Difference between revisions of "Sumerian"
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==Phonetic and Morphological Features== | ==Phonetic and Morphological Features== | ||
| − | Spoken Sumerian is a very simple language in initial structure and pronounciation. This section will give a basic overview of Sumerian sounds and the formation of simple words. | + | Spoken Sumerian is a very simple language in initial structure and pronounciation. This section will give a basic overview of Sumerian sounds and the formation of simple words. Knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet will be useful in learning the sounds. |
===Consonants=== | ===Consonants=== | ||
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===Vowels=== | ===Vowels=== | ||
| + | Sumerian has only four phonemic vowels, with plenty of allophonic variation (see below) between speakers. | ||
| + | * /i/ As in 'hip' (Close Front Lax Unrounded) | ||
| + | * /e/ As in 'peg' (Close-mid front Unrounded) | ||
| + | * /u/ As in 'pull' (Close back lax) | ||
| + | * /a/ As in 'father' (Open-mid back unrounded) | ||
===Allophonic Variation=== | ===Allophonic Variation=== | ||
===Syllabic Structure and Word Formation=== | ===Syllabic Structure and Word Formation=== | ||
Revision as of 23:58, 20 October 2005
| Sumerian Emegir | |
|---|---|
| Spoken in: | Sumer, Small groups of speakers in 12 to 15 countries. |
| Total declared fluent or learning speakers: | 2,002,030,780 (Estimate) |
| Genetic classification: | Language Isolate: No known relations. |
| Official language of: | Sumer |
| Regulated by: | Kalam Sajar Emegir National Counsel on the Sumerian Language |
Contents
Phonetic and Morphological Features
Spoken Sumerian is a very simple language in initial structure and pronounciation. This section will give a basic overview of Sumerian sounds and the formation of simple words. Knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet will be useful in learning the sounds.
Consonants
Sumerian comprises of fourteen phonemic consonants:
- /b/ Initial consonant sound in 'bike' (Voiced Bilabial Plosive)
- /m/ Initial consonant sound in 'map' (Boiced Bilabial Nasal)
- /d/ Initial consonant sound in 'dam' (Voiced Alveolar Plosive)
- /t/ Initial consonant sound in 'tank' (Voiceless Alveolar Plosive)
- /s/ Initial consonant sound in 'stick' (Voiceless Alveolar Fricative)
- /z/ Initial consonant sound in 'zoo' (Voiced Alveolar Fricative)
- /sh/ Final consonant sound in 'dash' (Voiceless Postalveolar Fricative)
- /j/ Final consonant sound in 'sing' (Voiced Palatal Nasal)
- /r/ Final consonant sound in 'car' (Voiced Alveolar Approximant)
- /l/ Initial consonant sound in 'light' (Voiced Alveolar Latteral Approximate)
- /n/ Initial/Final consonant sound in "noun" (Voiced Alveolar Nasal)
- /k/ Initial consonant sound in 'cat' (Voiceless Velar Plosive)
- /g/ Initial consonant sound in 'gun' (Voiced Velar Plosive)
- /x/ Final consonant sound in Scottish 'Loch' (Voiceless Uvular Plosive)
Vowels
Sumerian has only four phonemic vowels, with plenty of allophonic variation (see below) between speakers.
- /i/ As in 'hip' (Close Front Lax Unrounded)
- /e/ As in 'peg' (Close-mid front Unrounded)
- /u/ As in 'pull' (Close back lax)
- /a/ As in 'father' (Open-mid back unrounded)
