Memniq phonology

Main article: Memniq

This page gives an extensive description of Memniq phonological features.

Consonants

The consonant system distinguishes 24 phonemes, traditionally arranged in the following scheme:

		IPA			Transcription
plosive	voiceless	[p]	[k]	[t]	p	k	t
	uvular		[q]			q
	glottal		[ʔ]			ʔ
nasal		[m]		[n]	m		n
liquid		[r]	[ʀ]	[l]	r	ŕ	l
fricative	sibilant	[s]	[ʃ]	[ɕ]	s	š	ś
	velar		[x]			x
	pharyngeal		[ħ]			ħ
	dental		[θ]			ť
	glottal		[h]			h
	palatal		[ç]			ç
	labio-dental		[f]			f
affricate		[ʦ]	[ʧ]	[ʨ]	ț	c	ć
approximant		[j]		[w]	j		w

The group of the plosive consonants distinguishes three sub-groups: voiceless, uvular, and glottal, even though the latter two sub-groups include only one phoneme each.

The groups of the nasal and of the liquid consonants are slighty poorer, but anyway quite developed, with the noteworthy presence of the uvular phoneme [ʀ].

The group of the fricative consonants is overall well developed and rich in phonemes and points of articulation.

There is a well developed group of affricate consonants. The phonemes [j] and [w] have a full consonantal value and they are never regarded as semivowels, while being comparatively rare in frequency among other consonants.

No groups or sub-groups of consonants makes any distinction between voiced and voiceless phonemes.

Vowels

There are 10 vocalic phonemes.

IPA					Transcription
[i]	[y]	[ɨ]		[u]	i	ü	y		u
[e]				[o]	e				o
		[ə]					ë
	[æ]		[œ]			ä		ö
		[a]					a

No vowel makes any distinction neither in length nor in tone, differing, conversely, in backness, height, or roundness.