Farg Language
The Farg language is a descendant of Proto-Šabǧūl and is part of the Proto-ʔināši family of languages. It is spoken primarily in the central plains of southern Ausalon. Farg is noted for its innovative phonemic inventory, which includes the addition of new sounds and the transformation of existing ones. This development has led to a complex system of consonant and vowel alternations which play a significant role in the language's morphophonology.
The most distinctive feature of Farg is its innovative phonemic inventory. Several phonetic shifts and transformations have occurred, resulting in a language with a unique sonic character. Notable among these is the lenition of Proto-Šabǧūl voiced plosives to voiced fricatives, and the emergence of aspirated voiceless plosives in initial position. The liquid /r/ has also evolved into a voiced uvular fricative /ʁ/, giving Farg its unique guttural sound. Vowel quality also experienced substantial changes, with short vowels lengthening before voiced consonants and front vowels diphthongizing before voiced consonants.
In addition to these phonetic changes, Farg has a unique set of grammatical features that further distinguish it from its sister languages. A rich system of verbal affixes allows for nuanced expression of aspect, mood, and voice. Similarly, Farg's system of nominal inflection is complex, encoding distinctions of number, case, and definiteness. Farg's syntax is typically head-initial, favoring Verb-Subject-Object word order in clauses and Noun-Adjective ordering in nominal phrases.
The Farg language plays a vital role in the cultural identity of its speakers. It is the medium of a rich oral literature, including folk tales, epic poetry, and riddles. Efforts are ongoing to preserve and promote the use of the Farg language in the face of increasing influence from neighboring languages.
Sound Changes
The following sound changes take us from Proto-Šabǧūl to Fǝrkǝ:- The short vowels /a/, /i/, /u/ lengthen to /a:/, /i:/, /u:/ respectively before voiced consonants.
- The palatal approximant /j/ vocalizes to /i/ when it occurs before a vowel.
- Proto-Šabǧūl voiced plosives /b/, /d/, /g/ lenite to voiced fricatives /v/, /ð/, /ɣ/ respectively between vowels.
- The voiceless plosives /p/, /t/, /k/ become aspirated /ph/, /th/, /kh/ in initial position.
- Nasal assimilation occurs, where a nasal /n/ or /m/ assimilates to the place of articulation of the following consonant.
- Proto-Šabǧūl voiceless fricatives /f/, /s/, /š/ become voiced /v/, /z/, /ž/ respectively between vowels.
- Front vowels /i/ and /e/ diphthongize to /ei/ and /ai/ before voiced consonants.
- The liquid /r/ becomes a voiced uvular fricative /ʁ/ in all positions.
- Gemination of intervocalic consonants occurs, where the consonant is doubled.
- Final devoicing: Voiced consonants at the end of words are devoiced.
- Vowel Breaking: Short /a/ in stressed syllables breaks to /ja/.
- Proto-Šabǧūl long vowels /a:/, /i:/, /u:/ shorten to /a/, /i/, /u/ in closed syllables.
- Intervocalic /h/ is lost, leading to compensatory lengthening of the preceding vowel.
- Unstressed final vowels are lost.
- Labialization of /k/ occurs before /o/ and /u/, yielding /kw/.
Root Languages