Handu

Handu is the parent language of all the languages of Tjugo, the home ship of the Kortarl. Handu has a lot of sounds that aren't easy for the kortarlien mouth to produce, leading many academics to believe that it was gifted to them by an outside source.

Writing System

b, d, h, k, m, n, p, rr, s, t, dz, g, ng, nh, l, ts, ch, sh, zh, ph, z, r, j, w, a, e, i, o, û, u, ê, ī

Phonology

Consonant inventory: /b d g h j k l m n p r s t w z ç ŋ ɸ ɾ ʃ ʒ ʣ ʦ/
Vowel inventory: /a aɪ e i o u ɛ ɯ/
Word initial consonants: b, d, g, h, k, m, n, p, s, t, ɾ, ʣ
Mid-word consonants: b, d, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, nh, p, r, s, t, w, z, ç, ŋ, ɸ, ʃ, ʒ, ʣ, ʦ
Word final consonants: n, ŋ

Morphology

Adjective → noun = If starts with vowel: Prefix aɪʃ-
Else: Prefix aɪʃe-
Noun → adjective = Prefix o-
Noun → verb = If starts with vowel: Prefix d-
Else: Prefix dɯ-
Verb → noun = If starts with vowel: Prefix p-
Else: Prefix pɛ-
Verb → adjective = Prefix pu-
Adjective → verb = Prefix bi-
Adjective → adverb = Prefix ɯ-
One who Xs (e.g. paint → painter) = Prefix tɛ-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ut-
Else: Prefix utɯ-
Diminutive = If starts with vowel: Prefix m-
Else: Prefix ma-
Augmentative = If starts with vowel: Prefix il-
Else: Prefix ile-

Syntax

Main word order: Subject-Oblique-Object-Verb. "Mary opened the door with a key" turns into Mary with a key the door opened.
Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.
Adposition: postpositions
Plural prefix: si-

Common Phrases

Sitea odzochi, sibegung sûrī (lit.: hands skilled, minds great)

Common Unisex Names

Fjasche, Gûmûsû, Meis, Benga, Tepelo, Rreba, Kogang