Phonology
Sakao vowels (partial)
|
front
unrounded |
front
rounded |
back
rounded |
| close |
i |
y |
u |
| close mid |
e |
ø |
o |
| open mid |
ɛ |
œ |
ɔ |
| open |
a |
|
ɒ |
|
| In addition, Sakao has a close vowel /ɨ/ that is unspecified for being rounded or unrounded, front or back, and is always unstressed. It also has the two diphthongs /œɛ, ɒɔ/, whereas Tolomako has none. |
|
Sakao consonants
|
labial |
alveolar |
palatal |
velar |
glottal |
| nasal |
m |
n |
|
ŋ |
|
| plosive |
p |
t |
|
k |
|
| fricative |
β |
ð |
|
ɣ |
h |
| trill |
|
r |
|
|
|
| voiceless trill |
|
r̥ |
|
|
|
| approximant |
w |
l |
j |
|
|
|
| In addition, Sakao consonants may be long or short: /œβe/ "drum", /œββe/ "bed" |
|
It is not clear if Sakao even has syllables; that it, whether trying to divide Sakao words into meaningful syllables is even possible. If it is, Sakao syllables would appear to be V (a vowel or diphthong) surrounded by any number of consonants: V /i/ "thou", CCVCCCC (?) /mhɛrtpr/ "having sung and stopped singing thou kept silent" .