Prefix Reform: Difference between revisions
(bọ̈na is invalid in official toaq) |
(expand on some parts. sorry this is one of those times where an edit message is just useless either way or the other) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Prefix Reform''' is a proposal by | '''Prefix Reform''' is a proposal by [[uakci]] to change how [[prefix]]es interact with the stems of words. | ||
(Note: the two parts of the proposal, [[#Spelling changes]] and [[#Pronunciation changes]], could be considered independently of each other.) | |||
==Reasons== | ==Reasons== | ||
| Line 5: | Line 7: | ||
#Prefixes currently act weird. | #Prefixes currently act weird. | ||
##They are unable to interact with {{Done|3}}. This proposal would allow prefixes to go on words with {{done|3}} | ##They are unable to interact with {{Done|3}}. This proposal would allow prefixes to go on words with {{done|3}} | ||
##It is unclear how exactly they affect vocalic length. | ##It is unclear how exactly they affect vocalic length. Plus, those interactions are often quite subtle and easily missed – consider {{t|bộtao}} vs. {{t|bô'otao}}. This makes prefixes hard to teach and possibly discouraging to a new learner trying to produce them in speech. | ||
#The current spelling of prefixes is not computer-friendly. They are difficult (if not impossible) to type for many and some characters, like {{T|ı̣}} often do not display correctly in many fonts. This proposal would allow for easier input and guarantee compatibility with most good fonts. | #The current spelling of prefixes is not computer-friendly. They are difficult (if not impossible) to type for many and some characters, like {{T|ı̣}} often do not display correctly in many fonts. This proposal would allow for easier input and guarantee compatibility with most good fonts. | ||
| Line 29: | Line 31: | ||
==Pronunciation changes== | ==Pronunciation changes== | ||
Stress the first syllable of the stem rather than the prefix, separating the stem from the prefixes. Prefixes should be pronounced unstressed, with its tone “anticipating” the stem’s contour. For example, if the stem starts high, the prefixes should be high. If the stem starts lower, the prefixes should be there as well. | Stress the first syllable of the stem rather than the prefix, separating the stem from the prefixes. (Stressed means loud and/or long and/or more extreme in terms of the tone contour.) Prefixes should be pronounced unstressed, with its tone “anticipating” the stem’s contour. For example, if the stem starts high, the prefixes should be high. If the stem starts lower, the prefixes should be there as well. (Unstressed syllables should strive to be quiet, short(ened), and minimal in terms of tone contour or just pronounced as level tone.) | ||
Illustrative examples: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+Examples | |+Examples | ||
| Line 50: | Line 55: | ||
|{{t|juaqjûaı}} /d͡ʑuaŋ˧˦ˈd͡ʑu˦˥˨ai˨˩/ | |{{t|juaqjûaı}} /d͡ʑuaŋ˧˦ˈd͡ʑu˦˥˨ai˨˩/ | ||
|} | |} | ||
The value of this proposal, apart from more flexibility and less ambiguity, is that stems no longer alternate between stressed and unstressed depending on whether they have prefixes attached to them (think {{t|<u>juı</u>taq}} vs. {{t|bụ<u>juı</u>}}). As another pleasant side effect, poly[[raku]]ic words in {{done|3}} are now possible (like {{t|äımu}}; officially not distinguishable from {{t|ạımu}}). | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [https://discord.com/channels/311223912044167168/889589074011230230/1113157808934883469 | * [https://discord.com/channels/311223912044167168/889589074011230230/1113157808934883469 uakci’s original message] | ||
Revision as of 09:30, 31 May 2023
Prefix Reform is a proposal by uakci to change how prefixes interact with the stems of words.
(Note: the two parts of the proposal, #Spelling changes and #Pronunciation changes, could be considered independently of each other.)
Reasons
- Prefixes currently act weird.
- They are unable to interact with
. This proposal would allow prefixes to go on words with - It is unclear how exactly they affect vocalic length. Plus, those interactions are often quite subtle and easily missed – consider bộtao vs. bô'otao. This makes prefixes hard to teach and possibly discouraging to a new learner trying to produce them in speech.
- They are unable to interact with
- The current spelling of prefixes is not computer-friendly. They are difficult (if not impossible) to type for many and some characters, like ı̣ often do not display correctly in many fonts. This proposal would allow for easier input and guarantee compatibility with most good fonts.
Spelling changes
Instead of putting the tone mark on the first syllable, put it on the first syllable of the stem. In the case of a word with 
, use 
as the diacritic.
| Official | Proposal |
|---|---|
| mụfoaq | mufòaq |
| lạ́maı | lamáı |
| bọ̈na (invalid word) | bonä |
| bộtao | botâo |
Pronunciation changes
Stress the first syllable of the stem rather than the prefix, separating the stem from the prefixes. (Stressed means loud and/or long and/or more extreme in terms of the tone contour.) Prefixes should be pronounced unstressed, with its tone “anticipating” the stem’s contour. For example, if the stem starts high, the prefixes should be high. If the stem starts lower, the prefixes should be there as well. (Unstressed syllables should strive to be quiet, short(ened), and minimal in terms of tone contour or just pronounced as level tone.)
Illustrative examples:
| Official | Proposal |
|---|---|
| puchụmtao /ˈpuː˥˨t͡ɕuˀum˨˩tʰao˩/ | puchumtào /pu˥t͡ɕum˥˦ˈtao˦˩/ |
| jı̣achıa /ˈd͡ʑiˀia˥˨t͡ɕia˨˩/ | jıachìa /d͡ʑia˥˦ˈt͡ɕiːa˦˩/ |
| lạ́maı bẹ́ıroı /ˈlaˀa˨˦mai˦˥ ˈbeˀi˨˩roi˩/ | lamáı beıróı /la˧ˈmai˧˥ bei˧˨ˈroi˨˩/ |
| N/A | bonä /bo˧˨ˈnaˀa˨˩/ |
| jụ̂aqjuaı /ˈd͡ʑuˀuaŋ˧˥˨d͡ʑu˨˩ai˩/ | juaqjûaı /d͡ʑuaŋ˧˦ˈd͡ʑu˦˥˨ai˨˩/ |
The value of this proposal, apart from more flexibility and less ambiguity, is that stems no longer alternate between stressed and unstressed depending on whether they have prefixes attached to them (think juıtaq vs. bụjuı). As another pleasant side effect, polyrakuic words in are now possible (like äımu; officially not distinguishable from ạımu).