Raku

A raku is a Toaq phonology concept similar to a syllable. Every word is made of multiple raku, and every prefix is exactly one raku long.

For the most part, raku consist of

• a consonant except q, so one of b c ch d f g h j k l m n nh p r s sh t ꝡ z ')
• a vowel or diphthong (a e ı o u aı ao eı oı)
• optionally another vowel or diphthong, if what precedes isn't a diphthong
• optional q or m, if what precedes isn't a diphthong

There are some restrictions:

• No double vowels (reeı is invalid)
• nhı ꝡı ꝡu ae au ou are all disallowed

Whether something is a valid raku doesn't depend on its tone: fîeq is one raku but three syllables, /fi˧˥ˈiː˥˩ɛŋ˩/.

Total count

There are 21 consonants and 72 endings (see Phonology). Nineteen of these combinations start with the banned sequence nhı: there's three nhı(q/m), twelve nhıV(q/m) and four nhıaı nhıao nhıeı nhıoı. Similarly, 19 combinations start with ꝡı and 19 start with ꝡu.

In total, that means there are (21 × 72) − 19 − 19 − 19 = 1455 valid raku.