Zãi

Overview

Zãi is a conlang created by tvk. It is a sister language to Tsani.

Internal History

The most notable features of Zãi include vowel mutations and nasalization of vowels accompanying loss of the -n coda found in the protolanguage. Unlike Tsani, Zãi retains the glottalization distinction and introduces phonemic aspirated stops, but does not distinguish between voiced and unvoiced stops. However, it does distinguish between voiced and unvoiced fricatives. It also has phonemic vowel length and pitch-accent.

The vowels /i/ and /U/ cause mutation of the preceding vowel:

I-mutation

/a/ -> /aI/ /E/ -> /i/ /o/ -> /eI/ /U/ -> /y/

U-mutation

/a/ -> /A/ /i/ -> /y/

The -n coda to any syllable causes nasalization of the preceding vowel and is then lost. The following replacements also occur:

/aI.ni/ -> /aI~.i~/