Hovünn Grammar(s)

Old Hovünn

• Six base vowels, /a/, /e/, /ɑ/, /ʌ/, /o/, and /u/
• Two diphthongs, /a͡ʊ/ and /o͡ʊ/
• Length distinction for base vowels
• No tonal distinction
• Vowels functionally fit into three categories:
• "Strong" vowels, /a͡ʊ/ and /o͡ʊ/
• No length distinction
• May not follow other vowels within a syllable
• "Rounded" vowels, /o/, and /u/
• May not follow strong vowels in a syllable
• "Weak" vowels, /a/, /e/, /ɑ/, /ʌ/

High Hovünn

• Six base vowels, /a/, /e/, /ɑ/, /ʌ/, /o/, and /u/
• No diphthongs
• Length distinction for base vowels
• Three distinct tones for /u/
• Rising tone - found where /u/ follows /a/ or /o/ within a syllable in which the diphthongs /a͡ʊ/ or /o͡ʊ/ would have historically been used
• Falling tone - found where /u/ follows /a/ or /o/ within a syllable in which /au/ or /ao/ would have historically been used
• Neutral tone - found where /u/ does not follow /a/ or /o/ within a syllable
• Vowels functionally fit into four categories:
• "Small" vowels, /a/ and /e/
• Short /v/ is realized as [f] when following small vowels within a syllable
• "Big" vowels, /ɑ/ and /ʌ/
• "O", /o/
• May not follow a high or low tone within a syllable
• "U", /u/
• Tonal distinction

Low Hovünn

• Six base vowels, /a/, /ɛ/, /ɑ/, /ʌ/, /ɔ/, and /u/
• Two diphthongs, /a͡ʊ/ and /o͡ʊ/
• Length distinction for base vowels
• No tonal distinction
• Vowels functionally fit into three categories:
• "Strong" vowels, /a͡ʊ/ and /o͡ʊ/
• No length distinction
• May not follow other vowels within a syllable
• "Rounded" vowels, /ɔ/, and /u/
• May not follow strong vowels within a syllable
• "Weak" vowels, /a/, /ɛ/, /ɑ/, /ʌ/

Old Hovünn

• 14 consonants, /w/, /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /m/, /n/, /f/, /s/, /z/, /x/, /h/
• Length distinction for fricatives and nasals
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