Ṣākl language
The Ṣākl language is a descendant of Proto-Mikrb and is part of the Mikrb language family. It is spoken primarily in the western region of the continent, encompassing a variety of terrains from plains to mountainous areas.
One of the most distinguishing features of Ṣākl is its elaborate system of infixes used in verb conjugation. This characteristic sets it apart from other languages in the Mikrb family, which typically rely more heavily on prefixes and suffixes for verb modification.
While the sound changes from Proto-Mikrb to Ṣākl were not as drastic as in some of its sibling languages, the intricate changes in its morphosyntactic structure demonstrate significant innovation and divergence over time. For example, tense, aspect, and mood in verbs are predominantly conveyed through a combination of infixes and vowel changes within the verb root, often following specific patterns based on the verb's semantic field.
Additionally, the Ṣākl language has maintained a good part of Proto-Mikrb's phonology, with only minor shifts occurring, making it a relatively conservative language within the Mikrb family.
Despite its complexity, the Ṣākl language has a rich oral tradition, with a significant body of folklore, poetry, and storytelling being passed down through generations. It continues to be a vital part of the cultural identity for the Ṣākl people.
Sound Changes
- Loss of initial /ʔ/ in all environments.
- Rounding of /a/ to /o/ when preceded by labial consonants /p/, /b/, /m/, /f/, /v/.
- Assimilation of /m/ and /n/ to the place of articulation of the following consonant. (m, n > m / _p, b, f, v; n / _t, d, s, z, l; ŋ / _k, g, x, ɣ)
- Fricativization of voiced stops /b/, /d/, /g/ to /v/, /ð/, /ɣ/ respectively.
- Nasalization of vowels preceding nasal consonants. (a, e, i, o, u > ã, ẽ, ĩ, õ, ũ / _m, n, ŋ)
- Lenition of /t/, /k/ to /θ/, /x/ between vowels.
- Shift of /o/ to /u/ when following uvular, pharyngeal, or glottal consonants.
- Voicing of voiceless stops /p/, /t/, /k/ between vowels to /b/, /d/, /g/.
- Palatalization of /s/, /z/ to /ʃ/, /ʒ/ before front vowels.
- Reduction of vowel sequences to a single vowel.
- Epenthesis of /i/ in initial CC clusters where C stands for any consonant.
- Voiced fricatives /v/, /ð/, /z/, /ɣ/ devoice to /f/, /θ/, /s/, /x/ word-finally.
- Merging of /ʃ/, /ʒ/ to /s/, /z/ respectively.
- Merging of /i/, /e/ to /e/ in all positions.
- Loss of final short vowels in unstressed syllables.
Root Languages
Spoken by