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Phonology and Phonetics

/phoneme/
[sound]

SINGLE TONE

Vowels

/a/ [a]

/aa/ [ɑː]

/i/ [ɪ]

/ii/ [iː]

/o/ [ɔ]

/oo/ [oː]

/e/ [ɛ]

/ee/ [eː]

/u/ [ɯ]

/uu/ [uː]

/q/ [ə]

/qq/ [əː]

Semivowels

Regarded as semiconsonants in Arka.

/w/ [w]
/y/ [j]

Consonants

Plosives

p, t, k at the beginning of a word are usually aspirated.
The vowel in front of b, d, g at the end of a word are lengthened slightly. cf. /sad/ [saˑd]

/p/ [p]

/b/ [b]

/t/ [t]

/d/ [d]

/k/ [k]

/g/ [g]


Fricatives

s, z, x, j are assimalated in the order corresponding to j > z > x > s in a rapid utterance. cf. nosjot (self-introduction) [nɔʒʒɔt]
The vowel in front of v, z, j at the end of a word are lengthened slightly.

/f/ [f]

/v/ [v]

/s/ [s]

/z/ [z]: It doesn't become [dz] even if it comes at the beginning of a word.

/x/ [ʃ]

/j/ [ʒ]: It doesn't become [dʒ] even if it comes at the beginning of a word.

/h/
[h]
[ç]: after i, ii
[X]: after e, ee
[χ]: after q, qq, a, aa, o, oo, u, uu

Nasals

/m/
[m]
[ɱ]: before f, v

/n/
[n]
[m]: before m, p, b
[ɱ]: before f, v
[ŋ]: before k, g
[N]: before s, z, x, j, r

Liquids

r (approximant), l (lateral), c (trill or tap).
r, l, c are assimalated in the order corresponding to c > r > l in a rapid utterance. cf. wigalcaifa (Perseids) [wɪgarraɪfa]

Approximant

/r/ [ɹ]

Lateral approximant

/l/ [l]

Trill

/c/ [r]

Tap

/c/ [ɾ]: Women use this sound for [r].

Glottal stop

pat [pat] can be [paʔ tə] in a slow utterance.

SUCCESSION OF CONSONANTS

/padl/ [pa dəl]
/rsiila/ [ɹə siː la]

CV

About words that end up with CV. If the vowel in the second last syllable isn't long, the V is lengthened slightly.
mana [manaˑ]
kaila [kaɪla]