German phonemic full writing mode (under construction!)
Consonant system
| /t/ series | /p/ series | /tʃ/ series | /k/ series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis stops | | /t/ | | /p/ | | /tʃ/[1] | | /k/ |
| Lenis stops | | /d̥/ | | /b̥/ | | /d̥ʒ̊/[1] | | /ɡ̊/ |
| Fortis fricatives | | /θ/ | | /f/ | | /ʃ/ | | /x/[2] |
| Lenis fricatives | | /ð/ | | /ʒ̊/ | | /ɣ/ | ||
| Affricates | [3] | /ts/ | [3] | /pf/ | [3] | /kx/ | ||
| Nasals | | /n/ | | /m/ | | /ɲ/ | | /ŋ/ |
| Approximants | | /Vr/[4] | (vowel) | (vowel) | ||||
| | /rV/[4] | | /l/ | | /z̥/[5] | | /s/[5] |
| | /h/ | | /j/ | | /ʋ/[6] | ||
Vowel system
Simple vowels
| front | frount rounded | back | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| close | | /i/ | [8] | /y/ | | /u/ |
| e.g. | e.g. | e.g. | ||||
| mid | | /e/ | [9] | /ø/ | | /o/ |
| e.g. | e.g. | e.g. | ||||
| open | | /a/ | ||||
| e.g. | ||||||
| [10] | /ə/ |
| e.g. | |
Complex vowels
| front | frount rounded | back | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| close | | /iː/ | | /yː/ | | /uː/ |
| e.g. | e.g. | e.g. | ||||
| mid | | /eː/ | | /øː/ | | /oː/ |
| e.g. | e.g. | e.g. | ||||
| open | [11] | /ɛː/ | | /aː/ | ||
| e.g. | e.g. | |||||
| front | frount rounded | back | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| close | | /uj/ | ||||
| e.g. | ||||||
| mid | | /ej/ | | /oj/ | ||
| e.g. | e.g. | |||||
| open | | /aj/ | ||||
| e.g. | ||||||
| front | frount rounded | back | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| close | ||||||
| mid | | /ow/ | ||||
| e.g. | ||||||
| open | | /aw/ | ||||
| e.g. | ||||||
Rules
Mandatory rules
This German phonemic full writing mode requires four rules:
- Nasal combinations
- In the combination of a nasal with a homorganic consonant (for instance /m/ + /p, b̥, pf/, /n/ + /t, f, tʃ, z̥/ or /ŋ/ + /k, ɡ/), the nasal is written with a horizontal bar above, e.g. , , , , .
- -S ending
- An S that is an ending is is written with a right Sa-rince, e.g. , , , , .
- Syllabic consonants
- Syllabic /n̩/, /m̩/ and /l̩/ are written with Unutixe ◌, e.g. , , . Syllabic /r̩/ may be unmarked[4], e.g. .
- Following /ʋ/
- In the combination of consonant + /ʋ/, the /ʋ/ is written with a modified left curl ◌, e.g. , .
Optional rules
- Following /j/
- In the combination of consonant + /j/, the /j/ may be written with two dots above ◌, e.g. , .
- Following S that is not an -S ending
- In a combination of consonant + S, the S may be written with a Sa-rince schrybe. Letters that have the lúva on the left side of the telco take a left Sa-rince, e.g. , . The other letters take a right Sa-rince, e.g. , .
- Nasal vowels
- Nasal vowels may be written with a horizontal bar above ◌, e.g. , .
Soures and explanation of the phonemic analysis
This German phonemic full writing mode is mainly based on DTS 71 (Bilbo’s contract). It is a full writing mode where the third series of the main tengwar table is a /tʃ/ series. Therefore, the use of Hwesta for /x/ follows from the regular relations between the tengwar table and the sounds as explained in Appendix E.
A phonemic tengwar mode requires a phonemic analysis. Such an analysis never goes without saying, but depends on a number of choices. These choices depend from the available means, that is, in the case of the tengwar, from the system of the tengwar.
- Calma /tʃ/, Anga /d̥ʒ̊/: The sounds [tʃ] and [d̥ʒ̊] are usually analysed as affricates. However, an inclusion of [tʃ] and [d̥ʒ̊] in the stops grades is not necessarily a violation of tyeller consistency. Instead, it can also mean that [tʃ] and [d̥ʒ̊] are analysed as stops, and not as affricates. This alternative analysis as stops can be justified by several reasons:
- J. R. R. Tolkien has included [tʃ] and [d̥ʒ̊] in the stops grades.
- The analysis of [tʃ] and [d̥ʒ̊] as stops (instead of affricates) prevents two gaps at the fortis stops grade and at the lenis stops grade.
- The analysis of [d̥ʒ̊] as a stop (instead of an affricate) prevents the assumption of a lenis affricate grade which would be empty at all other places of articulation. In other words, the analogous lenis affricates (*[b̥v̥], *[d̥z̥], and *[ɡ̊ɣ̊]) do not exist, while the analogous lenis stops do ([b̥], [d̥], and [ɡ̊]).
- Hwesta /x/: The German phoneme /x/ represents the allophone [x], e.g. , , as well as the allophone [ç], e.g. , . This use of the same sign for the allophones [x] and [ç] is attested in the classical Quenya mode as described in Appendix E.
- Turned Lambe /ʋ/: The German phoneme spelt W may be analysed in two different ways that depend on the analysis of the German consonant pairs. German consonant pairs may be analysed as voiced–voiceless pairs (e.g. /t–d/ or /p–b/), or they may be analysed as fortis–lenis pairs (e.g. /t–d̥/ or /p–b̥/). There is a good reasons why an analysis of the German consonant pairs as fortis-lenis pairs is more adequate to German phonology than an analysis as voiced–voiceless pairs: In the German consonant pairs such as /t–d̥/ or /p–b̥/, both sounds are potentially voiceless (reductio ad absurdum: A voiced-voiceless pair is a voiceless-voiceless pair). However, unlike the potentially voiceless lenis sounds such as /d̥/ or /b̥/, /ʋ/ is always voiced. Additionally, the opposition of /f/ and /ʋ/ is virtually confined to the onset of stressed syllables, while the opposition of German fortis-lenis pairs such as /t–d̥/ or /p–b̥/ is not.
With regard to the tengwar, there are two possibilities: The first possibility is analysing the German consonant pairs as voiced–voiceless pairs such as /t–d/ or /s–z/, and including /f–v/. Consequently, they should be represented in the same way in tengwar, that is, /v/ should be written with Ampa . The second possibility is analysing the German consonant pairs as fortis–lenis pairs such as /t–d̥/, /p–b̥/, and not including /f/ and /ʋ/. Consequently, they should not be represented in the same way in tengwar, that is, /ʋ/ should be written with turned Lambe .
If both possibilities are equally adequate to German phonemics, the question is whether one of them is more adequate to the system of the tengwar. The second possibility with for /ʋ/ is more adequate. In DTS 71 and in many other tengwar samples, turned Lambe alternates with the modified left curl ◌: At the beginning of a word, there is turned Lambe , but after another letter, there is the modified left curl ◌. For a German tengwar mode, this is very useful, because German /ʋ/ not only occurs at the beginning of a word, but also after other consonants, e.g. , in contrast with , . All other things being equal, turned Lambe for /ʋ/ is better suited to the system of the tengwar.
- Extended Tinco /ts/, extended Parma /pf/: Ahang E, where Tolkien has written the following about the tengwar with extended stem (, , etc.): «These usually represented aspirated consonants (e.g. t+h, p+h, k+h), but might represent other consonantal variations required.» The affricates /pf/, /ts/ (and /kx/) are most characteristic for the German language; if any consonantal variation may be considered «required», it is them.
- Rómen /rV/, Óre /Vr/: With regard to the distinction between Rómen and Óre , two slightly different conceptions are possible:
- Rómen and Óre represent two different phonemes, namely /ʀ/ and vocalic /ɐ/. This corresponds to the distinction found in many of Tolkien’s phonemic English modes, such as DTS 71 ou DTS 13, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 45, 48 or 49. A minimal pair of these two phonemes is – . According to this conception, /ɐ/ is another weak vowel along with /ə/ . It occurs either for itself, e.g. , , or as part of a complex vowel, e.g. . Some words allow different analysis, e.g. or . The complex vowels with /ɐ/ are as follows:
Vowels + /ɐ/ front front rounded back close /iɐ/ /yɐ/ /uɐ/ e.g. e.g. e.g. mid /eɐ/ /øɐ/ /oɐ/ e.g. e.g. e.g. open [12] /ɛɐ/ /aɐ/ e.g. e.g. - Rómen and Óre represent the same phoneme /r/. The difference is not phonemic, but merely allographic: Rómen is written before vowels, Óre everywhere else. Consequently, there are no minimal pairs: – –, and there are no complex vowels.
In a phonemic mode, having two signs for the same phoneme /r/ is somewhat unfortunate. However, this is exactly what Tolkien has done in the classical Quenya mode. Furthermore, the alternatives are doubtful. In order to have a single sign for /r/, either Rómen or Óre must be chosen. In the mode of Beleriand, Tolkien has used Rómen as the single sign for /r/. However, that mode uses Óre for an entirely different sound, and besides that, the mode of Beleriand has a very different design from DTS 71. In some English orthographic full writing modes, Tolkien has used Óre as the single sign for /r/. However, that use seems to go hand in hand with the use of Rómen for /w/, which again does not fit with DTS 71.
- Rómen and Óre represent two different phonemes, namely /ʀ/ and vocalic /ɐ/. This corresponds to the distinction found in many of Tolkien’s phonemic English modes, such as DTS 71 ou DTS 13, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 45, 48 or 49. A minimal pair of these two phonemes is – . According to this conception, /ɐ/ is another weak vowel along with /ə/ . It occurs either for itself, e.g. , , or as part of a complex vowel, e.g. . Some words allow different analysis, e.g. or . The complex vowels with /ɐ/ are as follows:
- Silme /z̥/, Esse /s/: In the system of German phonemics, the two S-sounds – whether they are analysed as a fortis–lenis pair or as a voiceless–voiced pair (see above) – only contrast intervocalically, e.g. in the minimal pair /rajz̥ən–rajsən/. At the onset of a syllable and at the offset, there is no contrast – unlike in English phonemics –, so there are no minimal pairs. Consequently, the S-sound at the onset and at the offset is phonemically indeterminate: There is no way of telling which of the two intervocalic S-sounds it belongs to. In the terms of Trubetzkoy, they constitute an underdetermined archiphoneme /S/:
onset intervocalic offset lenis /S/ /z̥/ /S/ fortis /s/ Traditionally, the onset S-sound is associated with the intervocalic lenis /z̥/ and the offset S-sound with the intervocalic fortis /s/:
onset intervocalic offset lenis /z̥/ fortis /s/ These traditional associations are not based in phonemics, but in mere phonetics, that is, in the similarity of sounds. Other associations are perfectly possible within the system of German phonemics.
In the system of the tengwar, Silme is the normal S-letter in all known modes, while Esse is but an additional letter that occurs more seldom. Therefore, the use of Silme at the onset and at the offset of German syllables is more appropriate to the system of tengwar than the use of Esse . The question is which of the two contrasting intervocalic S-sounds is to be associated with Silme :
- Silme may be associated with the intervocalic lenis /z̥/:
onset intervocalic offset lenis Silme fortis Esse - Silme may be associated with the intervocalic fortis /s/:
onset intervocalic offset lenis Esse fortis Silme
There are several reasons why I think that the solution (a) is more appropriate:
- The solution (a) stresses the phonetic similarity of the intervocalic lenis /z̥/ with the onset S-sound. By contrast, the solution (b) stresses the phonetic similarity of the intervocalic fortis /s/ with the offset S-sound. The association of onset and intervocalic S-sound seems to be more important, because many German consonant pairs exhibit the same contrast at the onset and intervocalically, but not at the offset – for instance /t–d/ that are opposed to each other at the onset and intervocalically, but not at the offset.
- Many German varieties have no opposition of S-sounds at all, not even intervocalically. The S-sound of these varieties phonetically resembles a lenis /z̥/. Solution (a) allows for Silme to be the only S-sign in these varieties. The loss of the opposition between the consonant pairs is called binnendeutsche Konsonantenschwächung ‘interior German consonant degradation’. It is widespread in most of central and Southern Germany, and it is even common in standard German words such as /diz̥kuz̥joːn/ instead of /diz̥kusjoːn/.
- The solution (b) is closer to the English mode of DTS 71 that is the basis for this mode, while the solution (a) is closer to Elvish modes, e.g. from Appendix E or DTS 20, 45, 48, 49. Phonetically, however, the German /z̥/ is different from the English /z/, because the German /z̥/ may be voiceless. A voiceless /z̥/ is common in the entire Southern part of the German speaking area, but it occurs in the North as well, at least after fortis consonants, e.g. /ʃikz̥aːl/, and – depending on the analyst – in absolute onset or in an onset that follows a fortis consonant.
- The solution (a) allows for a closer similarity to the German orthographic full writing mode.
- Silme may be associated with the intervocalic lenis /z̥/:
- Simple vowels: In German phonemics – like in English – simple vowels are often analysed as having a different vowel quality than the long vowels, e.g. /ɪ–iː/, /ʊ–uː/, etc. By contrast, Tolkien’s English phonemic modes – e.g. DTS 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 or 71 – show an analysis whereby the distinction relies only on the vowel quantity, e.g. /i–iː/, /u–uː/, etc.
- Úre with Amatixe /ø/: Analogy to /y/ and /y/.
- Short carrier /ə/: The German sounds [e] and [ə] are often analysed as allophones of the same phoneme /e/. This is possible because the International Phonetic Alphabet offers a means for marking the stress with the sign ‹ˈ›. That sign allows a distinction between two words of different pronunciation such as /ɡeˈlende/ (e.g. /ɡeˈlende ʋaːɡen/) and /ˈɡelende/ (e.g. /ˈɡelende ʃraje/). Since the tengwar offer no means of marking the stress, it is better to analyse two different phonemes /e/ and /ə/. Like this, and can still be distinguished in the tengwar.
- Vilya with single dot inside and with Andaith /ɛː/: On this sign, the andaith is redundant because there is no short counterpart to this vowel. The use of such a redundant tehta is, for instance, attested in DTS 71, where Tolkien has used Vilya with single dot inside for /æ/ even though there is no counterpart /a/ without a dot inside.
Latest update: 2013-07-15. Copyright © 2011–2013 j. ‘mach’ wust.