[[File:Comparison of ij forms.png|thumb|275x275px|Comparison of forms of ⟨ij⟩ in italics.]]
The Meckelnish language's writing system has retained many of the features seen only in Proto-Crando-Batavian with numerous inventions, with most of the orthography stabilized in the Old Low Maas period. Meckelnish has retained the ligature ⟨æ⟩ and the dental fricatives ⟨þ⟩ and ⟨ð⟩ while using umlauts to indicate fronting. The letter ⟨j⟩ has broad use in indicating the system of palatalization after many consonants, where it becomes a multigraph. The letter ⟨c⟩ has lost all associated sounds, and is only used in multigraphs. The rare letter ⟨ƀ⟩ for Micran languages developed from former ⟨b⟩ where the sound /β/ existed, subsequently diving into /v/, /w/ and /b/ in various contexts. More usual, sound length is usually indicated by doubling the letter (e.g. ⟨a⟩ for /ɑ/ becoming ⟨aa⟩ for /aː/).
The Meckelnish language's writing system has retained many of the features seen only in Proto-Crando-Batavian with numerous inventions, with most of the orthography stabilized in the Old Low Maas period. Meckelnish has retained the ligature ⟨æ⟩ and the dental fricatives ⟨þ⟩ and ⟨ð⟩ while using umlauts to indicate fronting. The letter ⟨j⟩ has broad use in indicating the system of palatalization after many consonants, where it becomes a multigraph. The letter ⟨c⟩ has lost all associated sounds, and is only used in multigraphs. The rare letter ⟨ƀ⟩ for Micran languages developed from former ⟨b⟩ where the sound /β/ existed, subsequently diving into /v/, /w/ and /b/ in various contexts. More usual, sound length is usually indicated by doubling the letter (e.g. ⟨a⟩ for /ɑ/ becoming ⟨aa⟩ for /aː/).
Meckelnish shares a phonological system with the broader Crando-Batavian languages, including a complex syllable structure extending to (C)(C)(C)V(C)(C)(C)(C)—a syllable may include a single vowel core preceded by up to three-sound consonant clusters and followed by four-sound clusters. However, there are a few notable exceptions unique to the Apollo-Batavian branch. Meckelnish retains productive dental fricative phonemes (/θ/ and /ð/) from Proto-Crando-Batavian. The system of palatalization, leading to sound change, has also expanded through a generalization of the weak realization in Batavian (where the sequence ⟨sj⟩ creates /ʃ/, as in Meckelnish). As well, Meckelnish has established non-phonemic nasal vowels in stressed syllables.
The Meckelnish language is stress-initial in native roots, and stress does not serve to distinguish native words. Secondary stress is placed in compound words on the second word. Where a prefix is used, such as /gə-/ in some past-tense verbs, the stress remains on the first syllable of the root. Outside of morphological contexts, unstressed /ə/ is heavily subject to deletion causing the loss of syllables.
Consonants
Labial
Dental
Alveolar
Post-alveolar
Palatal
Velar
Glottal
Nasal
m
n
(ɲ)
(ŋ)
Plosive/Affricate
p
b
t
d
t͡ʃ
d͡ʒ
(c͡ç)
(ɟ͡ʝ)
k
g
Fricative
f
v
θ
ð
s
z
ʃ
ʒ
(ç)
(ʝ)
x
h
(ɦ)
Approx.
Central
j
ɹ̈
Lateral
l
(ʎ)
(ɫ)
Labial
(ɥ)
w
/x/ is realized in coda-position after close front unrounded vowels (/i/, /ɪ/) as /ç/.
/n/ is realized in coda-position as /ŋ/ before velar plosives (/k/, /g/) and /g/ is deleted, where /ngk/ clusters realize as /ŋk/.
/s/ is voiced following voiced consonants (e.g. /b/, /d/, /g/, /m/, /n/) as /z/.
Voiceless fricatives (/f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /h/) are voiced in intervocalic positions as their voiced counterparts (/v/, /ð/, /z/, /ʒ/, /ɦ/).
Palatalizing consonants (see table) change before /j/ or front rounded vowels (/y/, /ʏ/, /øː/), including intersyllabic.
Fronting palatalizing consonants change after /j/ or front rounded vowels, including intersyllabic.
Alveolar plosives and fricatives (/t/, /d/, /s/, /z/) are realized as postalveolar (/t͡ʃ/, /d͡ʒ/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/) before /ɹ̈/.
/h/ follows a complex allophonic system (see table) realized as /h/, /ɦ/, /x/ or /ç/.
Alveolar plosives (/t/, /d/) are realized as /ð/ intervocalically after stressed syllables in multisyllabic roots.
/l/ is lengthened intervocalically as /lː/ after stressed syllables and velarized in word-final position as /ɫ/.
The rhotic may have various realizations, but in standard Meckelnish is the bunched velar form of /ɹ/.
In Meckelnish phonology, /ɹ̈/ is often rendered as /r/ for simplicity and to generalize the rhotic.
The voiceless plosives (/p/, /t/, /k/) are aspirated word-initially and onset of stressed syllables ([pʰ], [tʰ], [kʰ]).
Palatalization
Backing
Fronting
Nasal
n → ɲ
Affricate
t → t͡ʃ
d → d͡ʒ
k, x → c͡ç
g → ɟ͡ʝ
Fricative
s → ʃ
z → ʒ
h → ç
ɹ̈ → ʝ
Approx.
l → ʎ
w → ɥ
H-allophones
Vowels
IPA
Front
Close
ç
Mid–open
h
Back
Close
x
Mid–open
ɦ
Vowels
Monophthongs
Front
Central
Back
unrounded
rounded
long
short
nasal
long
short
long
short
nasal
Close
i
ɪ
y
ʏ
(ə)
u
ʊ
Mid
eː
ɛ
(œ̃)
øː
oː
ɔ
(ɔ̃)
Open
æˑ
aː
ɑ
(ɑ̃)
Di- and triphthongs
Front
Back
unrounded
rounded
fronting
backing
fronting
backing
Close
iə̯u̯
ui̯
Mid
ɛi̯
eːu̯
øːy̯
ɔi̯
oːu̯
Open
ɑi̯
Roots with long vowels shorten when the following syllable begins with a vowel (e.g. /CiC/ > /CɪC.V/).
Long vowels only exist in stressed syllables while short vowels exist in any position.
/æˑ/ functions in both long and short vowel positions.
/ə/ can serve in a stressed syllable if it is a minor word (i.e. articles, pronouns, etc.).
/j/ vocalizes to /i̯/ following a front unrounded or back vowel (e.g. /ɛ/, /ɑ/, /u/) in a syllable
Stressed mid and open front vowels (/eː/, /ɛ/, /øː/, /æˑ/) nasalize as /œ̃/ before a nasal consonant (/m/, /n/, /ɲ/, /ŋ/).
While stressed mid back vowels (/oː/, /ɔ/) nasalize as /ɔ̃/ and open back vowels (/aː/, /ɑ/) nasalize as /ɑ̃/.
/j/ vocalizes to /y̯/ following a front rounded vowel (/y/, /øː/, /ʏ/).
/w/ vocalizes to /u̯/ following a vowel.
Adjoining /i/ or /ɪ/ merge to /i/, /y/ or /ʏ/ to /y/, and /u/ to /u/, including across syllables.
/ɛ/ reduces to /ə/ in unstressed positions.
/ə/ deletes in open syllables if a lawful consonant cluster forms and is not morphologically significant (i.e. plurals).
/j/ is inserted before front rounded vowels (/y/, /øː/, /ʏ/) in bare syllables, with ⟨j⟩ added except word-initially.
Orthography
Comparison of forms of ⟨ij⟩ in italics.
The Meckelnish language's writing system has retained many of the features seen only in Proto-Crando-Batavian with numerous inventions, with most of the orthography stabilized in the Old Low Maas period. Meckelnish has retained the ligature ⟨æ⟩ and the dental fricatives ⟨þ⟩ and ⟨ð⟩ while using umlauts to indicate fronting. The letter ⟨j⟩ has broad use in indicating the system of palatalization after many consonants, where it becomes a multigraph. The letter ⟨c⟩ has lost all associated sounds, and is only used in multigraphs. The rare letter ⟨ƀ⟩ for Micran languages developed from former ⟨b⟩ where the sound /β/ existed, subsequently diving into /v/, /w/ and /b/ in various contexts. More usual, sound length is usually indicated by doubling the letter (e.g. ⟨a⟩ for /ɑ/ becoming ⟨aa⟩ for /aː/).
Meckelnish letter names solidified by the Old Meckelnish era. While many letters were based on nouns that applied their sounds, these names have fossilized so that their meanings (or even accompanying words) have not changed in parallel.
Alphabet
Majuscule
A
B
Ƀ
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
Ö
P
R
S
T
U
Ü
W
IJ
Z
Æ
Þ
Ð
Minuscule
a
b
ƀ
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
ö
p
r
s
t
u
ü
w
ij
z
æ
þ
ð
Name
⟨ij⟩ is an independent letter formed as a single-character-space ligature.
In printing, ⟨ij⟩ may appear in majuscule as a modified ⟨U⟩ (especially monospaced), and in minuscule italics similar to ⟨ÿ⟩.
The front rounded vowels ⟨ö⟩ and ⟨ü⟩ are written with umlauts, and are separate letters.
Likewise, the ligature ⟨æ⟩ and letter ⟨b⟩ with stroke are not merely variants, but letters in their own right.
Other diacritics, such as a circumflex for nasal vowels, are not independent letters.
Consonants
Consonants
Spelling
IPA
b
/b/
ƀ
/v/
d
/d/
f
/f/
g
/g/
h
/h/, /ɦ/, /ç/, /x/
j
/j/
k
/k/
l
/l/
m
/m/
n
/n/
p
/p/
r
/ɹ̈/
s
/s/, /z/
t
/t/
w
/w/
z
/z/
þ
/θ/
ð
/ð/
Multigraphs
Spelling
IPA
cg
/d͡ʒ/
ch
/x/, /ç/, /c͡ç/
dj
/d͡ʒ/
dsch
/d͡ʒ/
gge
/ɟ͡ʝ/
gj
/ɟ͡ʝ/
hj
/ç/
hl
/ɫ/
hr
/ʝ/
kj
/c͡ç/
kke
/c͡ç/
lj
/ʎ/
ll
/lː/
ng
/ŋ/
nj
/ɲ/
sc(h)
/ʃ/
sj
/ʃ/
t(s)j
/t͡ʃ/
tsch
/t͡ʃ/
wj
/ɥ/
zj
/ʒ/
zsch
/ʒ/
⟨h⟩ is deleted syllable-finally, where it is either deleted (/∅/) or becomes ⟨ch⟩ for the appropriate sound.
Where ⟨j⟩ following a consonant triggers a palatalization change, the ⟨j⟩ becomes part of a digraph.
However, where ⟨j⟩ after a consonant does not trigger palatalization, it is a consonant cluster (e.g. /bjV/)
Because palatalization exists across syllable boundaries, consonants merge into the stressed syllable.
The multigraphs ending in ⟨sch⟩ are used word-finally, while ending in ⟨j⟩ elsewhere.
As well, the multigraphs ⟨gge⟩ and ⟨kke⟩ are word-final, and ⟨gj⟩ and ⟨kj⟩ otherwise.
In three exceptions ⟨sj⟩ is ⟨sc⟩ and ⟨dj⟩ is ⟨cg⟩ within a word, and ⟨tj⟩ is ⟨tsj⟩ intervocalically.
⟨ll⟩ represents the one long consonant /lː/ and is only intervocalic—word-final /ɫ/ is rendered ⟨hl⟩.
While the historic cluster /ŋg/ is reduced to /ŋ/, ⟨ng⟩ is retained wherever the former /ng/ or /ngk/ existed.
Except where allophones are explicit, all but ⟨s⟩ are spelled with the appropriate sound's letter.
⟨s⟩ is used for the allophone /z/ where morphological added word-finally (e.g. genitives).
⟨ch⟩ serves as /c͡ç/ word-finally instead of ⟨kke⟩ when palatalizing /x/ instead of /k/.
Where /j/ is added to front rounded vowels in bare syllables, ⟨j⟩ is omitted word-initially.
Vowels
Vowels
Spelling
IPA
major
minor
a
/ɑ/
/aː/
â
/ɑ̃/
—
æ
/æ/
e
/ɛ/
/ə/
ê
/œ̃/
—
é
/eː/
—
i
/ɪ/
—
ij
/i/
i‧j
/ɪ.j/
ô
/ɔ̃/
—
o
/ɔ/
/oː/
ö
/øː/
—
u
/ʊ/
/u/
ü
/ʏ/
/y/
Multigraphs
Spelling
IPA
major
minor
aa
/aː/
—
ai
/ai̯/
au(w)
/oːu̯/
ee
/eː/
—
ei
/ɛi̯/
eu(w)
/eːu̯/
ieu(w)
/iə̯u̯/
oi
/ɔi̯/
oo
/oː/
—
ou(w)
/øːy̯/
ui
/ui̯/
uu
/u/
—
üü
/y/
—
Doubled vowel letters indicate the long form of that sound—single letters vary more widely.
When ⟨j⟩ follows ⟨i⟩, not the letter ⟨ij⟩, an interpunct (⟨i‧j⟩) is put between them to separate them.
The nasal vowels occur before ⟨n⟩ and ⟨m⟩ and receive a circumflex.
When in a word final position, the di- and triphthongs take a final ⟨w⟩.
⟨é⟩ is used in word-final position for /eː/ to distinguish from reduced /ə/.
Grammar
Determinatives
Pronouns
Personal pronouns
Subject
Object
Possessive
Reflexive
masculine
neuter
fem./plur.
full
enc.
full
enc.
full
enc.
full
enc.
full
enc.
sing.
1st
ijch
'ch
mijch
m'ch
mijne(n)
m'ne(n)
mij(n)
me (m'n)
mijn
m'n
mijch
m'ch
2nd
fam.
dijch
de
dijch
d'ch
dijne(n)
d'ne(n)
dij(n)
de (d'n)
dijn
d'n
dijch
d'ch
polite
þu
þ'r
üüch
öhre(n)
öhr
üüch
3rd
masc.
heer
'r
hêm
'm
zijne(n)
z'ne(n)
zij(n)
ze (z'n)
zijn
z'n
zijch
z'ch
neut.
het
't
het
't
fem.
zij
ze
hjöhr
'r
hjöhre(n)
're(n)
hjöhr
'r
hjöhr
'r
indef.
me
eege(n)
eeg
plur.
1st
ƀeer
ƀ'r
üs
üüze(n)
üüs
üs
2nd
geer
g'r
üüch
öhre(n)
öhr
üüch
3rd
zij
ze
hjün
hjüne(n)
hjün
zijch
z'ch
epicene
deer
dummy
da
d'r
—
Personal pronouns are rendered in their full form when stressed and their enclitic form when not.
Word-final ⟨n⟩ is added in possessive forms before ⟨t⟩, ⟨d⟩, a vowel, or ⟨h⟩.
"Da" is a dummy pronoun standing for "existential there," the form of "there" not used in a locative sense (e.g. "there are plants in the city").
"Het" can also be a dummy pronoun, known as "weather it," where it is a subject without reference to an another noun (e.g. "it is raining").
"Eeg" serves as an intensifier, meaning "one's own," but by generalization is also the possessive form of the indefinite pronoun "me."
⟨deer⟩ took the form ⟨dé⟩ before harmonizing with other forms ⟨heer⟩, ⟨ƀeer⟩ and ⟨geer⟩.
United Kingdom of Meckelnburgh
