View source for Bustax

A well-kno'n ancient literary language, demonstrably related to [[Tsonboran]]. The Bustaxian invasions of Levant begin around -3.7ka. The oldest inscriptions in the language date from -3.5ka. The Bustaxian Empire reaches its maximum extent (from central Persia and Afghanistan to Anatolia and Greece - not Caucasus, tho) around -3.2ka before decay sets in. The ruling dynasty takes refuge in northern Anatolia, and a separate Bustaxian state survives until trampled under the [[Altaic' expansion]] circa -1.4ka. Bustaxian continues to be used as a liturgical language.

Sound changes from [[Proto-West Persian']]:

====to Proto-Bustaxoid====
* Coda m → n, with typical POA assimilation also finally kicking in.
* Many clusters simplify to agree in voicing and/or MOA.
** P1F2 → F1F2
** PL → BL
** NP → N̥P
** NF → N̥F
* Dorsal fronting: plain velars become palatals, while uvulars become plain velars.
** The contrast is neutralized (to velars) in several environments, including (…)
** Labiovelars and ʀ are preserved.
** Palatal/coronal incompatibility: first member of a cluster yields to produce a geminate of the 2nd (except jd jt dj → rd rt ɟ(ː)).
*** Also in case this comes up, θt, tθ → tː
* Fricativ simplification: ɸ β θ ð ɬ ɮ → f v s z x j
** Initially ɣ h → ɡ ∅, elsewhere both → ɦ
* t d alveolarize before velars (but not after) and adjacent to r, s 
* Cluster simplification continues: nw nj → nm nː, N̥P N̥F → Pː ːF

* Coda j → ʝ → ... → ʃ/ʒ

====to Old Bustax====
* Voiced fricativs devoice in most positions
* The alveolar allophones of t d affricate (cf. [[Tsonboran#Para-Tsonboran|Northern Tsonboid A]]
* Sibilant + velar → postalveolar: tk [tsk] dɡ [dzg] sx (ʒg) → tʃ dʒ ʃ (ʒ)
** /k/ remains in sk → ʃk
* Loss of ɦ leads to tonogenesis

[[Category:Earth']]