in long and short versions.

When vowel hiatus occurs (which is often), snakes and Parselmouths do not glide between vowels, but neither are there excrescent glottal stops.

Semi-Vowels

Generally, j and w function as consonants, even with gemination. Sometimes, however, they function as vowels. There are no vowel-vowel diphthongs in Parseltongue, but any vowel can be coupled with any semi-vowel. After +ATR vowels, they are /i/ and /ɯ/. After -ATR vowels, they are /ɪ/ and /ʊ̜/.

Vowel Harmony

Front Back
High i/ï u/ü
Mid e/ë o/ö
Low a/ä

Like Finnish, Parseltongue has vowel harmony. Like Mongolian, however, it is based on Advanced Tongue Root (ATR). In every case, pushing the tongue forward is indicated by removing the umlaut/diaeresis from the letter. Hence, ï is /ɪ/ as in "kit" and i is /i/ as in "keep". a is /æ/ as in "Sally", while ä is /ä/ as in "father".

Vowels have three attributes:

  • +high vs. +mid vs. +low
  • +front vs. +back (a/ä is both)
  • +ATR vs. -ATR

Underspecified vowels are written as a capital V with the set attribute(s) in small superscript, e.g. t+high,+front = tësä.


Phonotactics

Snake vowel chart.svg

Like the Salish language of the Pacific-Northwest, Parseltongue can be extremely difficult to analyze phonotacticly. Even with enunciating as one would to a fool or simpleton, snakes never cease a continuous airstream. We managed to persuade our Burmese python to geminate stops (normally forbidden by Parseltongue phonotactics) but could not get her to supply prolonged glottal stops to ease our analysis! Syllable boundaries, therefore, are highly arbitrary. The same snake we interviewed regard this as an unimportant, human problem, akin to transcribing choking or sneezing!

Under our analysis, there are four over-arching types of syllables with regard to nuclei: vowels, liquids, clicks, and fricative. Affricates -- whether they share place of articulation or not -- are simply counted as stop + fricative.

  1. Vowel nuclei (of either length)
    1. May have neither onset nor coda: V(:)
    2. May have an onset consonant: CV(:)
      1. which may have a coda sonorant (which can be geminate): CV(:)R(:)
    3. May have just a coda sonorant (which may be geminate): V(:)R(:)
    4. May have a consonant plus approximant onset cluster: CAV(:)
      1. which may have a coda sonorant (which can be geminate): CAV(:)R(:)
    5. May have an affricate onset cluster: OFV(:)
      1. which may have a coda sonorant (which can be geminate): OFV(:)R(:)
  2. Liquid nuclei (with or without gemination)
    1. May have neither onset nor coda: B(:)
    2. May have a fricative onset (which may be geminate): F(:)B(:)
  3. Fricative nuclei (with or without gemination)
    1. May have neither onset nor coda: F(:)
    2. May have an onset stop: SF(:)
  4. Click nuclei (without without gemination)
    1. May have neither onset nor coda: Q(:)
    2. May have a sonorant onset (which may be geminate): R(:)Q(:)
  • F = any Fricative (f + s + z + + ç + x)
  • N = any Nasal (m + n + + ñ + ŋ)
  • B = N + r + l
  • A = any Approximant (l + r + j + w + g + h)
  • R = Sonorants (F + N + A)
  • S = any Stop (including aspirated versions)
  • Q = any egressive Click, including pre-nasalized Clicks, so not the retroflex clicks nʈq (pq + tq + zq + npq + ntq + nzq)
  • O = Obstruents (S + Q)
  • C = any Consonant (R + O)
  • V = any Vowel (a + ä + e + ë + i + ï + o + ö + u + ü)

While nasals can be geminate, one nasal may never be followed by another (across syllable boundaries).

Aesthetically, snakes find it undesirable to have stops in the middle of an utterance. Hence, while it would be possible through appropriate case use to have any word order, verbs almost always come first.

Accent is very hard to detect at times in Parseltongue. It appears that almost all words are emphasized on the first syllable, though pronouns tend to be enclitic. Unusually stress patterns are marked with an acute on the nucleus (e.g. Nagíni).


Nasals Stops Fricatives Approximants Clicks
1\2 m n ñ ŋ p* t* ʈ* c* k* '* f s z ç x l r j w g h pq* tq* zq* ʈq*
m Y mm mm mm mm Y nt ṇʈ ñc ŋk Y Y Y ml̪ ñ Y Y ptq ntq nzq nʈq
n nn Y nn nn nn mp Y ṇʈ ñc ŋk Y mf Y Y Y ñ Y Y npq ntq nzq nʈq
ṇṇ ṇṇ Y ṇṇ ṇṇ mp nt Y ñc ŋk Y Y ṇḷ ñ Y Y npq ntq nzq nʈq
ñ ññ ññ ññ Y ññ mp nt ṇʈ Y ŋk Y Y Y Y npq ntq nzq nʈq
ŋ ŋŋ ŋŋ ŋŋ ŋŋ Y mp Y ṇʈ ñc Y Y Y ŋɫ̥ Y Y npq ntq nzq nʈq
p* No No No No No No No No No No p' Y Y tz Y ʨ tx pl̪ tr Y Y Y ph No No No No
t* No No No No No No No No No No t' Y Y Y Y ʨ Y Y Y Y Y Y th No No No No
ʈ* No No No No No No No No No No ʈ' Y Y Y Y ʨ Y ʈḷ Y Y Y Y ʈh No No No No
c* No No No No No No No No No No c' Y Y Y Y Y Y cʎ̝̊ Y Y Y Y ch No No No No
k* No No No No No No No No No No k' Y Y Y Y Y Y kɫ̥ Y Y Y Y kh No No No No
'* No No No No No No No No No No ` Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 'h No No No No
f Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y fl̪ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
s Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
z Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ṣḷ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
ç Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y çʎ̝̊ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
x Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y xɫ̥ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
l l̪m Y ḷṇ Y ɫ̥ŋ l̪p Y ḷʈ ʎ̝̊c ɫ̥k Y l̪f Y Y ḷṣ ʎ̝̊ç ɫ̥x Y Y Y Y Y Y l̪pq Y Y ḷʈq
r Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
j as /ɪ/ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ɪɰ Y Y as /ɪ/
w as /ɯ/ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ɯj Y Y Y as /ɯ/
g Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
h Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
pq* Y Y pqn pqn pqn No No No No No Y Y Y No Y No No Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y No
tq* tqn Y Y tqṇ tqṇ No No No No No Y Y Y N Y Y Y No
zq* zqn Y zqn Y Y Y No
ʈq* No No No Y
1\2 m n ñ ŋ p* t* ʈ* c* k* '* f s z ç x l r j w g h pq* tq* zq* ʈq*

Orthography

Gemination is indicated by doubling the letter. Like English, Parseltongue has several sounds that are written with two letters, called digraphs. Even more unusual, the pre-nasalized clicks can be written as trigraphs, that is, one sound that takes three letters to write. The Latin alphabet orthography is a mixture of European, African, and Dravidian techniques. The sequence is given below in its full order, with Z-SAMPA transcriptions.

  • a is [ä] as in Sally
    • ä is [Â] as in father
  • b is not used
  • c is [c\], much like English 'ch' in church, but not made of two parts (t + sh), and without an accompanying breath-out
    • ch is [c\_h]like c, but with the breath of air
    • c' is [c\_>]the ejective of c, as in beatboxing
  • ç is [C]like 'sh' + 'y' said quickly, as in mesh yet
  • d is not used
  • e is [e] as in bet
    • ë is [E] as in Scottish bet, like the vowel in thanks said rapidly (no diphthong)
  • f is [T] as in thin, never they (with the tongue-tip sticking farther out between the teeth)
  • g is [X\] like a harsh 'h' said low in the throat
  • h is [h] as in harpie (and can end a syllable!)
    • also used after p, t, and k to produce aspirated stops
  • i is [i] as in sheet
    • ï is [I] as in shit
  • j is [j] as in "yes" (In Parseltongue, it is like /ɪ/ - not /i/ - made into a consonant)
  • k is [k] as in "kit", but without a breath of air
    • kh is [k_h] the same as k, but with the breath of air
    • k' is [k_>] as in beatboxing 'k'
  • l is [l] or [l_d] or [l`] or [L] or [L\] as in lull, but can also be velarized, or dental

N=nmñŋņ
C=pdtʈc
T=q
S=szxfşç
R=rljghwy
V=aäeëiïoöuü

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SV
NV
RV
V
NVS
SVS
RVS
NVR
SVR
RVR
SRV
CV
CVS
CVR
CRV
TV
SS

http://zompist.com/gen
  • m is [n_d_0] as in tenth
  • n is [n_0] as in nun whispered
    • ñ is [J] as in Russian nyet whispered
    • is [n`_0], like English n but with the tongue tip curled further back.
    • ŋ is [N_0], as in sing (but can begin a syllable!)
    • A generic n is also used in trigraphs to indicate nasalized clicks
  • o is [ë] like 'foe' without the lip rounding (not a diphthong, like Spanish)
    • ö is [Ë] like an English cot without lip-rounding
  • p is [t_d] like the 't' in uncouth talk, said rapidly, with the tongue between the teeth, but without a breath of air
    • p' is [t_d_>], an ejective dental t, as in beatboxing
    • ph is [t_d_h]the same as p but with the exhaled breath
    • pq is [=\], the dental click, like spurring a horse on
      • npq is [n_!]
  • q is only used in digraphs to produce clicks after p, t, ʈ, and z
  • r is [r\`_0] as in peruse whispered (be careful not to put the tongue-tip behind the alveolar ridge)
  • s is [s] as in sass
    • is [S] or [s`] as in shush (without lip-rounding and with the tongue-tip further back)
  • t is [t] as in star', without a breath of air
    • t' is [t_>], an ejective 't' as in beatboxing
    • th is [t_h] the same as t but with the exhaled breath
    • tq is [|\] the alveolar click, like children imitating horses trotting
      • ntq is [J_!], the nasalized alveolar click
  • ʈ is [t`] a 't' but without the breath of air escaping and with the tongue-tip curled further back
    • ʈ' is [t`_>], an ejective 't' as in beatboxing
    • ʈh is [t`_h] the same as ʈ but with the exhaled breath
    • ʈq is [!\] the retroflex click
      • nʈq is [n`_!]
  • u is [ï], an unrounded version of shoot
    • ü is [Ï], an unrounded version of cut
  • v is not used
  • w is [M\_0], like a whispered 'w' without lip rounding
  • x is [x], as in loch or Bach
  • y is not used
  • z is [K], like the Welsh 'll'
    • zq is [|\|\]the lateral click
    • nzq is [n_7]
  • ' is [?] the glottal-stop, like the dash in uh-oh
    • 'h is [?_h] the aspirated glottal stop, if you will uh-ho
    • ` is [>\] or [q_<\] the epiglottal stop or the unvoiced ingressive velar stop, like a whispered imitation of swallowing

Devanagari

Ø m n ñ ŋ f z s ç x l r j w g h
a फ़ ख़ हँ
ä मा ना णा ञा ङा फ़ा ळा सा षा शा ख़ा ला रा या वा हँा हा
e मे ने णे ञे ङे फ़े ळे से षे शे ख़े ले रे ये वे हंे हे
ë मै नै णै ञै ङै फ़ै ळै सै षै शै ख़ै लै रै यै वै हैं है
i मि नि णि ञि ङि फ़ि ळि सि षि शि ख़ि लि रि यि वि हंि हि
ï मी नी णी ञी ङी फ़ी ळी सी षी शी ख़ी ली री यी वी हीं ही
o मो नो णो ञो ङो फ़ो ळो सो षो शो ख़ो लो रो यो वो हों हो
ö मौ नौ णौ ञौ ङौ फ़ौ ळौ सौ षौ शौ ख़ौ लौ रौ यौ वौ हौं हौ
u मु नु णु ञु ङु फंु ळु सु षु शु खंु लु रु यु वु हँु हु
ü मू नू णू ञू ङू फंू ळू सू षू शू खंू लू रू यू वू हँू हू
ø मऽ नऽ णऽ ञऽ ङऽ फ़ऽ ळऽ सऽ षऽ शऽ ख़ऽ लऽ रऽ यऽ वऽ हँऽ हऽ

In India, a method for writing Parseltongue in Devanāgarī arose independently. Some general principles are.

  • The avagraha (ऽ) is used for consonants without immediately subsequent vowels.
  • The visarga (ः) is used for geminate consonants and long vowels
  • The long-vowel symbols were used as -ATR symbols.
  • /e/ and /i/ use /ai/ and /au/ as their -ATR symbols.
  • The candrabindu/anunāsika is used on nasalized clicks and g, while nukta/anusvāra is a general diacritic.

Ø, Nasals, Fricatives, and Approximants

  • The 'p'-series plus nukta makes the /θ̟/ fricative series.
    • The nukta becomes an anunāsika to make room in fu and .
  • The 'kh'-series plus nukta makes the /x/ series.
    • The nukta becomes an anunāsika to make room in xu and .
  • The ळ-series has been utilized to make the lateral (/ɬ/) series.
  • The 'h'-series plus candrabindu makes the /ħ/ series.
    • The candrabindu becomes an anunāsika to make room in ge, , gi, , go, and .
  • The use of 'v' for 'w' is consistent (i.e. there are no 'v's).


Stops and Clicks

Interdental Alveolar Lateral Retroflex Palatal Velar *Glottal
p ph p' pq npq t th t' tq ntq zq nzq ʈ ʈh ʈ' ʈq nʈq c ch c' k kh k' ' 'h `
a भँ धँ ऌँ ढँ ॽं
ä पा फा बा भा भँा ता था दा धा धँा ऌा ऌँा टा ठा डा ढा ढँा चा छा जा का खा गा ॽा ॽंा ॻा
e पे फे बे भे भें ते थे दे धे धें ऌे ऌंे टे ठे डे ढे ढें चे छे जे के खे गे ॽे ॽंे ॻे
ë पै फै बै भै भैं तै थै दै धै धैं ऌै ऌंै टै ठै डै ढै ढैं चै छै जै कै खै गै ॽै ॽंै ॻै
i पि फि बि भी भँि ति थि दि धी धँि ऌि ऌँि टि ठि दि ढि ढँि चि छि जि कि खि गि ॽि ॽंि ॻि
ï पी फी बी भी भीं ती थी दी धी धीं ऌी ऌीं टी ठी डी ढी ढीं ची छी जी की खी गी ॽी ॽीं ॻी
o पो फो बो भो भों तो थो दो धो धों ऌो ऌों टो ठो डो ढो ढों चो छो जो को खो गो ॽो ॽों ॻो
ö पौ फौ बौ भौ भौं तौ थौ दौ धौ धौं ऌौ ऌौं टौ ठौ डौ ढौ ढौं चौ छौ जौ कौ खौ गौ ॽौ ॽौं ॻौ
u पु फु बु भु बँु तु थु दु धु धँु ऌु ऌँू टु ठु डु ढु ढँु चु छु जु कु खु गु ॽु ॽंु ॻु
ü पू फू बू भू भँू तू थू दू धू धँू ऌू ऌँू टू ठू डू ढू ढँू चू छू जू कू खू गू ॽू ॽंू ॻू
ø भऽ भँऽ धऽ धँऽ ऌऽ ऌँऽ ढऽ ढँऽ


  • The voiced stops serve as ejectives.
  • The aspirated voiced stops serve as clicks.
  • The modern glottal stop symbol (ॽ) is used for 'a, or with a visarga for 'ha.
    • The ingressive ॻ is used for the epiglottal stop.
  • The dantya (ऌ) is used for the lateral click.
  • The candrabindu becomes an anunāsika before an e, ë, ï, o, or ö in all cases.