Telefax

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Telefax A

Consonants

t(ʰ)
p ts ~ ʧ k
ɬ s ~ ʃ x h
ɓ ɗ ɠ
m n
w l     j
  • [tʰ h l] occur only initially.
  • [t n ɗ ɠ x] occur only medially.
  • Occurring alternation pairs: t~tʰ; n~h, n~l; ɓ~pʰ; ɗ~∅, ɗ~l, ɗ~tʰ; ɠ~j, ɠ~w, ɠ~m, ɠ~kʰ; x~h
    • Old strata: n~h, conditionally ɓ~p, ɗ~t, ɠ~k
    • Step 1: remaining initial ɓ ɗ ɠ → w ɹ ɰ or m n ŋ (modulo vowel nasality), initial voiceless stops aspirated
    • Step 2: ŋ → m / _{õ ũ}, → ∅ / _{ĩ ẽ ã}, → ɰ or nasality elsewhere (might imply the existence of m~w)
    • Step 3: ɹ ɰ → ∅ j/w, n x → l h / #_, l → ɾ → ɗ / V_V
    • Step 4: Development of new marginal initial ɓ from *u+vowel (presumably via *ʔw-)
    • Synchronically, [tʰ] is clearly an allophone of /t/, [h] is probably best interpreted as an allophone of /x/, and /ɠ/ as an independant phoneme. The voiced coronal situation seems less clear.
  • [ʧ ʃ] may be used before a front vowel.

Vowels

i ĩ u ũ
e ə o õ
  a   ã  

Difthongs consist of /ə a/+/j w/ (oral only).

/ə/ harmonizes with /a/, with the latter dominating.

Syllable structure CV, medially (F)CV with valid 2nd cluster members including voiceless stops, implosivs & /m/.

1st ↓ · 2nd → p t c k ɓ ɗ ɠ m
s sp st sk sm
x xt xc (xɗ) xm

Pronouns

1p 2p 3pA 3pB
S khudi than yoso leso
P yaninna lomi cəso wawka

The singular 3p forms are female/male. The plural are definit/indefinit (or collectiv/paucal).

Telefax B

Consonants

ʧʰ
p t ʧ k
x
ɓ ɗ
m n ŋ
w ɾ j

Step 2 abov doesn't take place, insted *ɠ → ɣ or ŋ in all positions. Not sure where /s/ has gone. Into aspiration maybe?

(C)V(C). More freedom with clusters here I think — but still not much. Need to include /tw tɬw kw/. Geminates: /pː tː ʧː kː/, possibly /mː nː ŋː/.

Vowels

i ĩ u ũ
e o õ
æ ã ɑ

[ə] occurs in unstressed syllables, contrasting chiefly with [i u], rarely [e].

Difthongs: /æi ɑu ju jũ jʌ jʌ̃/

Pronouns

1p 2p 3p
S kawrə tawrə awrə
P wanni nanni awxi