Modern Lojban Theory (draft): Difference between revisions

From Lojban
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 8: Line 8:
== Orthography and Phonology ==
== Orthography and Phonology ==


Lojban has 26 phonemes; 6 vowels, 17 consonants, 1 semi-consonant (more on that below), and 2 semivowels. Each phoneme is represented by a single letter (in some Lojban documentation, you will find the word "letteral" being used to describe letters), with two exceptions: '''i''' and '''u''' become semivowels when they begin a syllable. This is, however, completely predictable from the spelling of the word (more on that in the morphology section); thus, Lojban spelling is completely regular.
Lojban has 26 phonemes; 6 vowels, 18 consonants, and 2 semivowels. Each phoneme is represented by a single letter (in some Lojban documentation, you will find the word "letteral" being used to describe letters), with two exceptions: '''i''' and '''u''' become semivowels when they begin a syllable that contains a second vowel letter. This is, however, completely predictable from the spelling of the word (more on that in the morphology section); thus, Lojban spelling is completely regular.


Thus, Lojban has 24 letters: 6 vowels (with 2 that can become semivowels), 17 consonants, and 1 semi-consonant.
Thus, Lojban has 24 letters: 6 vowels (with 2 that can become semivowels) and 18 consonants.


Some phonemes have allophones (different realizations of what is considered the same "sound" in the language). Some of them are due to influence by surrounding phonemes. Others are allowed variations to accomodate Lojban learners who speak different languages.
The vowel letters are: '''a e i o u y'''
 
The consonant letters are: '''<nowiki>b c d f g j k l m n p r s t v x z '</nowiki>''' (yes, that's the apostrophe)
 
Thus, the Lojban alphabet is the English alphabet, except it lacks '''h''', '''q''', or '''w''', considers '''y''' a vowel, and considers the apostrophe a letter.
 
Additionally, the '''.''' (period) and the ''',''' (comma) are sometimes seen as "auxiliary characters". The period marks a mandatory pause or glottal stop. The comma is sometimes used within words to separate syllables where their separation may be unclear to a less-experienced Lojbanist, e.g. '''crenzu,ue''' ("to practice")'''. '''These, however, are optional and, again, completely predictable from the spelling/morphology of the word.
 
Some phonemes have allophones (different realizations of what is considered the same "sound" in the language), allowed either as a natural variation due to influence by surrounding phonemes, or to accomodate Lojban learners who speak different languages.
 
Below are a list of phonemes and their realizations in the [[wikipedia:International_Phonetic_Alphabet|IPA]] (International Phonetic Alphabet). IPA symbols alternate allophones are in (parentheses); preferred ones have no parentheses.
{| class="wikitable"
!Letter
!Lojban name
!IPA representation(s)
!Notes
|-
|'''a'''
|'''.a bu / .a'y.'''
|a (ɑ)
|Like '''a''' as in f'''a'''ther. Avoid "reducing" it like '''a''' as in '''a'''bout, as that might cause confusion with '''y'''.
|-
|'''b'''
|'''by.'''
|b
|Like '''b''' as in '''b'''ed
|-
|'''c'''
|'''cy.'''
|ʃ (ʂ)
|Like '''sh''' as in '''sh'''ip. The digraph '''tc''' maps to [tʃ] and sounds like '''ch''' as in '''ch'''urch
|-
|'''d'''
|'''dy.'''
|d
|Like '''d''' as in '''d'''og
|-
|'''e'''
|'''.e bu / .e'y.'''
|ɛ
|Like '''e''' as in g'''e'''t. Try to pronounce it in a pure, high tone (closer to r'''a'''t and not to r'''a'''te), to avoid possible confusion with the '''ei''' diphthong.
|-
|'''f'''
|'''fy.'''
|f (ɸ)
|Like '''f''' as in '''f'''ox
|-
|'''g'''
|'''gy.'''
|ɡ
|Like "hard" '''g''' as in '''g'''et (''never'' "soft" '''g''' as in '''g'''iraffe)
|-
|'''i'''
|'''.i bu / .i'y.'''
|i
|Like '''ee''' as in''' '''s'''ee''' (''avoid'' '''i''' as in h'''i'''t)
|-
|
|
|j
|[if beginning a syllable that contains another vowel] Like '''y''' as in '''y'''es. Hence '''.iu''' sounds like the English word "you"
|-
|'''j'''
|'''jy.'''
|ʒ (ʐ)
|Like the "zh" sound of '''si''' as in vi'''si'''on, or the end of monta'''ge'''. The digraph '''dj''' maps to [dʒ] and sounds like '''j''' as in '''j'''udge
|-
|'''k'''
|'''ky.'''
|k
|Like '''k''' as in '''k'''ick
|-
|'''l'''
|'''ly.'''
|l
|Like '''l''' as in '''l'''and
|-
|'''m'''
|'''my.'''
|m
|Like '''m''' as in '''m'''om
|-
|'''n'''
|'''ny.'''
|n
|Like '''n''' as in '''n'''un
|-
|
|
|(ŋ)
|Allowable natural variation before letters '''k''', '''g''', and '''x'''. Like as in sku'''n'''k or fi'''n'''ger.
|-
|'''o'''
|'''.o bu / .o'y.'''
|o (ɔ)
|Like '''o''' as in b'''o'''at. Try to keep a "pure" sound, rather than completing the diphthong; however, Lojban has no '''ou''' diphthong, so there is less risk of misunderstanding.
|-
|'''p'''
|'''py.'''
|p
|Like '''p''' as in '''p'''en
|-
|'''r'''
|'''ry.'''
|r (ɹ)
|Like '''r''' as in th'''r'''ee. A "trilled r" is preferred, but isn't necessary.
|-
|'''s'''
|'''sy.'''
|s
|Like '''s''' as in '''s'''ack
|-
|'''t'''
|'''ty.'''
|t
|Like '''t''' as in '''t'''ack
|-
|'''u'''
|'''.u bu / .u'y.'''
|u
|Like '''oo''' as in t'''oo'''.
|-
|
|
|w
|[if beginning a syllable that contains another vowel] Like '''w''' as in '''w'''eed. Hence '''.uu''' sounds like English "woo"
|-
|'''v'''
|'''vy.'''
|v
|Like '''v''' as in '''v'''ow
|-
|'''x'''
|'''xy.'''
|x
|Like '''ch''' as in Scottish lo'''ch'''. English speakers may find this sound hard to pronounce. Try saying ''ksss'' while keeping your tongue down.
|-
|'''y'''
|'''.y bu (''never .''y'y.)'''
|ə
|Like '''a''' as in '''a'''bout
|-
|'''z'''
|'''zy.'''
|z
|Like '''z''' as in '''z'''oo
|}
Sometimes, '''i''' and '''u''' are written with breve diacritics when they act as semivowels, e.g. '''.ĭu''' and '''.ŭu''' , but this is optional.

Revision as of 06:44, 15 May 2015

This document is maintained by spheniscine "amphora" gmail.com ; please submit corrections or comments. However, if I do not respond for a few days, please feel free to make the changes on your own, if this document should no longer reflect the most current thought.

Preface

This document is meant to describe the theory of the modern dialect of Lojban. It is meant to parallel/supplement the Complete Lojban Language, but better-reflecting the modern common-usage of phrases and sentence constructions, as well as the various changes in the grammar that have occurred since it was published.

This document is meant to be a reference, mostly for intermediate-to-advanced learners. A beginner might be able to learn the language from this document, however the Lojban Wave Lessons or the Crash Course might be more suitable for picking up conversational skill effectively.

Orthography and Phonology

Lojban has 26 phonemes; 6 vowels, 18 consonants, and 2 semivowels. Each phoneme is represented by a single letter (in some Lojban documentation, you will find the word "letteral" being used to describe letters), with two exceptions: i and u become semivowels when they begin a syllable that contains a second vowel letter. This is, however, completely predictable from the spelling of the word (more on that in the morphology section); thus, Lojban spelling is completely regular.

Thus, Lojban has 24 letters: 6 vowels (with 2 that can become semivowels) and 18 consonants.

The vowel letters are: a e i o u y

The consonant letters are: b c d f g j k l m n p r s t v x z ' (yes, that's the apostrophe)

Thus, the Lojban alphabet is the English alphabet, except it lacks h, q, or w, considers y a vowel, and considers the apostrophe a letter.

Additionally, the . (period) and the , (comma) are sometimes seen as "auxiliary characters". The period marks a mandatory pause or glottal stop. The comma is sometimes used within words to separate syllables where their separation may be unclear to a less-experienced Lojbanist, e.g. crenzu,ue ("to practice"). These, however, are optional and, again, completely predictable from the spelling/morphology of the word.

Some phonemes have allophones (different realizations of what is considered the same "sound" in the language), allowed either as a natural variation due to influence by surrounding phonemes, or to accomodate Lojban learners who speak different languages.

Below are a list of phonemes and their realizations in the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). IPA symbols alternate allophones are in (parentheses); preferred ones have no parentheses.

Letter Lojban name IPA representation(s) Notes
a .a bu / .a'y. a (ɑ) Like a as in father. Avoid "reducing" it like a as in about, as that might cause confusion with y.
b by. b Like b as in bed
c cy. ʃ (ʂ) Like sh as in ship. The digraph tc maps to [tʃ] and sounds like ch as in church
d dy. d Like d as in dog
e .e bu / .e'y. ɛ Like e as in get. Try to pronounce it in a pure, high tone (closer to rat and not to rate), to avoid possible confusion with the ei diphthong.
f fy. f (ɸ) Like f as in fox
g gy. ɡ Like "hard" g as in get (never "soft" g as in giraffe)
i .i bu / .i'y. i Like ee as in see (avoid i as in hit)
j [if beginning a syllable that contains another vowel] Like y as in yes. Hence .iu sounds like the English word "you"
j jy. ʒ (ʐ) Like the "zh" sound of si as in vision, or the end of montage. The digraph dj maps to [dʒ] and sounds like j as in judge
k ky. k Like k as in kick
l ly. l Like l as in land
m my. m Like m as in mom
n ny. n Like n as in nun
(ŋ) Allowable natural variation before letters k, g, and x. Like as in skunk or finger.
o .o bu / .o'y. o (ɔ) Like o as in boat. Try to keep a "pure" sound, rather than completing the diphthong; however, Lojban has no ou diphthong, so there is less risk of misunderstanding.
p py. p Like p as in pen
r ry. r (ɹ) Like r as in three. A "trilled r" is preferred, but isn't necessary.
s sy. s Like s as in sack
t ty. t Like t as in tack
u .u bu / .u'y. u Like oo as in too.
w [if beginning a syllable that contains another vowel] Like w as in weed. Hence .uu sounds like English "woo"
v vy. v Like v as in vow
x xy. x Like ch as in Scottish loch. English speakers may find this sound hard to pronounce. Try saying ksss while keeping your tongue down.
y .y bu (never .y'y.) ə Like a as in about
z zy. z Like z as in zoo

Sometimes, i and u are written with breve diacritics when they act as semivowels, e.g. .ĭu and .ŭu , but this is optional.

Retrieved from "https://mw.lojban.org/index.php?title=Modern_Lojban_Theory_(draft)&oldid=113515"