Maká Language - Phonology

Phonology

Consonant phonemes of Maká
Bilabial Dental Alveolar Palatal-Velar Uvular Glottal
Plosive p t k q ʔ
Ejective plosive
Affricate ts
Ejective affricate tsʼ
Fricative f s x χ h
Lateral fricative ɬ
Nasal m n
Approximant w j
Lateral approximant l

Velar consonants alternate with palatal consonants before /e/ and sometimes before /a/. Examples include /keɬejkup/ ~ "autumn" and /exeʔ/ ~ "stork". The palatal approximant /j/ alternates with the palatal fricative /ç/ before /i/, as in /inanjiʔ/ ~ .

Vowel phonemes of Maká
Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open a

Syllables in Maká may be of types V, VC, CV, CCV, and CCVC. When a consonant cluster appears at the beginning of a syllable, the second consonant must be /x/, /h/, /w/, or /y/.

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