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The Meó language is a language spoken within the nation of Alaźéta Meó as well as within its former colonies and throughout the [[Malaeze Sea]]. It is the official language of the Meó Amalgamate. It has millions of speakers. It is ultimately derived from [[Ancient Meó]]
The Meó language is a language spoken within the nation of Meó as well as within its former colonies and throughout the [[Malaeze Sea]]. It is the official language of the Meó Amalgamate. It has millions of speakers. It is ultimately derived from [[Ancient Meó]]


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
Meó is noted for its odd phonology, with multiple dialectal difference in pronunciation and an array of phonological processes. Still, its orthography remains relatively phonemic. The following phonology is based off Aesanma/Urban Meó, which has become the De Facto standard for communication.
 


=== Consonants ===
=== Consonants ===
Line 9: Line 9:
! PULMONIC
! PULMONIC
! Bilabial
! Bilabial
! Alveolar
! Alveolar/Dental
! Dental
! Palatal/Post-alveolar
! Palatal
! Velar
! Velar
|-
|-
! <center>Nasal</center>
! <center>Nasal</center>
| <center>m</center>
| <center>m mʲ</center>
| <center>n</center>
| <center>n nʲ</center>
| <center></center>
| <center>ɳ ɳʲ </center>
| <center></center>
| <center>ŋ ŋʲ</center>
| <center>ŋ</center>
|-
! <center>Voiceless Stops</center>
| <center>p pʲ</center>
| <center>t tʲ</center>
| <center>tʂ tɕ</center>
| <center>k kʲ</center>
|-
! <center>Aspirated Stops</center>
| <center>pʰ pʰʲ</center>
| <center>tʰ tʰʲ</center>
| <center>tʂʰ tɕʰ</center>
| <center>kʰ kʰʲ</center>
|-
! <center>Voiced Stops</center>
| <center>b bʲ</center>
| <center>d dʲ</center>
| <center>dʐ dʑ</center>
| <center>g gʲ</center>
|-
|-
! <center>Strong Series</center>
! <center>Voiced Continuants</center>
| <center>p</center>  
| <center>v vʲ</center>
| <center>t</center>
| <center>l lʲ</center>
| <center>s̪</center>
| <center>ʐ zʲ</center>
| <center>ɕ~s̺ʲ</center>
| <center>(j)</center>
| <center>k</center>
|-
|-
! <center>Weak Series</center>
! <center>Voiceless Continuant</center>
| <center>b</center>
| <center>(ʍ) (ʍʲ)</center>
| <center>d</center>
| <center>(ɬ) (ɬʲ)</center>
| <center>ð</center>
| <center>ʂ sʲ</center>
| <center>ʑ~z̺ʲ</center>
| <center>x ç</center>
| <center>g</center>
|-
|-
! <center>Fricative or Approximate</center>
! <center>Tap or Trill</center>
| <center>v</center>
| <center></center>
| <center>l</center>
| <center>ɾ ɾʲ</center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center>x</center>
|}
|}
/x/ is represented by "h". The dental series are "s" and "z", while the palatal series are "ś" and "ź". All consonants except those belonging to the weak series may be geminated.


Many consonant's pronunciation vary depending on their position within a word. Part of the prosody of the language is to devoice affricates at the beginning of phrases or to indicate emphasis. Doubled consonants always keep their base pronunciations (as above).
Many consonants have a high degree of allophony, such as /ɲ ɲʲ/ which has the post-vocalic/intervocalic allophone [ɻ̃ ɻ̃ʲ~j̃] in fast speech. The voiced continuants tend to be closer to approximants, and the voiceless continuants closer to fricatives. /ʐ/ varies between [ʐ~ɻ̝~ɻ] with [ɻ̝] (a non-sibilant fricative) being considered the most correct.  
 


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Allophones by Syllabic/Morphemic Position
|-
|-
! Orthography
! PULMONIC
! Word Initial
! Bilabial
! Medial
! Alveolar/Dental
! Final Before a Consonant
! Palatal/Post-alveolar
! Final Before a Vowel
! Velar
|-
|-
! d
! <center>Nasal</center>
| <center>d͡z</center>
| <center>m my</center>
| <center>d~ɾ</center>
| <center>n ny</center>
| <center>∅~ɻ</center>
| <center>ṇ ṇy </center>
| <center>d~ɽ</center>
| <center>ṅ ṅy</center>
|-
|-
! z
! <center>Voiceless Stops</center>
| <center>d͡ð</center>
| <center>p py</center>  
| <center>ð</center>
| <center>t ty</center>
| <center>∅~ɻ</center>
| <center>c cy</center>
| <center>d̪</center>
| <center>k ky</center>
|-
|-
! ź
! <center>Aspirated Stops</center>
| <center>d͡ʑ</center>
| <center>ph phy</center>  
| <center>ʑ</center>
| <center>th thy</center>
| <center>∅~ɻ</center>
| <center>ch chy</center>
| <center>dʲ</center>
| <center>kh khy</center>
|-
|-
! t
! <center>Voiced Stops</center>
| <center>t͡s~s</center>
| <center>b by</center>
| <center>t~ɾ̥̝</center>
| <center>d dy</center>
| <center>t~ʈ</center>
| <center>j jy</center>
| <center>t~ɽ̊</center>
| <center>g gy</center>
|-
|-
! s
! <center>Voiced Continuants</center>
| <center>t̪͡s̪</center>
| <center>v vy</center>
| <center>s̪</center>
| <center>l ly</center>
| <center>s̪</center>
| <center>z zy</center>
| <center>t̪~z̪</center>
| <center>(y)</center>
|-
|-
! ś
! <center>Voiceless Continuant</center>
| <center>t͡ɕ</center>
| <center>(hv) (hvy)</center>
| <center>ɕ</center>
| <center>(hl) (hly)</center>
| <center>ɕ</center>
| <center>s sy</center>
| <center>tʲ~ʑ</center>
| <center>h hy</center>
|-
|-
! l
! <center>Tap or Trill</center>
| <center>l</center>
| <center></center>
| <center>l</center>
| <center>r ry</center>
| <center>ɭ</center>
| <center></center>
| <center>ɭ</center>
| <center></center>
|}
|}


As final unstressed e/oe/o all reduce to [ʲɵ], this has an effect on the proceeding consonant. (no consonant simply results in [jɵ])
Palatalised consonants are written Cy or C' at the end of words - mya, am'.
 
=== Vowels ===
 


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! PULMONIC
! Vowels
! Bilabial
! Front
! Alveolar
! Mid
! Dental
! Back
! Palatal
! Velar
|-
|-
! <center>Nasal</center>
! <center>Close</center>
| <center>mʲɵ</center>
| <center>ɲɵ</center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center>ɨ</center>
| <center>ŋ̟ʲɵ</center>
| <center>u</center>
|-
|-
! <center>Strong Series</center>
! <center>Mid</center>
| <center>pʲɵ</center>
|
| <center>tɕɵ</center>
| <center>ɘ</center>
| <center>θʲɵ</center>
| <center>o</center>
| <center>ɕʲɵ</center>
| <center>çɵ</center>
|-
|-
! <center>Weak Series</center>
! <center>Open</center>
| <center>bʲɵ</center>
| <center>ʑɵ</center>
| <center>ðʲɵ</center>
| <center>ʑʲɵ</center>
| <center>ʝɵ</center>
|-
! <center>Fricative or Approximate</center>
| <center>vʲɵ</center>
| <center>ʎɵ</center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center>a</center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center>jɵ</center>
|}
|}
/ɘ, o/ reduce to /ɨ, u/ in unstressed syllables


=== Vowels ===
/ɘ/ is written -e, /ɨ/ as y (ÿ if adjacent to another vowel, or to distinguish from the palatalising y; ty /tɨ/, tÿa /tɨa/, tya /tʲæ/. This is not necessary with i and e as they imply /ʲ/, that is yi and ye represent /ɨji/ and /ɨje/ respectively, not /ʲi/ and /ʲe/). /a/, /o/, and /u/ are written a, o, and u


The vowels <i>e, ɵ ("oe"), o</i> all reduced to [ɵ] in their unstressed form, and [ʲɵ] if they are final. Stressed vowels are long.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Monopthongs
! Vowels Palatal
! Front
! Front
! Mid
! Mid
Line 150: Line 150:
|-
|-
! <center>Close</center>
! <center>Close</center>
| <center>i</center>
| <center>ʲi</center>
| <center>ʉ~y</center>
| <center>ʲʉ</center>
| <center>u</center>
|  
|-
|-
! <center>Mid</center>
! <center>Mid</center>
| <center>e</center>
| <center>ʲe</center>
| <center>ɵː~ɵʉ</center>
| <center>ʲɵ</center>
| <center>o</center>
|  
|-
|-
! <center>Open</center>
! <center>Open</center>
| <center></center>
| <center></center>
| <center>æ</center>
| <center>ʲæ</center>
| <center>ɑ</center>
| <center></center>
|}
|}
/ʲi/ and /ʲe/ are written i and e, /ʲʉ/, /ʲɵ/, /ʲæ/ as yu, yo, ya.
Only palatal vowels may follow palatal consonants, and only plain vowels may follow plain consonants. Therefore /mʲʉ/ and /mu/ are allowed but */mʉ/ and */mʲu/ are not.


=== Tone ===
=== Tone ===
The tones of Meó may only occur on stressed syllables, with unstressed syllables carrying the neutral tone (usually produced as mid, though tone sandhi affects this). The exception is the low tone, which may occur unstressed due to the preceding h- it features, which is always pronounced. Similarly, in some conservative dialects where the h- in the high tone is conserved, the high tone is pronounced unstressed as a result. This is considered archaic in most dialects however. The tones and their unstressed forms are indicated in the following chart through demonstration with the syllable "tan"
Meó has five tones;
 
* Low - mè
* Mid/default - me
* High - mé
* Rising - mě
* Falling - mê


{| class="wikitable"
== Naming System ==
|-
The naming system is as follows;
! Tones
! Stressed
! Unstressed
! Orthography
|-
! Level
| tɑːn
| tɑn
| tan/tán
|-
! Falling
| tɑ̂ːn(ˀ)
| tɑn
| tàn
|-
! High
| tɑ́ːn
| tɑn
| htán
|-
! Low
| htɑ̤̀ːn
| htɑ̤n
| htan
|-
|}


The clusters /xŋ/ and /xg/ are not permitted and /xm/, /xn/, /xd/, /xð/, /xʑ/ are not permitted initially. /xp/ and /xb/ both are merged into /xv/.


== Naming System ==
[guardian deity title] [given name] [parent of same gender name] [maternal clan name] [paternal clan name]
The Salinke, the Kuana, the Malo, the Sati, and the Varisti were the five tribes that united to form the Meó nation, and the five tribes remain important today, with all ethnically Meó people knowing their direct maternal and paternal tribe, as it is embedded in their naming system.


-va is the feminine suffix and comes first for females, -di is the masculine and comes first for males. "Salinkedi Kuanava" is a male whose direct paternal lineage is the Salinke, and direct maternal is Kuana, whilst "Salinkeva Kuanadi" is a female whose direct maternal lineage is Salinke and direct paternal is Kuana. If a child is born to parents of direct descendants of the same tribe (e.g. Malodi and Malova), they only have one name without the suffixes (Malo).
e.g. Ahkɨn Soinkot' Hrezvinn Qoli Phlyi


The naming system is as follows;


[given name] [guardian deity] [maternal/paternal tribe] [paternal/maternal tribe] [parent name] [parent name]
It is common practice to omit the parent's name when referring to someone, and maternal clan names when a man is being spoken about or paternal clan names when a woman is being spoken about.


The guardian deity is one of the five sacred deities of the Meó religion of [[Siela]]. It is an important part of the name as it determines which honorific one must use when addressing a person, detailed below. The first form (ending in -n), is the neutral/polite form and generally the most common, the -va form is for people who have a maternalistic relationship to the addressee (i.e. mothers/grandmothers talking to children and vice versa), whilst the -di form is similarly the paternalistic form. It is generally reserved only for familial relations and is often considered rude or patronising to use outside of these contexts.  There are in addition a series of honorifics stemming from the "-n" form. There are many nuances in the honorifics of Meó.  
The guardian deity is one of the five sacred deities of the Meó religion of [[Siela]]. It is an important part of the name as it determines which honorific one must use when addressing a person, detailed below. The first form (ending in -n), is the neutral/polite form and generally the most common, the -va form is for people who have a maternalistic relationship to the addressee (i.e. mothers/grandmothers talking to children and vice versa), whilst the -di form is similarly the paternalistic form. It is generally reserved only for familial relations and is often considered rude or patronising to use outside of these contexts.  There are in addition a series of honorifics stemming from the "-n" form. There are many nuances in the honorifics of Meó.  
Line 216: Line 197:
  !Paternalistic form
  !Paternalistic form
  |-
  |-
  !Akiá
  !Akya
  |kián
  |kyan
  |kiáva
  |kyava
  |kiádi
  |kyadi
  |-
  |-
  !Amako
  !Amako
  |(m)akón
  |(m)akon
  |máva
  |mava
  |mádi
  |madi
  |-
  |-
  !Ahké
  !Akhe
  |hkén
  |khen
  |hkéva
  |kheva
  |hkédi
  |khedi
  |-
  |-
  !Amiru
  !Amiru
Line 236: Line 217:
  |mirudi
  |mirudi
  |-
  |-
  !Áhko
  !Aahko
  |hkoen
  |ahkɨn
  |hkoevá
  |ahkɨva
  |hkodi
  |ahkodi
  |-
  |-
|}
|}


EXAMPLES:
== Vocabulary ==


Vakalu Áhko Malo Mirodi Sanakava (M) and Sieri Amiru Sativa Varistidi Sunuva Kapadi (F) wish to have a child named "Makune", and assign him the guardian deity Akiá (the wheel). His name will thus become Makune Akiá Malodi Sativa Vakaludi Sieriva. In common speech, he will simply be referred to as "Kián Makune", or "Kián Makune Malodi", but in more formal contexts as "Kián Makune Malodi Sativa", and in more formal contexts still (i.e. death, marriage, religious ceremonies, etc.) as "Akiánava Makune Akiá Malodi Sativa Vakaludi Sieriva", followed by any other titles he has amassed.
Most vocabulary derives from the [[Meó-Succlythian languages|Proto-Meo-Succlythian Language]], though much of the vocabulary traces its origin to the [[Fertile Tongue]], especially words related to the ocean, and later through Htaevic influence much of the sophisticated vocabulary of Meó comes from languages derived from the fertile tongue (cf. English and French/Latin).


Makune now wishes to have a child with his husband Kahali Ahké Salinkedi Varistiva. As they are both males, the traditional naming system does not work, so together they must determine on whether to name him "Malodi Varistiva" OR "Salinkedi Sativa" (Note, *Malodi Sativa and *Salinkedi Varistiva are not viable name choices, as they do not carry on the name from both sides.) Both names are valid, and they may choose either.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Meó Word
!Meó Meaning
!Fertile Tongue Root
|-
|ntyu
|ocean
|nityū
|-
|syum
|bay
|kasyūm
|-
|tyu
|beach creek
|tyua
|-
|ramɨ
|island
|rama
|-
|kunkɨ
|riptide
|kūnka
|-
|saurelan
|sand
|sārilan
|-
|hraulɨ
|beach sand
|irālu
|-
|hliulɨ
|reef
|ulīla
|-
|tauzɨ
|lagoon (rarely; bay)
|tausau
|-
|kya
|region
|khya
|-
|zhanɨ
|canal
|asyanu
|-
|}

Revision as of 19:08, 13 September 2021

The Meó language is a language spoken within the nation of Meó as well as within its former colonies and throughout the Malaeze Sea. It is the official language of the Meó Amalgamate. It has millions of speakers. It is ultimately derived from Ancient Meó

Phonology

Consonants

PULMONIC Bilabial Alveolar/Dental Palatal/Post-alveolar Velar
Nasal
m mʲ
n nʲ
ɳ ɳʲ
ŋ ŋʲ
Voiceless Stops
p pʲ
t tʲ
tʂ tɕ
k kʲ
Aspirated Stops
pʰ pʰʲ
tʰ tʰʲ
tʂʰ tɕʰ
kʰ kʰʲ
Voiced Stops
b bʲ
d dʲ
dʐ dʑ
g gʲ
Voiced Continuants
v vʲ
l lʲ
ʐ zʲ
(j)
Voiceless Continuant
(ʍ) (ʍʲ)
(ɬ) (ɬʲ)
ʂ sʲ
x ç
Tap or Trill
ɾ ɾʲ

Many consonants have a high degree of allophony, such as /ɲ ɲʲ/ which has the post-vocalic/intervocalic allophone [ɻ̃ ɻ̃ʲ~j̃] in fast speech. The voiced continuants tend to be closer to approximants, and the voiceless continuants closer to fricatives. /ʐ/ varies between [ʐ~ɻ̝~ɻ] with [ɻ̝] (a non-sibilant fricative) being considered the most correct.


PULMONIC Bilabial Alveolar/Dental Palatal/Post-alveolar Velar
Nasal
m my
n ny
ṇ ṇy
ṅ ṅy
Voiceless Stops
p py
t ty
c cy
k ky
Aspirated Stops
ph phy
th thy
ch chy
kh khy
Voiced Stops
b by
d dy
j jy
g gy
Voiced Continuants
v vy
l ly
z zy
(y)
Voiceless Continuant
(hv) (hvy)
(hl) (hly)
s sy
h hy
Tap or Trill
r ry

Palatalised consonants are written Cy or C' at the end of words - mya, am'.

Vowels

Vowels Front Mid Back
Close
ɨ
u
Mid
ɘ
o
Open
a

/ɘ, o/ reduce to /ɨ, u/ in unstressed syllables

/ɘ/ is written -e, /ɨ/ as y (ÿ if adjacent to another vowel, or to distinguish from the palatalising y; ty /tɨ/, tÿa /tɨa/, tya /tʲæ/. This is not necessary with i and e as they imply /ʲ/, that is yi and ye represent /ɨji/ and /ɨje/ respectively, not /ʲi/ and /ʲe/). /a/, /o/, and /u/ are written a, o, and u


Vowels Palatal Front Mid Back
Close
ʲi
ʲʉ
Mid
ʲe
ʲɵ
Open
ʲæ

/ʲi/ and /ʲe/ are written i and e, /ʲʉ/, /ʲɵ/, /ʲæ/ as yu, yo, ya.

Only palatal vowels may follow palatal consonants, and only plain vowels may follow plain consonants. Therefore /mʲʉ/ and /mu/ are allowed but */mʉ/ and */mʲu/ are not.

Tone

Meó has five tones;

  • Low - mè
  • Mid/default - me
  • High - mé
  • Rising - mě
  • Falling - mê

Naming System

The naming system is as follows;


[guardian deity title] [given name] [parent of same gender name] [maternal clan name] [paternal clan name]

e.g. Ahkɨn Soinkot' Hrezvinn Qoli Phlyi


It is common practice to omit the parent's name when referring to someone, and maternal clan names when a man is being spoken about or paternal clan names when a woman is being spoken about.

The guardian deity is one of the five sacred deities of the Meó religion of Siela. It is an important part of the name as it determines which honorific one must use when addressing a person, detailed below. The first form (ending in -n), is the neutral/polite form and generally the most common, the -va form is for people who have a maternalistic relationship to the addressee (i.e. mothers/grandmothers talking to children and vice versa), whilst the -di form is similarly the paternalistic form. It is generally reserved only for familial relations and is often considered rude or patronising to use outside of these contexts. There are in addition a series of honorifics stemming from the "-n" form. There are many nuances in the honorifics of Meó.

Guardian Deity Base form Maternalistic form Paternalistic form
Akya kyan kyava kyadi
Amako (m)akon mava madi
Akhe khen kheva khedi
Amiru min miruva mirudi
Aahko ahkɨn ahkɨva ahkodi

Vocabulary

Most vocabulary derives from the Proto-Meo-Succlythian Language, though much of the vocabulary traces its origin to the Fertile Tongue, especially words related to the ocean, and later through Htaevic influence much of the sophisticated vocabulary of Meó comes from languages derived from the fertile tongue (cf. English and French/Latin).

Meó Word Meó Meaning Fertile Tongue Root
ntyu ocean nityū
syum bay kasyūm
tyu beach creek tyua
ramɨ island rama
kunkɨ riptide kūnka
saurelan sand sārilan
hraulɨ beach sand irālu
hliulɨ reef ulīla
tauzɨ lagoon (rarely; bay) tausau
kya region khya
zhanɨ canal asyanu
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