Suffix Reform

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The Suffix Reform is a subsequent reform of the Prefix Reform based on Hoemaı’s feedback (which see there).

Synopsis

The Suffix Reform flips the Toaq word structure on its head and turns what we nowadays call prefixes into suffixes. Bikeshedding aside, let’s say for now that we mark off the first in a run of suffixes with an interpunct (·) in writing and the usual glottal interposition mechanism (as in official Toaq) in speech (for instance, /bɛ/ → /bɛ̆ʔɛ̆/). This has several advantages:

  • Suffixes never carry stress. This makes them more ergonomic to use and prevents subtle sonic distinctions such as bụcheaq /buʔu-/ vs. bu'ucheaq /buːʔu/.
  • The glottal-stop-initial root gotcha no longer applies: whereas officially the word hụ́'e can be mistakenly spelled hụ́e because of the zero initial in (')ë, the Suffix Reform plainly has é·hu.
  • Suffixes are head-final, which provides aesthetic variety. In this sense they’re analogous to compounds in that the load-bearing element goes last: compare taq maımaıtaq with maı·taq (assuming some suffix ·taq).
  • Unlike officially, the listener does not have to wait for an interposed glottal stop to identify where the root starts. In other words, suffixes have the benefit of being afterthought.

Examples

(tone omitted for simplicity of presentation)

Official Prefix Reform Suffix Reform
marked with /ʔ/ (🐇) marked with /ː/ (Laqme)
puchụmtao
/ˈpuːtɕŭʔŭmtaw/
puchumtào
/pʊtɕʊmˈtaːw/
tao·chumpu
/ˈtaːwŭʔŭmpu/

/ˈtaːwtɕːumpu/
jı̣achıa
/ˈdʑiʔiatɕia/
jıachìa
/dʑɪ̆ăˈtɕiːa/
chıa·jıa
/ˈtɕiːaĭʔĭa/

/ˈtɕiːadʑːia/
lạ́maı bẹ́ıroı
/ˈlaʔamaj ˈbɛʔɛjɾɔj/
lamáı beıróı
/lăˈmaj bɛ̆jˈɾɔj/
máı·la róı·beı
/ˈmajlăʔă ˈɾɔjbɛ̆ʔɛ̆j/

/ˈmaja ˈɾɔjɛj/
*tọ̈ꝡa
toꝡä
/tɔ̆ˈjaʔa/
ꝡä·to
/ˈꝡaʔatŏʔŏ/

/ˈꝡaʔao/
jụ̂aqjuaı
/ˈdʑuʔuaŋdʑuaj/
juaqjûaı
/dʑʊ̆ăŋˈdʑuːaj/
jûaı·juaq
/ˈdʑuːajŭʔŭaŋ/

/ˈdʑuːajdʑːuaŋ/

Note how both the Prefix and Suffix Reform preserve the root exactly how it’d be pronounced standalone where the official rendition instead destresses the root.