Proto-Tḷantali language

Phonology:

t tˠ k q /t t' k q/

b d dˠ g /b d d' g/

b̰ d̰ d̰ˠ g̰ ɢ̰ /ḅ ḍ ḍ' ġ' ġ/

f~fˠ s sˠ θ θˠ x~χ /f s s' θ θ' h/

v~vˠ z zˠ ð ðˠ ɣ~ʁ /v z z' ð ð' x/

m n ŋ~ɴ /m n n'/

l lˠ /l l'/

ɬ~ɬˠ /ḷ/

ɮ~ɮˠ /ḷḷ/

t͡ɬ t͡ɬˠ /tḷ tḷ'/

d͡ɮ d͡ɮˠ /dḷ dḷ'/

d̰͡ɮ d̰͡ɮˠ /ḍḷ ḍḷ'/

ɹ~ɹˠ j w /r j w/

iː ɯː uː /í ý ú/

e̞ː ɤ̞ː o̞ː /é ə́ ó/

æː ɑː /ǽ á/

i ɯ u /i y u/

e̞ ɤ̞ o̞ /e ə o/

æ ɑ /æ a/

Finnish-like vocalic harmony with neutral /i e/. Low vowels are causing an A-mutation - lowering of the high vowels.

Phonotactics:

(C)V(ː)(C)

Accent:

First syllable for singular number, last syllable for plural. Words may have only one stress.

Noun:


 * nouns not inflect by cases (these are substituted by circumstantial affixes on verbs)
 * Definiteness (suffixation): neutral, indefinite, definite
 * Class (preffixation): human masculine, human feminine, animal, vegetal, body parts, spirituals, substantials, others.
 * Number (tonalization by pitch accent)
 * Possession (suffixation)

Class + (Root + Number) + Root extensions + Definiteness + Possession

Verb:


 * Aspect (suffixation): completive vs incompletive and durative vs punctual (but something in this may be changed yet...).
 * Circumstantials ~ applicatives (suffixation): agentive, patientive, indirective, instrumental, benefactive, ablative, allative, vialis.
 * Evidentiality (by modal particles): visual, heard, other.

[Subject] + [Modal particle] + [Modal verb] + [Root + Circumstantiality + Aspect] + [Object]

Adjective:


 * Adjectives are replaced by stative verbs and nouns. Intensificative particles are counterparts of comparison's degrees.

Pronouns:


 * Honorific distinction: subordinating, subordinate, equal.
 * Pitch-accented plural number (singular pronouns don't have stress).

Syntax:


 * SVO (with other features typical to this order).