As with all combined Uruu-Hili languages, there are two distinct phonologies for the Uruu and the Hili part of the language.
Sounds with the same transliteration are generally considered interchangeable, however using the appropriate pronounciation for the appropriate side is considered preferable.
Ontuuqa
Consonants
|
Bilabial |
Retroflex |
Velar |
Uvular |
| Stop |
p /p/ b /b/ |
t /ʈ/ d /ɖ/ |
k /k/ g /g/ |
q /q/ |
| Nasal |
m /m/ |
n /ɳ/ |
|
ñ /ɴ/ |
| Flap |
|
r /ɽ/ |
|
|
Vowels
All vowels in Ontuuqa correspond to back vowels in human languages.
|
Unrounded |
Rounded |
| Close |
|
u /u/ uu /uː/ |
| Mid |
e /ɤ/ ee /ɤː/ |
o /o/ oo /oː/ |
| Open |
a /ɑ/ aa /ɑː/ |
|
Phonotactics
Ontuuqa has a fairly simple syllable structure of (C) V (C), where the final consonant can only be n or r.
Arkjesti
Consonants
|
Alveolar |
Palatal |
Velar |
| Stop |
t /t/ |
|
k /k/ |
| Nasal |
n /n/ |
|
|
| Flap |
r /ɾ/ |
|
|
| Fricative |
s /ʃ/ |
h /ç/ |
|
| Approximant |
|
j /j/ |
l /ʟ/ |
Vowels
|
Front |
Center |
| Close |
i /i/ |
y /ʉ/ |
| Mid |
e /e/ |
|
| Open |
a /æ/ |
|
Diphthongs
Diphthongs either start or end with i; the following combinations occur:
| -i |
yi /ʉi/ |
ei /ei/ |
ai /æi/ |
| i- |
|
ie /ie/ |
ia /iæ/ |
Phonotactics
Arkjesti is much more complex in syllable structure than Ontuuqa, in general syllables take the form
(C) (C) V (C)
The possible consonant clusters at the onset have the following restrictions:
- k or t may only stand at the beginning or after s or h.
- s or h may only stand at the beginning or after k or t.
- n only occur in the following clusters: kn, sn, hn, nr, nj.
There are no restrictions on consonant clusters formed between two syllables.
Interleaved Enunciation
In some cases, for example in selfgiven names, words combine enunciation from the Uruu and Hili sides in an interleaved manner. In such cases, the sides are notated with superscript numbers, using a ¹ for Uruu and ² for Hili. For example, ¹noor²hyin is a common selfgiven name pronounced /ɳoːɽçʉin/. While phonemes with the same transliteration are still considered generally interchangable in these contexts, they should be kept as close as possible to the pronunciation described above to avoid ambiguity.
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